The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1932-03-17
Claeue Not a Candidate for
Governor; Will Retire After
Present Session of Congress
Denies Report That He Might
Seek G0vernorship in
Wire to Gazette
81 YEARS IN POLITICS
Schmahl Chances Rise as Four
Possibilities Refuse to
Seek Nomination

1T am not a candidate for re-elec-
ton to congress and would not con-
slider being a candidate for governor"
Congressman Frank Clague stated in
a telegram to The Redwood Gazette
Wednesday.
Mr.. Clague was queried regarding
his willingness to enter his name as
a Republican candidate when rumors
spread that he was considering such
a race.
He issued an informal statement
Monday to Washington correspond
dents Of Twin Cities newspapers, say
ing that he would not seek reelection
to congress from the second Mime
sofa district. Immediately political
writer's started a "Clague for Cover
nor" boom but the noise is silenced
with his fiat denial of any guberna-
torial aspirations.
Fourth to Decline
He is the fourth prominently men,
toned political figure to refuse to en-
ter the race. Earle Brown, head of
the state highway patrol; Stafford
King, state auditor and John H. Hou-
gen, candidate for lieutenant COVER
nor last year, have expressed unwill-
ingness to make the campaign within
the last ten days.
Mr.. Clague is one of two Redwood
Falls men who has been widely mem
toned for the nomination. julius A.
Schmahl, state treasurer and former
Gazette editor, is the most frequently
spoken of possibility who has not de-
clined to seek the nomination and his
chances of being nominated, If he
wishes, have improved with every
withdrawal.
The retirement of Mr.. Clague after
81 years of public service came as a
surprise to most of his political fol-
lowers. Some at first thought he
would seek the governorship which
he refused to consider two years ago
while others hint that he may have
the promise of federal appointment.
Long in Service
A lifelong Republican, Mr.. Ciague
first was elected from the Second
district in 1920 and is serving his
sixth consecutive term. Only Repre-
sentative Harold Knutson of the
Sixth district is his senior in point of
SeTVlCe AIMING hhiiiSSo'o
members.
He entered politics in 1895, being
elected prosecuting attorney OF Red
wood county in which office he serv-
ed until 1908. He was a member OF
the Minnesota House of Representa-
tives from 1903 to 1907, and served
as it's speaker. Later he served IN
the Minnesota state senate for eight
years followed by judicial service on
the Minnesota district bench which
ended with his election to Congress.
Clague is a member of the House
Appropriations committee, holding a
position of leadership. He has been
Independent, parting company with
the Hoover administration and It's
predecessors on numerous issues, in
GLIDING the Smoot- Hawley tariff bill.
These departures on questions OF ma
tional policy, however, never have led
to any open personal political rupture
with leaders of his party.
In his first statement, Mr.. Clague
said, 81 decided last spring that l did
not want to remain in congress, but
some of my friends said it would be
unwise to announce it at that time,
because of the fight over redistrlctlng
the state. l feel now, however, that
I should announce my decision, rather
than wait until after the Supreme
Court decision. No one knows wheth-
err we will have to file by district or
at large. I don't want to run at
large, and 1 did not intend to run In
my district again if the courts decl-
sion retains it, as / think it likely
will. But if the decision forces the
members to run at large, do not
think it fair to wait until then and
make my announcement, for that
would look cowardly.
81 owe it to those who may want
to become candidates to make my
position known now. want to say,
too, that l will take off my coat and
work for the republican nominee,
whoever he is.
my only reason for retiring is
that l have got to the age where
would like to have little time to my
self and to look after NV personal
business affairs. l want to thank the
people of my district for the support
and encouragement they have given
me. I have been well treated, both
by them and the entire state, and
want to say to them that l will not
loaf during the balance of my term.
I'll work just as hard as l can Tor
the interests Of nv district and OF
the entire state"