The Ely miner., 1932-05-20

1loIn anniversary OF LIle InOQtTIl
independence of Norway and citizens
of Minnesota of Morse birth or an
cestry are duly celebrating the occasion.
In numerous cases, I presume, candi-
dates for Office are taking advantage of
the opportunity either as speakers or
in mingling with the voters in attend
ance at the celebrations.
Gov. Olson was the chief speaker at
"Syttende Mai" celebration in Mime
apolis Sunday night, the opening of a
three-day celebration concluding to-
night. He did't talk politics, but that
doesn't argue that his speech didn't
make some votes for himself. It's his
ability and charm as public speaker
that makes him such formidable
character on the political rostrum-even
his political enemies admit that. They
have to.
Speaking of admissions, it's up to me
to admit that when last weeks column
was written-only about 36 hours be-
fore the ''deadline" for filings with the
secretary of State-I didn't look for
ward to quite such an avalanche of
last-minute entries into the free-for-all
primary contests for congressman-at-
large as finally appeared.
If the reader recollects, I surmised
dates" for the Republican and Farmer
Labor nominations, with considerably
less number of Democrats in the race.
AS a matter of fact, while 1 didn't say
so, I really figured there would be
more Republican than Farmer-Labor
aspirants, and that the total for all
three parties would be about go.
Well, 1 was mistaken. When Mike
Holm's Office closed at P. NJ, the last
day for filing, no less than SO candi-
dates had parted company with $50
each to get their names on the pri-
mary ballot. What price political am
bition!
The number went so high that I've
almost forgotten the details, but I
think the 80 candidates line up as
follows: Farmer-Labor, 35; Republican,
80; Democratic, %.
Pity the poor voter when he comes
to scan the list and to pick out nine
for whom to vote-that is, if he doesn't
quit trying before crossing" that many
on his ballot. And, of course, there
will be not so few who will act on
the vote for one" slogan, although
1 feel sorry for any of the 80 aspirants
who attempts to urge that idea. Any
candidate doing so openly-or in such
a way that it's found out will have
the friends of the other 88 riding"
him all along the line.
But if the voter is to be pitied because
of the long" ballot, what about the
election judges and clerks? They'll
have cause to remember June 20, 1882,
for many a long year. In fact, it will
be June 20 and 81 for thousands of
them.
The congressman-at-larg situation
offers plenty of opportunities for COM
binations of candidates, but whether or
not there will be any-except the rather
natural one composed of Endorsed"
andidates-renains to be seen.
The regular" Republicans and
Democrats have made Endorsements of
certain candidates and the ''runp"
Democrats may do so, while the Far
mer-Laborites have decided to let it
be a case of every one for himself
and devil take the hindmost."
The Republicans have indorsed the
following incumbents: August H. An
dresen, Sd district; w. I. Nolan, 5th
district; Harold Knutson, 9Th district;
w. A. Pittenger, 9th district, and G.
G.. Selvig, 9th district, also the follow
ing: State Sen. j. v. Weber, I'd district,
and former Gov. Theodore Christian
son, 7th district. Neither Rep. Melvin
j. Mas, 4th district, nor Rep. Victor
Christgau, 1st district, have been in
dorsed, the former because he didn't
request it, and the latter because the
district delegates opposed the indorse-
ment plan by majority vote.
The regular" Democrats also in
dorsed nine candidates.
These indorsees are on "an fours"
with the candidates indorsed for state
offices, hence it is to be expected that
they will campaign together as a
"ticket"-at least, that their efforts will
be largely co-ordinated for mutual
assistance. The Republicans have al
ready provided for such a plan, the
state indorsing convention having di-
rected the appointment of a committee
of five, headed by L. A. Rossman,
Grand Rapids, to be in general charge
of the pre-primary campaign for the
indorseeS. District conferences in fur
therance of this plan are being held
this week and next.
But that doens necessarily mean that
the non-indorsees are going to be able
to combine against the indorsees-the
are too many of them and of too varied
personalities and political viewpoints,
although some smaller combinations
may be attempted.
Fact is, the whole situation is so
tremendously muddled that it would
stump the prophetic ability of the
seventh son of seventh son to pre-
dict as yet just what's going to happen.
Anybody's guess is as good as the next