The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1937-09-23
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Edited This Week BY
Victor A. Johnston

L
together people from all parts of the
state and wherever there is a large
group of voters you can depend on
finding politicians of all degree. This
Years fair was no exception and climax
ing the whole week as far as politicians
and political discussions were con-
Icerned was legislative and editorial
day when Office holders, would be Office
holders, and former Office holders were
busily engaged in sounding out Senti-
ment from the rural editors and legis-
latorS who gathered from all parts of
the state.
This is supposed to be an off year in
IpoliticS, time for quiet maneuvering
in preparation for the election next
year, but the situation is far from quiet
One would almost think an election
was to be held this fall
Hjalmar Peterson Renews Attack
BY far the chief subject of discussion
was the 1888 governorship race and this
discussion revolved around former gov
ernor Hjalmar Petersen whose open
break with the farmer-labor state COM
mittee made headlines in the papers
that day and who was there in person
to back up his statements as quoted in
the press.
The rift between Hjalmar Petersen
and the state administration group
dates back to the 1886 Farmer Labor
convention where Petersen was given
L l,1, of J1n1
delegates who nominatd Governor Ben
son. Following the convention an armed
truce seemed to be in effect but under
meath surface quiet there was in
creasing evidence of bitter feeling. This
feeling flared up on several occasions
during the past six months when Peter
sen has been frankly critical toward
the governors administration and free
in his attacks on what he calls the
Mexican Generals" who he claims
dominate party affairs. Most prom
inent of these Petersen has aSsailed are
Abe I. Harris, editor of the Farmer
Labor Leader, Art N. Jacobs, secretary
to the speaker of The house, and Roger
Rutchick, secretary to the governor.
Apparently worried over Petersen's
frequent attacks on the state admins
tration and his supposed plains to op-
pose Governor Benson in next years
election, party leaders sought to thresh
out differences between the two in a
secret meeting last week, but their hopes
for peace were dashed when Petersen
turnd them down fatty and became
even more outspoken in his attacks.
Involved in the discussion was the
proposal that Petersen forget his diff
ferences with the administration now
and wait for the partys nomination for
governor in 1910 when Benson, it is
said, hopes to run for the United States
Senate. But these Establishments fell
on deaf ears so far as Hjalmar was con-
Icerned.
81 am for the ideals and principles
Iof this party" Petersen said 81 stand
for true democracy and therefore am
bitterly opposed to an inside machine
selecting candidates for important pub
lie offices. I will make no agreement
with people in whom I have no con-
lfidence."
Will Make No Deals"
Questioned about his attitude toward
the 1888 farmer labor convention which
will endorse candidates, Petersen de-
Iclined to commit himself but did assail
the 1886 state convention of the associ-
alton which Endorsed Benson as having
been packed" and fatty refused to
enter into any deals" with respect to
next years convention.
II stand back of every word that ]
have said," he told the committee. "And
if the convention of 1888 is repetition
of 1886, certainly will have nothing to
do with it. I shall not be bound by the
dictates of the convention when its
membership is composed of delegates
made up of state employees"
Finally Petersen said he would con-
slider" talking things over with Cover
nor Benson, but that he would not
confer with Roger Rutchick, Abe l. Har-
riS or Art N. Jacobs.
Lundeen Disbarred.
Rivaling in political discussions the
feud between Petersen and the "Mexi-
can Generals" was the disbarment of
David Lundeen, brother of Senator
Ernest Lundeen and recently appointed
director of the division of soldiers well
fare. The charge was misappropri-
ation of clients funds and in a per
curtain ruling the state supreme court
held "disbarment must result because
lproven conduct establishes his Oun-
deen's) mental and moral unfitness to
be a member of the bar"
Characterizing Lundeens defense as
"fishy and untrue" the high court said
"It seems obvious that defendants
lStory is so incredible, in fact so pre-
posterous, that no court is warranted in
believing word of it,"
Lundeen was selected several months
ago by Governor Benson and the state
executive council, which is administra-
ton controlled, to head the soldiers well
fare division. His appointment took
lplace while diSbarment proceedings
were pending.