The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1932-04-07
DOING JOBS WELL
HABIT OF BROWNS
Republican Candidate for Gov.
ernOr Has Fine Record
of Accomplishment
WELL KNOWN TO PUBLIC
Office Sought the Man-Spent
Own Money to Get Deserv-
ed Results in Office

ed Results in Office
minneapolis Sunday Tribune)
THE man who has gained consid-
cradle fame from his two seemingly
conflicting hobbies-the breeding
of fine horses, and the promotion
of safe and agreeable automobile
travel-Saturday found himself in
a new role. -.
He became, because of an insis-
tent demand, the Republican
party's nominee for governor OF
Minnesota.
The role was not Of his seeking.
In fact, this year and in the past
he frequently asserted that he pre-
ferred to remain as head of the
state highway patrol.
But the Republican conference
in St. Paul, recalling, perhaps
the success with which Earle
Brown has filled other positions to
which he was drafted went ahead
and nominated him. And, as in the
past Earle Brown accepted the re-
sponsiblity that goes with being
selected to carry an important bur-
den.
What he will do now that he has
been nominated, he did not say.
His past record however, indicates
that his course will be one of vigor-
Gus direct and faithful action. Ever
since Earle Brown stepped into a
public position as sheriff of Hen
nepin county IL years ago, he has
been a doer rather than a prom
User.
Brown, a real estate operator
and at that time Minneapolis
wealthiest bachelor" took the post
when circumstances were adverse.
The sheriff's office was in none too
good standing with the public.
Oscar Martinson, the sheriff, had
resigned as result of whisky
conspiracy scandal in his office.
The county commissioners look
ed about for man who might be
depended on to restore the office to
it's proper place. They selected
Earle Brown, who then was 40.
Once in that office, Earle Brown
and the sheriff's force became well
known to the public throughout
Minnesota as well as in Hennepin
county. Brown did not seek public
ity or acclaim. 1t simply accrued to
him because of his manner of
handling his job.
When excitement, accompanied
by danger, was at it's height.
Brown did not delegate some de-
putty to do the work. He was there
himself. The list of criminals cap
tured by Brown alone, or with the
assistance of his deputies, makes
up some of the most stirring parts
of the records of that office
But his activity as sheriff was
not confined entirely to capturing
criminals. He frequently did things
to make life easier for the GRIM
minals and their families. One such
incident occurred in 1925. While a
visitor at Sing Sing prison in New
York, he learned that a murderer,
who was to be executed, would
leave a destitute family. Sheriff
Brown promptly donated a sub
stantial sum as the start of re-
lief fund that grew to considerable
proportions.
While Sheriff Brown accepted
his salary checks regularly, it Is
doubtful that the office meant any
thing to him from that standpoint.
On more than one occasion he
spent his own money for things
that rightly might have been
county expenditures.
In the fall of 1927, as an example
he found that the shelter provided
for sheriff's cars and motorcycles
was inadequate. At his own ex-
pense, he ordered the construction
of a garage.
While he was sheriff, and since,
he continued the breeding of fine
Belgian horses on his Brooklyn
Center farm near Camden. For
years, Browns Belgians have been
championship winners at national
and international livestock shows.
It might seem that the demand
for 800 horses could be filed with
out much difficulty in this age of
gasoline transportation, but be-
cause of the distinction his horses
have won. Browns problem was
filling rather than finding de-
mand.
AS the sheriff's office progressed
under Browns direction, and
Brown himself became outstand-
ing as a capable and forceful lead
er, he was turned to several times
when leadership was being sought.
In 1925 he was offered and de-
clined, the position of northwest
prohition enforcement director.
Two years later he again might
have stepped out of the sheriff's
office to larger post, that of
head of the newly-formed state
central bureau of criminal identi-
fication. Again he declined.
Meanwhile however, he accepted
the responsibilities delegated him
by his fellow Minnesota sheriffs.
He was president Of the Minnesota
Sheriffs association several terms.
Finally in 1929, the millionaire
sheriff" resigned from the sheriff's
office, which he had occupied con-
tinuously since his original APP
pointment. On May 6, 1929, he took
charge of the new state highway
patrol.
Handicapped by the lack Of
funds, and a lack Of interest, the
highway patrol was hardly
promising organization when
Brown assumed charge. Brown
made no promises. He simply went
ahead and made highly efficient
highway patrol.