Evening star., 1938-06-19
MINNESOTA VOTE
TO CLIMAX FEUD
Primary Tomorrow to Be
High Point in Bitterest
Farm-La abor War.
Ey the Associated Press,


MINNEAPOLIS, June l8-Minne-
sofas dominant political faction, the
Farmer-Labor party. faces the climax
of a campaign involving tacit New
Deal support and the most bitter
internal war Of its 20 years history
In Mondays State election.
Arrayed in opposition for the party's
gubernatorial nomination are Gov
Elmer A. Benson, with State conven.
tion Endorsement, and Hjalmar Peter
sen. State railroad and warehous.
commissioner, and outspoken critic
OF what he terms the "Farmer-Labol
inside machine"
Gov. Benson, self-styled radical and
protege of the late Gov. Floyd B
Olson, is an open supporter of Roose-
veltian spending policies. Mr. Peter
sen has kept mum on the New Dea
question, but indirectly sided agains,
the President when he criticised the
recent custer Of Victor Christgau
State w. P. A. administrator.
Mr.. Christgau's removal by National
Administrator Harry Hopkins car
ried the approval of President Roose-
welt. II marked a major capitulation
to the Benson forces, long opponents
of Mr.. Christgau.
House Clea ming Promised.
Promising house cleaning of the
racketeers on Capitol HILL" Mr.. Peter
sen has pushed his campaign on a
platform OF legislation to attract new
industry. He was elected on the
Farmer-Labor ticket to the State
Railroad and Warehouse Commission
in 1885, his present post.
Gov. Benson is the only ma ior
candidate among the three party
gubernatorial states who has espoused
the cause of the national administra
ton. Charles A. Lethert of st. Paul,
Democratic aspirant, urged a third
term for Mr.. Roosevelt.
Republican gubernatorial candidates
have moved to stem threats of a
wholesale exodus from their party to
the Petersen column of the Farmer
Labor. In public appeals they have
discouraged cross-voting. possible be-
cause of Minnesota s consolidated pri-
mary ballot.
Wholesale Shift Unlikely.
The strategy of cross voters in a
movement gossiped all over the State
was to beat Benson in the primary
by nominating Mr.. Petersen. A spir-
tied Republican primary fight, how
ever. has lessened the likelihood of a
wholesale shift.
Martin A. Nelson, Austin attorney
thrice defeated for Governor aeains,
Farmer-Labor opponents. opposes
Harold E. Stassen, Hastings. young
Dakota County attorney. and two
others on the Republican ticket. In a
relatively harmonious campaign botn
have pleaded for party unity. Mayor
George F Leach, Minneapolis. and H.
A. Northrop. Owatonna, are the other
two candidates.
The Democratic side is a "free-for-
all" among six aspirants In q recent
letter to party leaders, James A. Far
ley, chairman of the Democratic Ma
tional Committee, said Il AM not and
will not take sides in the Minnesota
primary contest
Other Candidates
Victor Anderson, United States ois-
trlct attorney, Democratic candi.
date for Governor, has protested the
Christgau custer. Other candidates.
besides Mr.. Lethert. are F.ec Schilp-
lin. st. Cloud publisher and Benson
critic. whose resignation as State Fed
eral Housing administrator was re-
Gently obtained by Wasnington:
Michael F. Murray, st. Cloud attor-
ney; Thomas Gallagher, MINNEAPOLIS
attorney, and Joel Anderson of Min
neapolis.
In addition, nominees will be
chosen by the three parties or Lieu
tenant governor, secretary Of State.
auditor, treasurer, attorney general.
railroad and warehouse commissioner.
clerk Of Supreme Court and Congress-
men from nine districts.