Evening star., 1938-06-21
PETERSEN FIGHT
HELD REMARKABLE
Showing Against Benson Is
Considered Good in Liqht
of Governors Position.
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.

by u. GOULD LINCOLN.
Win or lose, Hjalmer Petersen has
put up remarkable fight against odds
in the contest for the Farmer-Labor
gubernatorial nomination against Gov.
Elmer Benson of Minnesota.
Latest returns from the primary
election held yesterday show Gov.
Benson leading by only 5,628 votes in
1,689 precincts out of total Of 3,733.
The Benson vote was 1885 to 1O7,-
267 for Petersen.
Without an organization, Mr.. Peter
sen went up against the strongly in
trenched Governor, with 1900 State
employees on the payroll and with, ap-
parently, the blessing Of the White
House.
The revolt in Minnesota was against
the so-called "Statehouse gang" which
Gov. Benson inherited from the late
Gov. Floyd B. Olson. Petersen was
Lieutenant Governor and served as
Governor for q short time after the
death Of Gov. Olson. Gov. Benson
was appointed by Gov. Olson to fill a
vacancy in the Senate when the late
Senator Schall was killed by an auto
mobile. Benson later Won the guber-
material nomination and was elected
in 1886.
Famous Deal" Recalled.
The famous deal" whereby the
Democratic candidates for Governor
and Senator were withdrawn In order
to obtain Democratic support for Gov.
Benson and Senator Lundeen in re-
turn for Farmer-Labor suppor for
President Roosevelt was perfected in
that year.
| The alliance between Gov. Benson
and the White House apparently has
continued. Gov. Benson some time
ago came out for President Roosevelt
for a third term in the White House.
More recently the President removed
Victor Christgau from the office of
w. P. A. administrator in Minnesota.
presumably at the request of Gov.
Benson.
The Christgau incident was given
much political significance in Mime
sofa. Gov. Benson's opponents charged
That the w. P. A. administrator was
olsted because he would not "plav
BALI with the Governor and permit
the use Of money for purposes desired
by the Governor. Gov. Benson, on the
other hand, charged that Christgau
was playing politics with w. P. A.
office and that he was unfriendly to
labor.
Benson Endorsed c. I. O.
Gov. Benson in the past had in
dorsed the c. I. o. and most of the
attacks upon Christgau came from
that source and the Workers Alliance.
Mr.. Christgau, on the other hand,
had the support of other labor unions
and also the support of the Demo-
cratic national committeeman for
Minnesota, John P. Erickson of
Duluth.
During the row over Christgau
Senator Shipstead Farmer-Labor
placed in the Congressional Record
between 800 and 400 kilograms from
Minnesota dealing with the case. About
300 strongly opposed the ousting of
Mr.. Christgau and score favored
that course. Senator Shipstead en-
phasized the fact he was taking nc
sides in the controversy at that time
On the face of the returns received
the Republicans have nominated Har-
old Stassen, regarded as progressive
over Martin Nelson, a former candi-
date for Governor. and Mayor Leach
Of Minneapolis. In view of the revolt
in the Farmer-Labor party against
Gov. Benson the Republican nominee
may have a real chance to win the
election next November,