Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1941-04-03
Yes, Let's Open Up

1CS, LCl . OpCH "
The last issue of the Minnesota
Leader carries a front page editorial
devoted to an attack on me. 1t is
not signed editorial, and the papers
masthead lists no editor, but it sounds
like the customary propaganda of
Rut h il k, SeeStrom & Company,
friends and managers of Elmer A.
Benson.
The primary election is the law
of our state and it was my privilege
under the law, as it was the privilege
of others, to be candidate for nomi-
nation to the office of governor on
the Farmer-Labor ticket in 1888. l
was asked by thousands to make that
run. but 1 frankly admit that it did
not take much urging, for l was de-
termined to have a showdown against
the manner in which the fundamental
principles of the Farmer-Labor party
had been flouted. Democracy had
been thrown to the winds, and little
political patronage machine was in
charge.
The Leader editorial fails to state
that the incumbent governor at the
time had on his side the Associa-
tons political organization, thousands
of state job holders told what to do,
the sustaining fund Campaign fund)
state purchasing patronage, the party
organ, and state automobiles used
extensively in that 1888 primary cam
paign. And yet the vote was close
against first term governor.
The late Magnus Johnson was
treated in somewhat the same manner
by the Mexican General controlled
Minnesota Leader in the primary OF
1886.
The Stassen machine of today has
copied many practices of the Next
can Generals, which can be confirmed
by Martin Nelson and other Republi-
cans.
The Leader makes no mention ano
no attempt at refutation of the state
ment by William M honey, frs
Farmer-Labor mayor of st. Paul anc
former editor of the Leader, in which
he said that the Farmer-Labor party
was brought to the brink of mora
and financial bankruptcy during the
1878 administration. The same
element is again managing the AS.
ISOLATION and the Leader.
Complaint is made because I die
not criticize Senator Henrik Ship.
stead in the 1910 campaign.
incidentally Senator Shipstead dis.
agreed with the Mexican Generals a!
I did, and yet he did not speak ou
against them in the primary cam.
paign of 1888, when there was {
good opportunity to clean up the
dirty linens in the Farmer-Labol
party.
1 do not beseech people to endorse
me or to speak in my behalf. If the
Senator chooses to be quiet and eau.
tious that is his business and no
mine. Judging from the vote he re.
eceives apparently the people approve
of his voting record and public con.
duct The label a man is elected
upon is not so important, his RECORD
is what counts. The people have no
been concerned about what label the
late Robert NJ Toilette was elected
upon, or such men as Senator Norris
Wheeler, Clark, Nye, Hiram John.
son, the late Senators Lundeen anc
Borah, and others. And to 60 farther
back the nations biggest men like
Washington, Jefferson and Lincoln
were big regardless of their party
affiliation.
Who was it tn a attacked the
homestead lien law, the So per cen
interest, lowering of the gasoline tax
the Anoka scandal, and Gov. Stassen
,duplicity and his patronage appoint
ments, during the last campaign anc
for more than a year prior thereto
And who upheld the Farmer-Labo
party on its legislative record?
When did Elmer Benson ever rais'
his voice in protest against Gov
Stassen's oft-repeated accusation o
corruption in the 1878 administra
ton? There must be a reason TO
Benson's silence.
The Leaders editorial tries to max,
out that my affiliation with the Farm
er-Labor party does not date bacl
far enough. Let them compare m.
record in that respect with that o
Elmer A. Benson, whom they cal
their "undisputed Leader"
Attention has again been called t.
the letter wrote to the late Governo
Floyd B. Olson on August IL, 1886
Much suspicion has been cast upor
that letter by cheap politicians, blu
they have never dared to publish the
letter which was written to, and in
tended only for the late governor
The editor of the Minnesota Leader