Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1931-06-11
ANDERSON HAS
EASY VICTORY
Farmer Labor Candidate Wins for
Mayor Over Col. George E. Leach
in Minneapolis.
BY HENRY G. TEIGAN

By HENRY G. TEIGAN
Minneapolis has elected a labor
mayor, William A. Anderson, labor
indorsee and chairman of the Farmer
Labor State Central committee, de-
feated Brigadier- General George E.
Leach. former mayor of the city, by
"a majority of more than $4,000. 1t
was the largest majority ever given
a candidate for the office of mayor
in the history of the city of Mime
=apolis.
Mr.. Anderson thus becomes the Mill
City's second labor mayor. The first
labor candidate to hold the post was
Thomas Van Lear who was elected in
1916.
Seldom has Minneapolis witnessed
as bitter campaign as the one just
past. The tactics of General Leach
and his lieutenants were without par
:allel except for the campaign of 1921
when Leach first won election over
Tom Van Lear.
Not since 1916 have the laborites
of Minneapolis, achieved a victory at
all comparable to the present one.
1t was in 1916 that Thomas Van Lear,
Socialist and labor indorsee, was
elected mayor of Minneapolis, defeat
ing Sheriff Otto Langum, whom the
reactionaries of the Mill City had
picked as the man most likely to
bring them victory over 1abor's pop
Ilar nominee.
Campaigns Compared.
The situation this year and in 1916
was not, however, exactly the same.
Van Lear enjoyed a personal popu-
larity that was far greater than that
enjoyed by any other candidate since
that time. The working people really
worshipped Van and in labor precincts
they gave him majorities that were
overwhelming.
Anderson, not being a member of
the working class, could not on that
account have the same personal con-
tact with the leaders of the labor
movement that Van Lear enjoyed.
While it is true that Mr.. Anderson
has been allied with the political
labor movement for the past 20 years,
he did not have the contacts in the
trades union movement itself that
was possible for a member of the
movement.
But while Anderson was at a dis
advantage compared to Van Lear in
the labor movement itself, his can
-didacy possessed advantages over
f Of in
.er contacts with the business people
and especially with the lawyers of
the city who backed him to the limit.
Changed Conditions.
And then what proved to be of much
greater advantage than all these is
the marked change in economic con-
aditions. The year 1881 is very diff
ferent from the year 1916, when the
Van Lear victory was achieved. Con-
4ditions were relatively good back in
1916. Business was .flourishing on &C
count of the war in Europe. 1t is
quite otherwise now. Unemployment
and all it's attendant evils are in evil
.dence today as never before in the
history of this country. Small bust
ness men who were outspoken enc
mics of the Farmer-Labor movement
ten years ago, are today among the
staunchest supporters of Mr.. Ander-
son and other candidates on the FL
ticket.
Labor also scored a number of sue
cesses in the aldermanic race. All of
the labor aldermen running for re-
election were given huge majorities
over their opponents at the polls.
These include Daniel F. O'Brien in
the First ward; Albert G. Bastis, in
the Sixth ward, and A. r. Gisslen in
the Ninth.
Scott Wins In Tenth.
Other labor candidates who were
successful in the aldermanic contest
are: Former Alderman I. G.. Scott,
who was successful in the Tenth, de-
feating the old-party sticker candi-
date as we'll as the incumbent, George
Guider.
Helen l. Bauman, one of labor's
endorses for the Board of Education,
won an easy victory. She led the
field by several thousand votes.
One of the disappointing results was
the defeat of Roy w. Wier, the other
indorsee for member of the board of
education. Mr.. Wier is man Of
much more than ordinary ability and
possesses a loyalty to the political
labor movement that is far beyond
that of the average trades unionist.
Lack of publicity was he cause OF
Wier's defeat.
Treachery Defeats Hudson.
In the 18th ward the Farmer-Labor
candidate, Edwin 1. Hudson was de-
feated after a most despicable cam
paign. Among those who have lent
their aid to Hudson's old-party OPP
ponent was Representative Otto D.
Nellermoe.
Taken as whole, the Minneapolis
victory of the Farmer-Labor forces is
most gratifying. What is needed is