Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1935-06-27
CUSTER CHARGE
PUBLIC INSULT
Case Against Governor Floyd b. Olson
Advances Cause Of Farmer.
Labor Party.
BY HENRY G. TEIGAN

BY HENRY G. TEIGAN
Old Guard Republicans met with
another setback the other day when
Judge H. D. Dickinson of the Henne-
pin district court, threw out the suit
brought by "29 citizens" to GUST Gev-
ernor Floyd B. Olson from office.
After four days hearing, Judge Dick
insOn sustained the contention of the
Governors attorneys that the action
was "a fraud and insult to the public"
and dismissed the action brought by
the G. o. P. group.
This is the third major blunder
made by G. o. p. politicians within
the past five months. The first was
the farcial Carley investigation au-
thorized by the conservative majority
in the state senate; the second, the
sales tax scheme embodied in the So
called omnibus tax bill, and the last.
but by no means least, the custer suit
against the Governor referred to
above.
Citizens Alliance Backed Suit.
Among the things developed during
the suit was the fact that the action
was financed by the Citizens Alliance
of Minneapolis. The Citizens Alli-
ance is a we'll known organization Ct
big business representatives whose
principal function is to oppose the &C
tivities of organized labor. Another
fact that came to light was that Sem
ator Thomas D. Schall also had his
hand in the affair, being represented
by "Sly Bill Laughlin, who has been
prOtege of the blind Senator for
many years, and has been active in
directing the Senator's affairs in the
realms of the underworld.
What Record Shows.
In reporting the case, the Mime
sofa Leader, organ of the Farmer
Labor Association, shows that the fol-
lowing persons and organizations were
connected with the bringing of the
suit:
The executive vice president and
several other officers of the Mime
apolis Citizens Alliance.
The agent of anti-union truck own
ers involved in last years bloody
strike.
The chairman of the bitterly anti
| Farmer-LabOr Secret Six" of Mime
| apOlis.
A lifelong friend and former law
partner of Senator Thomas d. Schall
who expects to face Governor Olson
in the senate race next year.
"Sly Bill Laughlin, former Schall
bodyguard and henchman.
An official of the Minnesota Law
and Order League, anti-Farmer-LabO1
group organized last year under "vigi-
lante" pretexts.
| A prominent campaigner for Martin
Nelson, defeated Republican candidate
for governor.
Agents for powerful grain trade and
milling interests.
Representatives of several large in
Surance companies.
Harold Birkeland, lifelong, fanatica
enemy of Governor Olson and author
of the notorious and scurrilous Dir
keland Book" circulated by the Re
publican party in the last campaign
Fortune Smiles on FL.
Surely Fortune has smiled on the
Farmer-Labor party since the election
last November. While it is true thai
organization activities of the Farmer
Laborites have gone on at rapi(
pace in the past few months, it mus
be conceded that the progress of the
movement is due as much to the
vicious antics of the opposition as il
is to the work of the leaders in the
movement.
1t is apparent that the Farmer-La
Dor party was never in better position
to command the support of the cleo
torate than it is at present. 1t nov
rests with the leaders of the move