The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1936-02-04
OLSON HOLDS
KEY To TREND
IN MINNESOTA
Course Of Politics There
to Follow His Illness,
Stokes States.
BY THOMAS l.. STOKES
Times Special Correspondent

ST. PAUL. MINI, Feb. 4.-The
course of politics in this northwest
ern state will follow rather closely
the course of the chart which hangs
BY Floyd B. Olsons bedside in a
Rochester hospital
If the illness OF the spectacular
Governor should remove him from
politics-and there is a probability
of this-it might adversely affect
President Roosevelt's chances of
carrying Minnesota. Beyond that.
II would involve the fortunes of the
Farmer-Labor movement, which is
prominent factor in development
OF a third party in this country.
Gov. Olson has tied up with the
New Deal, for the present, and regu-
lar Democrats in this state are play
ing his game. 1t is an effective al
lance from which both benefit
Finishing Third Term
The Governor is finishing his
third term. He has announced for
the United States Senate. If his
health permitted, the chances are
he would win, according TO political
calculators here. AS an active sup
porter of Mr.. Roosevelt in the cam
paign, he would help the national
ticket tremendously.
But If he should be eliminated,
The whole situation would change.
This would result, in his own party,
IN a scramble for power-and fac
tional leaders at this moment are
bucking against the Olson reins. 1t
would tend also to unsettle the
Democrats, for faction known
here as the Bumpers" embodying
the old AL Smith element, is kick
Ing at the alliance of the Regulars
with the Farmer-Laborites.
The American Liberty League re-
Gently has become a live issue in
the Democratic row. The League
has opened commodious headquar-
ters here to be managed by Thomas
Quinn. member of the Democratic
State Central Committee. Mr..
Quinn, q delegate at the 1882 Chi
cago convention, bolted from Roose-
velt to Smith there. He is with the
Bumpers
Tribute to Olson
Politics in this state is thus shot
through with factional strife. 1t is
a tribute to the genius of Gov. Oh
son that he has remained master
of the state for so long.
To understand the political his
tory of this state it is necessary to
consider certain facts. Built up by
railroads and lumber and settled by
Swedish immigrants, it was rock
ribbed Republican until few years
ago when the Farmer Labor Party
came along on the heels of the old
Non-Partisan League movement.
Gov Olson, now in his early for
ties, solicited Farmer-Labor con-
troll after Henrik Shipstead was sent
to the Senate on that ticket in %.
President Roosevelt, the first Demo-
cratic candidate for President ever
to carry the state, polled 600, 806
votes to Mr.. HooverS. 1863 ,959.
Sought Parties Support
Gov. Olson decided to broaden ;ais
party. and sought support from both
Democrats and Republicans in what
is known AS the All-Party move
ment. He tied up with Democrats,
ana included them in distributing
patronage. This angered some of
the Farmer Labor Old Guard.
SO today we find Magnus Johnson,
one-time Senator and Congressman,
raising his booming voice against
the Governor. He is going to run
for Governor against Elmer Benson,
recently appointed by Gov. Olson to
the Senate seat vacated by the
death of Thomas d. Schall. MIR.
Benson will be the Olson candidate
for Governor If Mr.. Olson is able to
make the senatorial race.
Other disgruntled Farmer Labor
Leaders also are thinking about kick
ing over the traces. Atty. Gen.
Harry H. Peterson Is talking about
running for the Senate, and Lieut..
Gov. Hjalmar Petersen for Governor.
Machine Backs Nelson
Senator Schalls widow may seek
the Republican nomination, but the
machine is behind Martin A. Nelson.
who ran a strong race in 1884
against Gov. Olson. The possible
Democratic candidates are numer-
Gus. but none stands out at this
time.
The factional pickering has en-
couraged Republicans. State Senator
Claude H. Mckenzie, Republican
national committeeman forecast in
a conversation with me that Presi-
dent Roosevelt would lose Minnesota
IN November If the Republicans
nominated a strong candidate with
8 good agricultural program. He
said the state was swinging against
the New Deal.