The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1934-11-23

One highly significant feature of the
election was the falling away of the
first partner in the farmer-labor mis-
mated party. The real farmers of the
state seem to have made up their minds
that they are tired of being labor
political catSpaw.
1t was the North, particularly the
that gave the farmer-labor
party its oyerpowering strength in the
1884 election. In st. Louis county par
ticularly, and in some adjoining
counties. the farmer is a small dairy
farmer, with two to half-dozen COWS
as his main support; that is, his main
support with the exception of tax
money. These farmers expect to exc
out living by getting road work from
the county, and this form of support
has become a recognized political in
stitution in st. Louis County, where in
the 1882 election the interest in the
county commissioner contests over
Swallowed all other election interests.
In several of the county commissioner
contests the vote for county commits
sioner was 1000 or more in excess of
the vote for President, and a recognized
method of campaigning was to go to
the county commissioners political meet
lngs and try to horn in on the speaking.
During the last two years the county
commissioners have been short of funds,
and the federal relief, with Floyd B.
Olson as its daddy, became deter
mining factor in the election.
With the farmer-labor party in con-
troll of the Executive Council the last
brake on the spending spree of the
farmer Labor leaders will have been re-
moved.
If, however, the republicans retain
control, substantial relief will be pro-
vided as in the past but the utmost
care and economy will be exercised.
The Executive Council is composed
of the governor, the attorney general,
the secretary of state, the state treas
urer and the state auditor. In 1919
the Executive Council was authorized
to issue certificates of Indebtedness to
take care of any calamity which might
overtake the state-like a great forest
fire, a tornado, etc. The legislature
thought it was limiting the authority
Of the Council to the expenditure of
$500 900 but later the attorney general
rendered an opinion that the Council
could spend up to 100000 for each and
every calamity.
For many years only genuine calami-
ties were considered by the Executive
Council, but when Floyd B. Olson be-
came governor he saw at once the adj
vantages of this law to a practical
politician. Anything that he wanted
To- send money for was denominated a
Calamity" by the Governor. So it was,
Of course, to the taxpayers of the state.
The Governor even attempted to call
The washing out of a bridge in Pine
county a Calamity"
Up to this time the republican
members of the Executive Council have
held Governor Olson somewhat il
check, and only real calamities and
acute relief have, for the most part,
won the Executive Councils favor. But
with the body in complete control of the
with the power to call any,
thing a calamity and to spend in one
year up to 100000 for each and every
the farmer-labor party will
not lack for funds.
The legislature can refuse to meet,
or refuse to appropriate a single dollar
1t won't make any difference. And if
any farmer-labor department of the
state Governor doesn't get all it wants
from the legislature, the Executive
Council can be depended upon to sup
ply the funds without limit.
Nobody will give a hang but the tax
payer, and judging from the election
returns of 1884, he doesn't care very
much.
Federal emergency relief funds were
poured into Minnesota during october
and came very handy for the November
as follows:
October 9th, $2,975 ,8S916; October
18th, $28,476.41; October 18th, $81, 73493:
October 22nd, $79,654.95; October oath,
$79, 134.38; October 10th, $34,769 .53- "a
grand total of $3,279 ,659.36.
Now that election is over will Gov
erner Olson be renamed as state re-
lief administrators" It seems improb-
able. Few believe that the Governor
resigned voluntarily.
1t should not be forgotten thai an