Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1932-06-30
BIG INCREASE IN
STATE FL. VOTE
PrOgressives Jubilant Over Outlook;
Some ReactiOnary State Legisla.
ture Members Dropped.
BY HENRY G. TEIGAN.

| BY HENRY U. TElGAN.
| Farmer-Laborites are jubilant over
the showing their party made in the
primary on June 20. The tremendous
increase in the Farmer-Labor pri-
mary vote over that of two years ago
| indicates that the party is much
stronger than ever. The Republican
vote on the other hand declined ire
mendously notwithstanding the ferv-
ent appeals made by the daily press Of
| the state to "get out the vote for
Brown"
The Republicans cast vote ap-
proximately 2OO.0 900 below that Of two
years ago when 477,00O votes were
polled. At this writing the Republic
can primary vote has not been Of
f1cially announced but 1t is safe to
state that it will not go much beyond
275.OOO. This is the largest decline
in voting strength that the G. o. p.
has suffered in many years in this
state.
Farmer-LabOr Vote Doubles.
The Farmer-Labor vote, on the
|
the fact that there was no real fight
for position in the party primary.
True, there were IS candidates for
congress and also a contest of a sort
for lieutenant governor and railroad
and warehouse commissioner, but
these contests were not fought out
with any degree of intensity and could
ha RI hrsin Ia
vote.
Yet the Farmer-LabOr vote ap-
proximately doubled during the two
years. That is to say, the Farmer
Labor vote which was approximately
$4,000 in the primary Of two years
ago appears to have been about 1907
900 this year though the official
count has not yet been announced.
G. O. p. Congressman Defeated.
AS was expected, several of the Re-
publican congressman went down to
defeat in the primary contest. The
result must seem most disappoint-
ing to these gentlemen who had
fought so strenuously to secure the
passage of the late lamented re-dis-
tricting bill. That bill it was hoped
would save all but one of them from
elimination at the polls in November.
The measure was, however, so OBJ
viously unjust that Governor Floyd B.
Olson vetoed the bill and, as is now
we'll known, the United States Su-
preme Court unanimously upheld the
Governors veto.
If there is anything especially to
regret as to the outcome in the Re-
publican primary it is that Congress
man A. H. Andersen in the Third dis
trict didn't take the count. He is the
one man more than anyone else re-
sponsible for the form of the re-dis-
tricting bill which Governor Olson
vetoed. Andersen didn't want to be
thrown into Christgau's district and
fought to have a district created for
himself. The subservient legislature
acquiesced in Andresen's wishes and
passed the bill.
Andersen is in ninth place but is
nevertheless one of the nominees.
This must seem like gall to Congress-
men Goodwin, Christgau and Mas, all
of whom were eliminated. Each of
these congressman was stronger in
his home territory than was Andre
sen. Yet he survives, while they have
gone down to defeat.
Neuman Eliminated.
A bit of satisfaction too that Farm
er-Laborites got out of the result is
that several reactionary legislators
were eliminated in the primary. Con-
spicuous among these is Otto C.. Neu-
man of Wheaton. Neuman ran a
poor third in the race. This was
hardly expected as it was thought
that the Norton organization still had
enough influence in Traverse county
to put lotto" across in the primary.
Another thoroughgoing reactionary
who was eliminated is John A. Nor
dine of Lake City. Nordine has made
a thoroughly reactionary record and
deserved defeat though he has per-
haps not served the interests quite so
faithfully as Neuman has done. Nor
dine was of a mental caliber that
made him naturally object slightly to
complete dominance by Boss Norton.
Widstrand and Farley Win.
In the Range country there is much
rejoicing over the elimination of Rep
resentative Reed, Hibbing. Mr.. Reed
deserved defeat as did his colleague
Hitchcock. Hitchcock was, however.
re-nominated but will face a real bat
tie in November. The Farmer-La-
borites nominated two Of the most
deserving men to be found anywhere
in the state. The men are Oscar
Widstrand, Hibbing, and B. H. Far
ley, Hopper.
Several other old timers were elm
mated but none of them stand out as
prominently as part of the Norton ma
chine as did Neuman, Nordine and
Reed.
Olson Heads Farmer-Labor Slate.
The Farmer4Labor state and con-
gressional tickets have now been de-
termined and there is almost no like
lihood of change unless some NOM