Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1936-04-09
MAGNUS AGAIN

1t has been known for several
months that there would be contest
for nomination to the office of gov
ernor on the Farmer-Labor ticket at
the primaries on June Is of this
year. Three men had filed for the
office prior to the Farmer-Labor state
convention on March q and % and
with the convention endorsee there
are four candidates.
The three candidates to file months
ago are Edgar B. Bernard of Anoka,
Adolph w. Olson of Shevlin, and for
mer Congressman Magnus Johnson of
KimbaQ.
Bernard filed for the nomination on
the Republican ticket two years ago
so is of course out of the picture.
He will, as he should, get scant con-
sideration at the hands of Farmer
Labor voters. Adolph Olson is not
well enough known to- receive a big
vote. To our knowledge he has never
served in the Legislature and is
known little outside of his own county.
He has had no build up through cleo
ton to office or otherwise, his quail
fications are not known, so unless he
puts up an active campaign, his vote
will not be large.
Magnus Johnson, however, is we'll
known and he will receive substan-
tial portion of the Farmer-LabOr pri-
mary vote against Governor Floyd B..
Olsons choice, and the convention
endorsee, Senator Elmer A. Benson.
Mr. Benson is generally regarded as
safe to be nominated for the COVER
norship but Magnus will take quite a
slice in the vote. Having been
through campaigns for the past 20
years or more, there are few hands
in the state of Minnesota he has not
shaken and he is looked upon as a
good fellow, a good mixer and COM
mon ordinary citizen who high hats
no one. One can even hear clerks
in stores satisfyingly say that when
Magnus Johnson comes to town we all
know he is here because he makes
it point to go the rounds and shake
hands with all of u.s."
No one disputes Magnus Johnson's
ability to get votes or to be lone
of the boys" but there is a wide diff
ference between being able to get
votes enough to be elected and being
able to render efficient service after
election. Even physically Mr.. John
son is now nearly out. He is 65 years
of age and is recuperating from a
very severe illness. A governor
should be between the ages of 40 and
So, his best and most vigorous years
old enough to have had wide exper-
fence and yet young enough to be able
to stand the burdens of the office.
Some persons might be all right even
past So but after IS it is too late.
With the convention endorsing only
Elmer A. Benson for the office of gov
ernOr there will be as it now appears,
Labor ticket at the June primaries.
Had the convention endorsed two,
there would have been five candidates.
Quite surely the Farmer-Labor vot-
ers will nominate Mr.. Benson for the
governorship, but Magnus johnson
will be accorded his usual good vote.
He has had colorful career, being
both elected and defeated to almost
all legislative positions. He served
as representative and senator in the
Minnesota Legislature. Was next
United States senator and later repre-
sentative in Congress, a candidate for
governor in 1926, district appraiser
for the Rural Credits Bureau for a
time, and is presently employed by
the Railroad and Warehouse Commits
sion at the South st. Paul stockyards
He is not lacking in self-cOnfidence
and does a lot of chattering and in
effective talking. Representative In
Congress should haveebeen his pin
nacle. There he could have the guild
ance and advice of men like Con
gresham Ernest Lundeen, and while
there he voted we'll without much
embarrassment to his party.
Many people however, will vote fol
Magnus in the June primary despite
the fact they know he has neither thu
mental nor physical capacity to fill
the office of governor. His will b.
largely a protest vote against the ma
chine ruled convention.