Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1941-04-03

at the time, Abe Harris, got his hands
on the letter. I do not write what
cannot be published and I now chal-
lenge the Minnesota Leader to make
the letter public.
It has certainly not been my pur-
pose to bring up correspondence or
differences with dead man, but the
Mexican Generals-what is left of
them-and their following continue
to bring up the subject.
Floyd Olson befriended number
of those individuals when he became
governor. During his last term, in
late December, 1885, just before his
operation, they forced the appoint
ment of Elmer Benson to the United
States Senate, to give him needed
build-up for the governorship. They
took over the reins of state govern
ment to run the show high, wide and
handsome, when through fusion with
Democrats they succeeded in making
Benson governor in name. They had
the power for just two years.
Let the Minnesota Leader tell the
story of the Leader carrying in its
headlines the appointment of Ben
son to the Senate before the appoint
ment was made, and the tremendous
pressure on Olson to appoint Ben
son. Let the Leader tell how Henry
Arens, former congressman, and the
Governors choice for the Senate,
summoned to his office to receive the
appointment, was kept waiting in the
reception room while the Mexican
Generals put over their raw affair.
This betrayal by Olson's confidants
is the dirtiest page in Farmer-Labor
history.
During the Legislative session of
1887, criticized the Benson admin
stration for camouflaging on the pro-
posed civil service law, the merit
system. 1t was a plank in the Farm
er-Labor platform of 1886 and prior
campaigns, and yet the administra-
ton sabotaged civil service. thought
it was time that Farmer-Labor lead
ers demonstrated sincerity of pur-
pose Observing also the manner in
which Mr. Benson handled labor dis
putes, his irritable conduct, his lack
of judgment, and the type of man.
ayers telling him what to do, felt
we should have a shake-up for the
nhC0ryyIy10
principles and ideals.
One would think that the over
whelming trouncing administered by
the voters to the Benson adminiStra-
ton after only one term in office,
should have served as lesson.
There are enough progressive and
independent voters in Minnesota to
give a Farmer-Labor candidate for
United States Senator, in whom they
have confidence, more than 31O,875
votes. And that vote of Benson's
was 1905 less than received by the
FL. candidate for railroad and ware
house commissioner, at the bottom of
the ticket.
It is true that I did not support
Mr. Benson in the fall election of
1888. The best 1 could do for the
party was to remain silent and that
l did.
During the 1888 primary campaign
the party organ called me a party
wrecker and traitor. If the accusa-
ton were true, could then be of
any help to the ticket in the fall?
People do not forget so soon. Trouble
is the bosses insisted on a little closed
corporation and yet they howled for
party loyalty. There is difference
between party loyalty and subser-
vience to a small gang drunk with
power.
George E. Leach opposed Gov.
Theodore Christianson in the Re-
publican primary election of 1926 and
Geo. T. Simpson opposed Christian
son in the primary of 1928. Neither
was called a party wrecker and trail
tor for so doing. Republican news
papers did not call Martin Nelson
and Mayor Leach party wreckers be-
cause they opposed Harold E. Stassen
in the primary election of 1888.
Rutchick, Harris, Seestr from &
Company went too far. They were
determined to win that 1888 pri-
mary election at any cost. They did
squeeze out a primary victory but
that was all. Machine control had
gone too far, Farmer-Labor voters
had become adamant, or they had
already given up the ship. The voters
are the judges as to who are party
wreckers. In spite of such epithets,
1 made another attempt to bring back
the party and its principles in the
campaign of 1910.
The Leader announces that they
printed $4,000 copies of their last
issue, the greatest number in two
years. Apparently they are more
interested in trying to smear me than
they were in the election of state
slate of candidates in 1940
The Leader also proposes to open
up on enemies within the ranks, one
by one, and reveal them for what
they are.
T Of fboyo opoy, I'm On fboir form or