Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1936-04-02
CONVENTION HAS
SPOKEN

The Farmer-Labor state convention
of 1886 is now history. AS was ex-
pected, Governor Floyd B. Olson was
endorsed for the office of United
States senator without contest. The
governor gave long speech the OPEN
ing day of the convention, in which
he used most of the time on national
issues, principally the federal consti-
tuition and the usurpation of power by
the Supreme Court. The balance of
the slate of officers was also named
with contests on some of them.
The man who was appointed to fill
out the uneXpired term of United
States senator, Elmer A. Benson, was
unanimously endorsed for the office Of
governor, after a motion to endorse
two persons for each office from gov
ernOr and down had been overwhelm-
ingly defeated on the convention floor.
The writer has taken seriously the
phrase of rank and file" a peoples
movement, and acted accordingly. |
did not attend single county cOnven-
ton, feeling that those at such con-
ventions should be free to discuss the
qualifications of the various candi-
dates without the embarrassment of
candidates being present, and with no
outsiders coming in to say what
should be done. Nor did l ask u
single county to send instructed dele
gates for me, though two neighbor
counties did that. Uninstructed dele
gates can be open-minded and more
free to vote for that which they deem
best for the party and the state as
a whole.
For the past three months or more
close friends have advised that | be-
come candidate for Congress in the
Sixth District, for state treasurer. or
for railroad and warehouse commits
sioner. Those friends argued that it
was hopeless to try for endorsement to
the office of governor at the state
convention, the plans being all set for
naming Governor Olson's successor
On the other hand, | received many
letters and callers at my office adj
vising and strongly urging that
make the race for the governorship,
some even insisting that | file before
the convention. With friends here
and there over the state. / made the
best fight | knew how to make with
the resources at hand and without
real organization.
1t matters little who is the indi-
vidual to lose if something of value
may be learned from the experience
of the contest. The movement is
greater than the individual.
1t was Mr.. Benson's good fortune to
be appointed to the high office of
United States senator three months
ago, thus affording him much pub
licity, prestige, and the free franking
privilege. | did not aspire to that
office, but it occurs to me that the
appointment might more deservedly
have gone to such longtime leaders
in the liberal movement as Rep. S. A.
Stockwell, Senator Victor E. Lawson,
Railroad and Warehouse Commits
sioner Knud Wefald, or others, where
the purpose of political build-up
have been elected time and again by
the people, Mr.. Wefald being the first
person to be elected as a Farmer
Labor representative in Congress.
Mr.. Benson, however, is a man of
ability, a personal friend of mine, and
with other friends and workers in our
movement, | wish him success, and
trust that we may elect him as the
next governor of Minnesota as we'll
as to elect the whole state Farmer
Labor ticket and a majority of the
House of Representatives.
Apparently it was the desire OF the
convention and leaders in the party
that l be placed on the state ticket
so that | might go through the cam
paign and aid in the success of the
entire ticket. In the office of railroad
and warehouse commissioner, an cleo
tive post, l will be in good position to
continue my work for the rank and
file and for truly peoples party. The
people will have elected me and
shall be free to act on important mat
tiers coming before that commission In
way that feel is in accord with the
principles and program of the Farmer
Labor party.
HJALMAR PETERSEN.