The Redwood gazette., 1935-07-18
Pioneer Politics


\ NY MEANS to gain the desired end
~ was the rule of pioneer politicians,
some of whom rivaled Huey Long in
ability to apply the rule to the case in point,
an interesting account of an early day cam
paign published in the Olivia Times last
weeF reveals.
The following article incriminates The
Gazette, then in it's second year, but we as
sumo amends have been made in the 65
years since:
The Redwood Gazette reached the sixty-sxth
years of it's existence last week and is going
strong The Gazette served a god father to
The Times back in the early seventies when both
were young and foolish The first issue of The
Times was printed on the Washington hand press
in the Gazette office.
In this connection we are reminded that the
first newspaper published in Renville county ap-
peared the Renville County Globe. 1t lasted but
one week, but it was wild and furious while it did
last The editor blew into Beaver Falls from
where and few weeks later he left for the same
place. The copy was written at Beaver Falls and
the paper printed in the Gazette office at Red
wood Falls in the year 1870. The Globe carried
the editors announcement that being attracted to
Beaver Falls by it's natural beauty and its promise
Of bright future, he had cast his lot among the
QenlZenS
come to stay.
The Globe was printed as a campaign sheet
and held in the Gazette office until three days
before election. Then three men, each with a team
of horses and wagon, were hired to distribute the
copies They were ordered to 60 east to the Sib-
ley county line and from that point they to
distribute the papers on the way back, one team
taking a through the southern section of
the county, the second through the central section,
and the third through the northern section. It
was calculated that the three men and teams would
reach Beaver Falls on the eve of election day and
that the papers would be distributed to the voters
in all parts of the county The work carried
out as planned and proved very effective.
The Globe was an interesting paper It would
not have been permitted to 60 through the mails
because of it's defamatory and infammatory char
acter. In fact it would have burned a hole in the
mail sacks, but it was interesting in that it por-
trayed the peculiar spirit of the frontier life. 1t
appears that the politics of the county in con-
troll of a group of men known the "Old Guard"
to which Oar Hall, Henry Ahrens, Hans Gronerud
and other old timers belonged. In the campaign
of 1870 an independent group formed an organiza-
ton for the purpose Of dethroning the Old Guard,
and an Independent ticket was placed in the field
for the county Offices. To combat the efforts Of
this Independent group, the Old Guard financed the
first and only issue of the Renville County Globe.
We have never seen a copy Of the Globe.
few years ago The Times offered to pay 500 for
single copy of that paper, but unable to
secure one From some Of the early settlers who
remember reading the paper, we gathered that it
was great sheet, and was the first piece of evid-
ence they had that the pen was mightier than the
sword. It gave q column to each candidate run
ming for office, and it gave him plenty. For in
stance if Bill Jones the name Of the candidate
for county auditor on the independent ticket, the
write-up would run something like this: "Who is
Bill Jones? I'll tell you. He is wanted for horse
stealing down in Indiana where bounty has been
offered for his apprehension. Do you want him
for county auditor of this county? Will you elect
him in place of that splendid citizen, John Smith,
who has served you wel-who has stood sponsor
for your babies at the baptisma font, and who has
attended your wake and your funeral? Think it
over"
Similar treatment was given each of the other
candidates the Independent ticket, some Of them
charged with wife desertion and bigamy; others
with kidnapping, forgery, etc., while the candidates
of the Old Guard were pictured as heroes and mar
tyrs, saints and scholars None Of the opposition
candidates were charged with gambling, as gamb-
ling in those days was q more or less honorable
profession. After reading their copies Of the
Globe, the voters went to the polls and reelected
the Old Guard candidates by a tremendous ma
jority. The Globe passed out Of existence with
the election and, news travelled slowly in those
days, some years elapsed before the voters became
aware Of the villany Of it all. The Redwood Ga
zette played part in that political crime as an ac-
esssory before the fact, but it's vrtuous life ever
sincs, spd its many acts Of benevolence, charity
Snd goodness have washed away all traces Of the
er5me<-Ths Olivia Times.
"M0vfe star muffs chance to be real hero" says
beSd1ine. That's one Hollywood yarn that was