The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1937-08-05
SAUK CENTRE HERALD, Sank Centre. MINI.

re, MINI.
press, doing q good job Of publiciz-
ing Minnesota since his appoint
ment to the post by the late Gov
ernor Floyd Olson some six years
ago. Now he il succeeded by Ed
Shave. st. Paul Daily News Sports
writer, who likewise enjoys merit
ed esteem among colleagues In the
craft. The question naturally aris-
es, though-why should q man who
has done efficient work be remov-
ed for no apparent cause? Appoint
ment by Floyd Olson ought to as
sure George Bradley's credentials
among those who give the depart
ed governors memory such lip
service. Yet talk among those rem
dering the "post-mortem" verdicts
indicates that Mr.. Bradley wasn't
sufficiently aggressive as a person
al, political leg man" for Governor
Benson. No Newspaper man, or
anyone else, is to be envied the as
signment Of extolling Minnesota's
great resources II the job Of polit-
ical errand boy for a partisan eli
que comes first. Former Governor
Hjalmar Petersen had something
to say along that line when he
spoke before these veteran Left
lists, the Saturday Lunch club in
Minneapolis, a week ago. The mer-
it system was the theme Of his adj
dress, and the Benson administra-
tons sabotaging Of civil service
reform during the legislative ses-
sion drew deserved rebukes from
the country editor who left the
governors chair to become Rail
road and Warehouse Commission
err.
A Misuse of Power
The other event Of the week
drawing q country newspaper
mans attention in particular was
the cheap bit of political reprisal
one of the states oldest
and best newspapers it's victim. E.
X. (Bert) Whiting, Of Owatonna,
has been running the Journal
Chronicle there for about 40 Of its
rs years. This summer he changed
from weekly to daily, and to make
sure Of the legality Of required Of
ficial publications after the shift
from a weeks status, legislators
as a matter of course, passed a
minor curative act that would take
care of his situation. Governor
Benson signed every bill that
reached him at the special sessions
o14 II CIV, Glad nr,f
this minor measure which granted
a country paper only what it was
entitled to, and gave it the pocket
veto" by failing to attach his sig
nature during the period set-with-
in three days Of adjournment.
Hidebound Farmer-Laborites in
Southern Minnesota encouraged
the governors action. Bert Whit
ing and his editor, Hugh Soper,
have been fearless in their COM
ments on state politics. The Jour-
nalIChronicle has never pulled its
punches in attacking what it has
deemed wrong in the Farmer-La-
Dor record. For carrying on in the
honored tradition Of the free press,
this newspaper was to suffer fin
ancial injury at the hands Of the
governor Of a state! 1t is scarcely
believable that anyone elevated to
the high position of chief execu-
tive should abuse the power grant
ed him in order to satisfy a person
al or political grudge, but that is
the only possible explanation of
this bit Of gubernatorial smallness.
Fortunately, the Owatonna paper
will continue publishing legals des-
pite the governor, maintaining
Thursday issues on the same basis
as the former weekly editions.
The whole incident emphasizes one
question: Whose governor is man
after taking the oath of office-his
party's or the whole states?
The Reticent Mr.. Farley
Jim Farley, on his visit to Min
nesota, left few questions unan-
swered in that he failed to recog-
nize the Farmer-Labor party, and
said nothing to encourage their
support in the future. He seems to
have left Pat Delaney in the dark,
as to being recognized for his drop
ping out Of the picture as a candi-
date for senator at the last cleo
ton. What about Democratic Or
ganization in Minnesota? Mr.. Far
ley made no statement as to
whether Minnesota would have a
Democratic party in the future or
not, other than Elmer ]. Ryan,
who is the only one from the State
in Congress-,