Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1942-09-10
Is Stassen This Necessary?
(The Granite Falls Tribune)

an editorial eValuatlng the gov
ernor of the state and at the
same time boosting for Martin
Nelson. The editorial follows:
It will be interesting to see if the
people of Minnesota consider Harold
Stassen as indispensable to the state
as he considers himself.
In 1888 the Tribune supported
Harold Stassen, young county at
torney of Dakota county, for gov
ernor. The regime of the Farmer
Labor party was on the wane and
lit presented a splendid opportunity
for a young man, with no political
history that might operate against
him, to win the election. This was
accomplished, due to the united sup
port of the Republican party and
much help from the Farmer-Labor-
ties who had become disguised with
their own officers.
Hailed as the youngest governor
in the United States, Harold Stassen
at 81 received nationwide publicity.
The magazines played him to the
skies and pointed to him as an ex-
ample of "young America on the
march," 1t was probably due to this
publicity he was chosen to keynote
the Willkie candidacy.
But the publicity had another eff
feet; it caused the young man to
feel he was Minnesota's Man of Des-
tiny. Meanwhile, not wishing to
pass up any bets, Harold did what
he could to see that his vehicle to
Destiny was not delayed nor side
tracked.
The first act of the young Cover
nor was a thorough housekeeping at
the capitol. Many of the old en-
ployeeS, regardless of competence,
were tossed overheard because they
were not felt to be political assets
Their places were taken by young
people from South st. Paul, st. Paul
and Minneapolis - either personal
friends or the friends of friends.
There was but one qualification:
unquestionable support to the polit-
ical ambitions of Harold Stassen. If
there is any question about this
statement, talk to some person en-
ployed at the capitol during this
transition period.
Once the capitol was thoroughly
organized, the young Governor began
the job of making over the Repub-
lican central committee into a Stas-
sen cheering section. He was only
partly successful.
So far as The Tribune knows, no
administration in the history of Min
nesota has ever been Streamlined.
But, then came the war and, as
every astute politician knows, to get
anywhere in the years following a
conflict the ambitious must have
war record. So Harold got busy.
The first thing the public knew
was the announcement that appeared
in the daily papers to the effect that
because of Stassen's previous mill
tary training Gas student cadet in
the ROTC of the University he had
been commissioned a lieutenant COM
mander in the United States naval
reserve" A few days later Stas-
sens publicity bureau furnished the
papers with a picture of the Gov
ernor Respondent in his naval lieu
tenant commanders uniform before
he had served so much as one day.
But, and note this, there was a
string attached to Stassen's proposed
military service. While other men
of his age were enlisting for immedi-
ate training, cautious Harold stip-
ulated that his active service in the
naval reserve was not to start until
May of 1943, or after the session
of the legislature. The men who
will be expected to serve under a
lieutenant commander with but 80
days training should be grateful for
this delay.
With the plans for his military
record accomplished, Harold ,Stassen
turned his attention to Minnesota.
Either he was unwilling, or else there
was no heir apparent he could turn
his political organization over to that
he would trust to give it back when
he got through lieutenant COM
Wandering, so Governor Stassen an
nounced his candidacy for re-elec-
ton for the two-year term of gov
ernor with the intention of serving
but four months of the term. Then
he picked loyal supporter of his
capitol clique for lieutenant gov
ernor to wear his mantle of office
during the time he was getting his
military record.
The running mate of his two pre-
vious political campaigns who, ap-
parently, refused to play ball, was
dismissed with kick in the pants
This is the way the political career
and aspirations of Harold Stasser
appear to The Tribune. The editor
of this newspaper has no axe te
grind, is not looking for office anc
has no personal animosity toward:
Governor Stassen.
uoxuox,or Tho Tribune foo1c cfrop or.