Evening star., 1938-11-17

DR.. George Orr Of st. Paul, who
had headed a similar committee
for the late Gov. Floyd B. Olson,
popular Farmer-Labor Governor of
a few years ago. Now that Stassen
has been triumphantly elected, it is
expected that his administration
will give recognition in some de-
gree to the forces which backed
him.
The new Minnesota Governor Is
not an old guard Republican. In
fact, he won the G.. o. P. nomina-
ton this year much to the surprise
and disgust of some of the older
and more conservative Republicans
Early In the campaign there was
considerable lukeWarmness on the
part of these Republicans to Stas-
sen. He has defeated their can
didate for the nomination. He was
setting up an organization of his
own. made up principally from the
younger Republicans, whose leader
he had been. But as Stassen proved
himself more and more good cam
paigner and it became more and
more apparent he had chance of
being elected Governor, these older
Republicans fell into line. Stassen,
they argued, is at least better than
having a Benson Farmer-Laborite
In the State House.
Minnesotans Independent.
1t seems entirely unlikely that
the youthful Governor, when it
comes to setting up his administra-
even a great part of them. over to
the older, stand-pat Republicans.
Minnesota has been pretty pro-
gressive. on the whole. Its people
are independent-which is one rea-
son they have not gone along so
we'll with the Roosevelt New Deal.
The Minnesota farmer does not like
being told what he must do.
The retirement of the Farmer
Labor party from control-the Ben
son administration and his i'm
mediate group-was quite complete
in the election just concluded, de-
spite the fact that President Roose-
welt and the New Deal Democrats
did their best to preserve Benson
in power. The elimination OF
Farmer-Laborites did not stop with
State offlces-it applied also to the
Minnesota delegation in Congress.
The Farmer-Laborites in the pres
ent Congress have five House men,
bers and two Senators. In the new
ly elected Congress they will have
one House member. Neither Sena-
tor was up for reelection this year.
Gov.-elect Stassen must look to
Minnesota's Senators for a meas
ure of cooperation. And doubtless
he will get it-certainly from Sena-
tor Shipstead, If Stassen plans to
operate on progressive lines. Sena-
tor Shipstead has been a member
of the Senate since 1924 matter
of 16 years, having been thrice
elected to his present Office and al
ways by a large vote. He has been
at odds with some of the followers
of the late Floyd B. Olson and
with the Benson group. He has
however, proved too strong in the
State to be dislodged by them.
Faces Fight in 1910.
In 1910, however, Senator Ship
stead will come up for denomination
and reelection. 1t is possible that
some of his opponents in the Farm
er-Labor Party will undertake to
ditch him, but with his large per-
sonal following, the Bensonites are
likely to have a tough job on their
hands If they try to kill off Ship
stead.
Shipstead took no part whatever
in the campaign just closed. He
went to Europe last summer as q
member of a congressional delega-
ton. He remained out of the coun-
try until a short time before elec-
ton, when he went to Florida. He
kept out Of the political mess in
Minnesota, and his friends believe
he followed the right course.
Tho Minnesota proSS S0no Re.