The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1932-11-18
BY G. B. WOLLAN.

by VI. -. WS4ANAN.
st. Paul, Nov. Is, 1932-There's a
first time for everything, they say, and
last weeks election proved it. 1t was
not only the first time in its IA years
of statehood that Minnesota went
Democratic in a presidential election,
but it was also the first time in that
same span of history that the Republi-
cans in this state lost more than two
state offices.
Four times have opposition candi-
dates won the governorShip
johnson, Hammond and OlSon-but on
all of those occasions the other state
offices, except two years ago when Far
mer-Laborite Henry ArenS was elected
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.
Last week the Farmer-LaboriteS won
out for governor, lieutenant governor,
attorney general and railroad and ware
house commissioner, besides coming
aWfully close to capturing the state
treasurer job. Unofficial and not quite
complete returns show Julius A.
Schmahl, Republican candidate for re-
election, having lead of little less
than 10000 over A. H. Kleffman, Hib
bling, his Farmer-Labor opponent.
Mike Holm, veteran white-haired sec
rotary of state, with his combination
Irish ScandinaVian name, breezed
through as usual, but with greatly
reduced plurality.
There is still doubt as to the political
complexion Of the new state house of
representatives, whether it will be DOM
The exact status of quite few of the
new members is not known and prob
ably will not be definitely ascertained
until the time comes for procession
caucus.
In fact, there may be two such
caucuSeS, one called by the conServa-
tive element, the other by the liberals.
The showdown will come then. In the
meantime, it is apparent that the
liberals will be much stronger than in
the 1881 session, possibly even to the
extent of being the majority.
In this connection the fates did a
rather peculiar thing, RELOCATING Rep.
Frank Starkey, st. Paul labor leader
and house minority leader for two or
three sessions, to the list of "haS-beens."
Even the big victory Of Governor Olson
and the Farmer-Labor ticket as a whole
failed to pull Starkey through. His
knack of successful floor leadership will
be sorely missed, especially in event OF
liberal domination of the house. Star
key had the respect and admiration OF
nearly every house member, regardless
of political utilization, which is more
than can be said of some others of the
minority-or of the majority, for that
matter.
AS these lines were written it was not
definitely known whether Rep. Harold
KnutSon, Wadena, Rep. A. H. Andersen,
Red Wing, both Republicans, or F. II.
Shoemaker, Red Wing, Farmer-Labor,
was going to be the 10th man in the
free for all congressional race.
The three We're running neck and
neck for 9Th and 9th places, with one
of the three bound to find himself just
outside of the charmed circle. The ac-
tual result probably will not be known
until after next Tuesday, when the
state canvassing board meets to check
over the official returns from the 81
county auditors.
Based ON unofficial returns from all
but about 40 of the states 3,716 pre-
cincts, however, Shoemaker was in 9th
place with lead over his two closest
Republican rivals that neither may be
able to overcome on returns from the
few remaining unreported precincts.
But it is already certain that there
will be a recount, no matter what the
official vote shows, because it is almost
assured now that the difference between
st hand Goth places will be less than
9th and 18th places will be less than
300.
Incidentally, this first election of all
Minnesota congressman at large fur
nished plenty of material for specu-
lation by those who want ito analyze
the vote on the cause and effect"
basis. There is little doubt but that
the strong anti-Hoever sentiment in
the state, plus the depression, had much
to do with the big vote given both Far
mer-Labor and Democratic candidates.
While Einar Hoidale, Minneapolis,
who came so close to defeating Sen.
Tom Schan two years ago, is the only
Democrat who survived in the free-for-
all race for congress last week, it is
reasonable to believe that the other
Democratic congressional aSpirants
would have poIed considerably heavier
votes than they did if it had not been
for the split in that party between reg
ulars and jumpers.
Neither can there be much doubt
but that all the Republican candidates
for congress suffered as result OF the
"gentlemen's agreement between DEM
ocratic regular" leaders and the Far
mer-Labor forces for exchange OF Far
mer-Labor support of Gov Roosevelt
for president for Democratic support
of Farmer-Labor candidates.
Had there been no such arrangement