Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1933-08-10
PERPLEXED

Yes, they are perpleXed. One Re-
publican newspaper tries to make out
that Governor Olson is on vacation
much of the time and that his chief
occupation is that of drawing salary,
and another paper of the same po-
litical faith gives him credit for doing
practically all the firing and hiring
of state employees, which in itself,
with no other duties, would be man.
sized job. That the Farmer-Labor
arty-representing the masses
should have as its leader man who
is shrewd enough to out-general all
the old timers is beyond their COM
prehension. The conservative and re-
dictionary men are supposed to be the
boys with the real brains, and here
comes a young political party-only
in existence a dozen years-with a
leader that keeps them all guessing.
It's cOnundrum. It's got them CUES
sing. And they can't understand that
so much brains can be employed in
behalf of the masses when bigger
salaries are waiting.
The man was born and raised with
the masses, it is part of his makeup,
it is in his system.
But it was the perplexity we were
talking about. Good standard Repub-
lican newspapers are cOntradicting
one another when they come to dis
cuss the governor.
Under the, caption of 'Minnesota's
Governors" the Mortified News writes:
MINNESOTA'S GOVERNORS
"In one respect we are in Will
Rogers class. All we know is what
we read in the papers. A st. Paul
daily carries a news item to the eff
feet that Governor Floyd B. Olson left
this week for Chicago to address some
Italian affair and from there would
proceed to Cleveland to address con-
reading last week that he got back
to his office at the capitol following
vacation. And the week before was
spent recuperating at Gull lake from
an operation that necessitated two
weeks stay in Minneapolis hospital.
I'VE take off our hat to a man who
can govern as well as MinnesOta's
Farmer-LABOR governor does while
spending so little time at his desk.
Eat the same time, here's a salute
to Minnesota's real governors-Pri-
vate Secretary Vince Day and Messen-
ger Indispensable Billy Williams. AL
so a hand of sympathy to these Of
ficials who must face the job hunters
and the critics while the absentee
chief draws the governors salary
checks"
The Minnesota Voice, Republican
organ. published down in Slayton and
"whose only master is the truth" as
they so loudly proclaim, makes out that
the governor is real busy man if
ever there was a busy man. They
analyze it thus:
THE ONE-MAN BAND
"Times have changed in Minnesota
since the Farmer-Labor party first APP
peared on the state ballot. In those
days a group of people set out to or
ganize a party which would represent
their political beliefs. While there
may be disagreement as to the po-
litical program they adopted, few will
charge that they were insincere or
opportunists seeking office.
To-day times have changed. The
Farmer-LabOr party is a misnomor.
1t is no longer a party. 1t is a one
man band named Floyd B. Olson.
That statement gives credit to the
organizing ability and the political
acumen of one of the shrewdest oppOr-
tunists who ever sat in the governors
chair. But it does not reflect so well
on the FarmerLabor party.
more and more the remark is
dropped, and by people considered
loyal Farmer-Laborites, don't get me
wrong. I'm no Farmer-Laborite, I'm
for Floyd
Every state department of impor-
lance is run, not by it's titular head
but by Floyd B. Olson. Patronage
is distributed by Floyd, not by the
party. Occasionally some small fry
may be discharged without the COVER
nor's knowledge, but no person of any
Importance has been discharged OF
hired without Floyd's consent. He
has sought to dictate the policies oi
the Minnesota and st. Paul Farmer
Labor groups, and in Minneapolis