The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1928-02-10
CHRSTIANSON
AVOIDS CONTEST
WITH SHIPSTEAD
By H. G. Teigan


election on Monday of last week and
former Governor j. A. A. Burnquist
and former Mayor A. E. Nelson of st.
Paul filed for u. S. Senator.
Thus far there have been no filings
for statewide offices in the Farmer
Labor party. Former Congressman
Knud Wefald has filed for the Farm
er-LabOr nomination for Congress in
the ninth district. There will not be
many filings in the Farmer-LabOr
party until after the state conven-
ton, which will be held in March. At
that time a full state and congress
siOnal slate will be placed in the field.
Governor Gets "COld Feet"
The failure of Governor Christian
son to make the race for U. S. Sena-
tor came as a surprise and a disap-
pOintment to those of his party who
had hopes of eleavting him to the
senate. 1t was not so much of a sur
prise, however, to those familiar with
the political situation in the state. To
them the Governors "cold feet" gave
evidence that, for once, at least, His
Excellency had come to realize that
his popularity isn't omnipotent after
all.
There has been a good deal of cri-
ticism offered on the Governors ac-
ton by Republican newspapers and
politicians. The Minneapolis Tribune,
leading Republican newspaper in Min
nesOta, charges the Governor with
having had ga sub-conscious distaste
for a campaign against Senator
Shipstead." The Tribune also admits
that the Governors action "compli-
Gates the political situation in Mime
sofa to a disturbing degree"
Republicans Change Front
One of the curious developments
among the Republicans is the desire
on their part to get Senator Shipstead
to file as Republican. Not so many
years ago these same Republicans
could not tolerate Shipstead and
when he moved his dental offices
from GlenwOOd to Minneapolis, short
ly after the memorable 1920 election
In which he had been an Independent
candidate for Governor against the
Republican nominee, sentiment among
the powers that be was so antagonis-
tic that the then Glenwood dentist
found conspiracy against him in
getting office room in the Twin Cities.
The situation has changed. Ship
stead is admittedly a strong candidate
and the fear is that, with a united
front on the part of Farmer-Labor
elements, he will win in a walk and
the remainder of the Farmer-Labor
ticket will win with him. The Mime
apOlis Journal, reactionary newspapre.
admits that there is grave danger in
the Farmer-LabOrites winning con-
CI6nFQhlXy
next November.
Supreme Court Bars Party Shift
In respect to Shipstead's uualifica
tions to file as a Republican, it neec
only be said that the Supreme Court
of this state has decided very def
nltely that such a shift cannot bt
made. This fact seems to be ignored
by the Republican office-seekers. who
would use Shipstead's strength as 2
means of serving themselves. The
Supreme Court of the state prevented
Tom Schall, Bull Moose Congressman
from filing as Republican in 1915
on the grounds that he had been af.
1lllated with another party in the pre-.
cedlng election. Schall, however, al
that time was able to confined that he
had voted for majority of the can
dldates on the Republican ticket at tn,
last preceding election and this wa,
probably true, as the Bull Moose Par
~ had In reality ceased to exist il
1914. Two years later the Suprem,
Court decided that the Bull Moose wa
dead and Schall got by.
Shlpstead, on the other hand, ha
been consistent supporter of tn
Farmer-LabOr party's candidates an
program. In 1924 and again in 1872
he campaigned for the Farmer-Labo
ticket in Minnesota. 1t is little sho1
of an insult to the Farmer-Labo
Senator to say that he could easil
make oath that he had supported
majority of the Republican candidate
IN the 1926 election. Shipstead wi
file as a Farmer-Laborite. There
To doubt on that score. While ce,
tain progressive Republicans" VIII
are desirous of supporting him wal
him to file as an independent in ordt
that they may find it more satisfyin
to cast their votes for him, such
scheme would be suicidal as it wou
necessarily create divided support {
the Senatorship.
Economy ObsessiOn Injuries Govern,
While an overwhelming victory f,
Shipstead is the thing that bottle
Republican politicians most, it
equally true that they are not g
thusiastic over the Governor. N
Christlanson would have a hard tir
making the grade next fall, even
he should not be burdened with
weak Senatorial candidate at the he
of the ticket. The economy nonsen
of the Government is not merely pro
ing joke, but it is becoming t
means of Gripping several of t
states institutions. The Governo
ObseSSion for reduced expenditul
has resulted in handicapping the q
erations of the State University al
even more, in Gripping the pub
schools of the state. These facts "
become live issues in Minnesota befC
November next.
The Farmer-Laborites will h,
their regular endorsing convention
st. Paul in March and will place
full state and congressional ticket
the field. The party is more unit
than it has been in any campai
since 1922. On the other hand 1
Republicans are split wide op
Moreover, the all-important thing
that the program of the Farmer
borites makes stronger appeal
the producers of the state than it
done at any time in the past