The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1936-06-18
Minnesota NeUs
and Comment
RY II. w. HITCHCOCK
BY Il. w. HITCHCOCK

public appearances to minimum and
has endeavored in every way possible
to SPARE himself strain and effort to-
the end that he might fully recover his
health.
Upon the occasion of his public APP
pearances he has shown that vigor of
mind and body which has always dis
tinguished him. The poise and strength
with which he delivered his two hour
address to the faIner-labor state con-
vention, most fatiguing effort, was re-
markable. From time to time political
intimates have visited him and have
brought back cheering word OF his pro-
gresS toward complete recovery.
No authoritative statement has been
given out, however, as to his actual
physical condition, either by his physi-
clans or by those who are closest to
him.
Under these conditions the anxiety
of the general public has increased;
speculation is rife and rumors persist.
The concern of the people Of the state
would be great any time, but in the
midst of political developments of in
tense interest, the physical condition
of Governor Olson is one upon which
hangs the possibility of radical changes
in the political picture; interest is
heightened accordingly.
If the governors condition permits
him to take an active part, the cam
paign for United States senator in Min
neSota will be a particularly Spectacu-
lar affair. If developments are such
that he finds it necessary to with
draw sometime after the primary, there
will be hurryings and scurryings in the
various political parties in Minnesota
and entirely new set-ups may confront
the people.
If Governor Olson should withdraw
after June 18th, it might be thought
advisable by farmer-labor leaders to
call a second farmer-labor state con-
vention; or the State Central Com
mittee of the farmer-labor party might
designate someone else to make the
race for United States senator.
The finger of probability has for
several weeks been pointing strongly
at Chief Justice Devaney of the state
supreme court. Despite the chief JUS
tees vigorous declaration that he feels
that he now holds the best office within
the gift of the state, the conviction
persists that he would not turn down
an opportunity to go to the United
States senate. Gossip has perSiStently,
within the last few months, specialized
upon the substitution of Chief Justice
Devaney for Governor Olson as a
candidate for the senate if it should be
necessary for the latter to withdraw.
The chief justice is a democrat. The
hope would be to unite the warning
factions of the democratic party and
to throw the farmer-labor vote to
Devaney and the democratic vote to
the farmer-labor candidate for COVER
nor.
None of these things may come to
pass, but they are possible, even some
what probable. One thing is certain
they are talked of.
From 1880 down to 1885, in four sep
arte platforms, the farmer-labor party
has changed front three times.
Before 1890 the farmer-labor party
stood boldly and honestly for certain
fundamental liberal principles. With
the advent of the Olson candidacy II
1880 all this was changed. For honesty
and forthrightnesS the party had cum
ming thrust upon it. The party of 1885,
was dictated by the candidate, tn,
robust demands of previous years wer
toned down and the platform was 9Th
most conservative issued by the farmer
labor party in several years" Late
the new leader issued his own "per
sonal platform" in which many of tn
planks of the party platform wer
omitted. Notable among omission
were an anti-Backus plank demandin
protection of the lakes along the Can
peal of the Brooks-Coleman law, tn
plank against labor injunctionS, tn
plank for a state printing plant, an
the steel trust batting plank for re
peal of the per capita law. In fac
the personal platform" was a graciou
gesture of friendliness on the part {
the candidate to big business.
The winning conservative platform {
1890 was repeated in 1892 with a fe
changes and additions. But the risin
tide of discomfort among the Poop
in 1892 gave the farmer labor admins
tration mother thought. 1t cast off tt
cloak of mild conservatism. II a
what I want to be-a RADICAL" shoute
the governor and the farmer-labor pla
form declared flatly that democrat
had failed, that individual rights We
out of date and that government
politicians must take over everythin
That platform did not 'go so good"
1894 and the farmer-labor administr
ton in Minnesota became a minori
administration. So in 1886 it chang
front again, speaks to the people soft
once more and sings small on
radical demands of 1884.
The Minnesota permanent schc
fund is being enriched right now at t
rate of about $12,5O0 per day Over
million tons of iron ore have be
shipped from state-owned mines {
ready this year and the permane
school fund has thereby been i
creased more than quarter of a m
lion dollars.
Seventy-five years ago Govern
Alexander Ramsey, in one of the MI
important state papers in Minnesot
history, pointed out to the 1861 leg
lature the broad lines upon which pt
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