Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1936-04-30
Magnus Apparently
Feels Young

AS might be expected, Magnus john
son did not like the editorial headed
"Magnus Again." published in the
Askov American of April 8. He takes
ernor should be in his best years, be-
tween 40 and SIS. certainly not past
65. Age, however, was not the most
important point.
We do not defend the votes of Ell
mer A. Benson in the Senate any more
than we would apologize for the votes
of Magnus Johnson in the Minnesota
Legislature or Congress in days gone
by. Each must answer to his party
and constituents for his individual
votes.
No true liberal will dispute Magnus
JOhnson's right to file for nomination
to the office of governor on the Farm
er-Labor ticket at the June primaries.
We defend him in that action in spite
of the. resolution passed at the state
Farmer-Labor convention ostracizing
or making an enemy out of any indi-
vidual who files for nomination with
out the conventions endorsement.
That resolution goes to show what
can be put over at any convention
where there may be plenty of oratory,
excitement, emotion, machine rule.
log rolling, or such. The resolution
was entirely out of place coming from
a liberal party. Apparently some
manipulatOrs at the convention have
forgotten or willfully overlooked the
purpose of the primary election,
fought for by such great progressives
as the late Senator Robert NJ LaFol-
lette, Sr., Senator Norris of Nebraska,
the late Senator Walsh of Montana,
and others.
Yes, a Farmer-Laborite of long
standing like Magnus Johnson GER
tainly has the undisputed right to file
for any office to which he desires
nomination at the June primaries.
The slate of convention endorsed cam
didates should be taken in the light
of a guide for the voters at the pri-
maries rather than something final.
1t is well known fact that persons
interested principally in securing ap-
pOintive positions have time and again
gotten behind the candidacy of men
like Magnus Johnson, hoping for vic
tory so they could get the jobs. Those
boosters choose a man like Magnus
because of his nationality, his being
known as farmer, his handshaking
ability, his high hating no one, and
his ability to mix with people and
garner votes. The jobs they hope to
get after election is of much greater
concern to them than the building Of
a great liberal movement and serving
the masses. What has Magnus ever
championed and put over? Where is
his leadership? And where will that
continual office and job seeking land
the party?
Defeat for political office should
not be disgrace to any one for there
can be no contest without victory and
defeat. But on the other hand, it is
no indication that a person is an
Abraham Lincoln because of defeats.
Magnus Johnson was elected once to
the United States Senate and once to
Lie I1OuSc vi
and defeated for each of those offices.
He was defeated both times candi-
date for governor, the last time being
10 years ago.
Anyone who has made some study
of government knows it is late in
life for man to be governor when
up in the sixties. Ability, however,
was brought out as a point of more
Importance than age, in the previous
editorial.
Magnus Johnson always talks about
being a farmer. 1t might be interest
ing to know how much actual farming
he has done since he entered the COW
milking and wood saving contests
down in Washington in 1923. The
fact that the editor of the AskoN
American was endorsed for nomina
ton to the office of railroad and ware
house commissioner on the Farmer
Labor ticket does not prevent the pub
LEGATION of candid opinions.