Evening star., 1940-09-08
Minnesota Uncertain
With Sfassen HEADING
Winkie Drive in State
Former-Lubor Combine
With Democrats Wus
Shattered in 1888
BY JERRY VESSELS,

BY JERRY VESSELS,
Special Correspondent of The Star.
MINNEAPOLIS, Sept. 7.-Minne-
sofa has primary election Tuesday,
but the outcome is not expected to
indicate how the State will go in
November. So it must be listed
as uncertain.
Minnesota went Democratic for
the first time In 1882 and backed
President Roosevelt strongly again
in 1886 through combination of
Democrats and Farmer-Laborites
which also established the third
party strongly in the State govern
ment.
Young Harold E. Stassen shat
tered this combine in 1888, routing
the Farmer-Laborites and forcing
his way into the Governors Office,
sweeping in with him a new set of
Republican State heads and seating
friendly legislature.
This will be the first State elec-
ton since then, and Gov. Stassen
is heading the Wendell L. Willkie
drive in his own State and helping
it nationally. He has been risking
the criticism of political opponents
for being away from State affairs so
much to hustle about conferring
with national Willkie bigwigs.
Fight Is in G. o. p. Senator Race.
Yet in the involved Minnesota
primary Tuesday there Is not going
to be much of national significance
Gov. Stassen, himself, has no real
opposition. and main interest
centers around the senatorial races
In the Republican and Farmer
Labor columns and in the Farmer
Labor gubernatorial contest.
The headliner is the Republican
senatorial race. Senator ShipStead,
in Office since 1922 and one of the
very pioneers of the Farmer-Labor
movement. proved his connection
with the Stassen boom was more
than casual by deciding few hours
before the filing deadline to run
as a Republican and desert his
old third party comrades.
The senior Senator seems assured
Of the nomination because there is
bitter eight-way scrap, with three
genuine and popular Republicans
among those seeking the toga. The
experts boldly predict that the
big Shipstead all-party following,
strongly emphasizes each time he
has run for reelection, will easily
prevail. The trio expected to poll
a sizable vote and thus simplify
Senator Shipstead's task is Martin
Nelson, three times candidate for
Governor; Ray Chase, former State
auditor, and Ben Andreen, former
State Legion commander.
Shipstead Attacked for Changing.
Old-line Republicans have ham,
mered Senator Shipstead unmerci-
fully for switching to the Republican
column because this is a Republi-
can year." and Mr.. Nelson and Mr..
Andreen have been particularly
caustic in their criticism. Senator
Shipstead, campaigning mostly
through local committees, made his
conversion even more positive by
coming out for Willkie.
The Farmer-Labor race which
Senator Shipstead deserted now is
dominated by Elmer Benson, former
Governor, who also served a short
appointive term in the Senate, and
State Senator George Lommen.
Mr.. Benson, trying a comeback after
his defeat by Gov. Stassen two years
ago, is favored by the political wise
acres.
One contest packing more than
ordinary. interest is the Farmer
Labor gubernatorial race. In it
Hjalmar Peterson, small town news
paper publisher who became a State
legislator, then lieutenant governor
and then Governor to serve the few |
months remaining when Gov. Floyd |
B. Olson died, is battling Charles |
D. Edgely and seems assured of |
victory.
Democrats No Direct Threat.
The Democrats never figure d.
rectly in State elections, although |
full tickets are entered for the |
primary since the winning side,
theoretically at least, gets patronage
distribution privileges. OF course,
the Democrats have figured indi-
rectly In State elections, particularly
during the presidential years of
1882 and 1896, when they traded
State support to the Farmer-Labor-
ties for backing that helped Presi-
dent Roosevelt carry Minnesota.
The closing week of the campaign
was marked by the tragic death of
Senator Lundeen and the ensuing
problem for Gov. Stassen of select
ing a successor. Senator Lundeen's
death was q terrific blow to the
Farmer-Laborites the more so since
1t followed the desertion of Senator
Shipstead and the loss just q few
years ago of Gov. Olson. The
Senator was not the leader Gov.
Olson was, but his position In party
-