Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1936-04-02
Party Holds Biennial Con-
VentiOn in St. Paul Fri
day, Saturday.
Olson and Benson Will Head
the Ticket in E1ec-
ton Race.

AS concrete indication that the
Minnesota Farmer-LabOr party has
grown to be a power in state politics
and a full fledged third party, one
might take into consideration the
magnitude of attention which it at
tracted last week when it held its
biennial endorsing convention in the
st. Paul auditorium. With every one
of the CAT state delegates present and
gallery of spectators which packed
the remaining space in the large hall,
the convention got under way Friday
with its heavy slate of business to
transact.
Newspapers were represented from
New York, Chicago st. Paul, Mime
apolis and other smaller cities and
towns and a news reel made movies
of the occasion for national showing.
Within 30 minutes after its conven-
ing those present settled down to
listen to a mastery twO-hOur dis
course of progressive principles by
Gov. Floyd B. Olson. The governors
address formed the nucleus of the
platform which was drafted and ap-
proved by the convention.
Get Started Late.
With the governors address taking
up the time from II a. m. to rs p. m.
on the opening day and the subse-
quent adjournment for lunch, Friday
was almost spent before convention
officers were chosen. Finally at about
3 o'clock In the afternoon Charles
George Lommen of Eveleth, vice
chairman, and Miss Bessie Schmilov-
itz of Minneapolis, secretary.
Then with the gavel passing into
the hands of Mr.. Mum, the wheels
of the convention began to grind out
the business which was to occupy its
attention until 4:30 a. m. Sunday
Accomplishments at A Glance.
Acceptance of about one-third
of 80 resolutions. CThe remain
der were passed into the hands
of the State Central Committee
for action because of lack of time
to act on them in the convention
as a whOle.)
Adoption of a platform which
called for a practical state pro-
gram, of progressive legislation,
including plank which would
ultimately see monOpolized indus
tries collectively owned.
Election of Paul A. Harris of
Thief River Falls, as chairman
of the Farmer-Labor Association,
Edward Hagen of Milan, as vice
chairman, and 1. C.. Strout, Sec
rotary.
Passing of Rules to govern con-
duct of convention.
State Ticket Endorsed.
Adoption of an endorsing slate
of state candidates as follows:
United States senator-Gover-
nor Floyd B. Olson
Governor-United States Sena-
tor Elmer A. Benson.
Lieutenant governor-G. G.
Lindsten, Railroad Brotherhood
representative.
Secretary of state-Dr. Paul
Hartig, Minneapolis.
Treasurer-State Representa-
tive c. A. Halvorson, Revere.
Attorney general-Harry H. Pc
terson, incumbent.
Railroad and warehouse COM
missioner-Lieutenan Governor
Hjalmar Petersen.
Associate justice of the state
supreme cOurt-JOseph Poirier,
assistant attorney general, and
Charles Derue, Marshall.
Harmony Prevailed.
Lack Of harmony and the likeIi-
hood of two factions within the Farm
er-Labor party did not prevail as the
delegates left for their homes with
this all ironed out in the final
session. The bone of contention i'm
pre-convention activity was the mat
ter of the endorsement of a guber-
Material candidate. The state office
holding faction had led in a move
ment to build up and promote the
of Elmer A. Benson. while
on the other hand Hjalmar Petersen
lieutenant governor, was opposed to
clique control and received much
support from the rank and file as a
possible candidate for governor. This
the daily press and political prognos-
ticators, who would apparently enjoy
seeing a split in the ranks, played up
as likely battle to the undoing Of
the party at the polls.
However, more harmony and better
party feeling were created when Mr..
Petersen appeared before the conven-
ton. withdrew i'm favor of Mr.. Benson
and seconded his nomination.