Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1942-08-13
Fact And Opinion
A Double Opportunity for Liberal,
By e. C. Stengelsen.

By E. g. StengeISen.
A Double Opportunity for Liberals.
Walter K. Mickelson's filing for
the senatorial nomination on the Re-
publican ticket was large and hefty
monkey wrench thrown into the gears
of Governor Stassen's political ma
chinery.
Luck has played the governor the
scurvy trick of bringing out the one
man in Minnesota who is likely, not
only to defeat Ball in the primaries,
but to win the subsequent general
election as well.
Nicholson should prove strong, be-
cause his political viewpoint is likely
to appeal to the largest single group
in Minnesota. These are the voters
who are too liberal to find the re-
dictionary Ball acceptable, and too
conservative to choose Benson. They
are the dle-of-the-roaders.
To be sure, Ball, himself, makes a
considerable pretense of liberalism.
But it is belied as much by his long
connection with the reactionary ST.
Paul Pioneer Press & Dispatch as
by his membership in the political
clique to which he belongs. Hence
if he objects to the appellation, Gre
dictionary" it will be proper to re-
mind him that a man must expect
to be judged by the company he
keeps.
But there is no doubt of Mickelson's
liberalism. His record has been fully
established by the editorial policy
of his paper, the New Ulm Journal
That his editorials have been wide
ly read and quoted has been due, not
only to their excellence, but to their
liberalism. 1t is significant that the
Farmer-Labor papers, to an even
greater degree than the Republican
press, have found them worthy OF
re-printing.
1t is the similarity of the editorial
tone of such papers as Republican
Mickelson's New Ulm Journal and
Farmer-Laborite Hjalmar Petersen's
Askov American that has impelled
this column to make the observation
that there is little difference between
Liberal Republicanism and Conser-
alive Farmer-Laborism.
The difference is largely in the
label. The viewpoint of one group
is essentially that of the other.
To say so is, of course, to express
a personal preference; but it seems
to this writer that this large group
of middle of-the-roaders, who form
the chief voting strength of both
parties, have an opportunity this fall
to select, for the two highest places
on the ticket, candidates who reflect,
adequately, their political viewpoint
And the resemblance between the
two men goes farther. Both are
small-town newspaper publishers
and in the success each has made OF
his venture, both have shown con-
siderable business capacity. In the
times ahead, which threaten to be-
come particularly trying to him, il
should be reassuring to the small
business man to know that he is
represented, both in st. Paul and
Washington, by men who are certain
to be sympathetic with and under
standing of his problems.
But it is not only to this one group
that the record of these men should
appeal. Both have proved, in the
wide following they have developed
that the political philosophy they
express is one that is shared by a
large proportion of the population
Contrasted with Balls and Stas-
sens past history, the Nicholson
Petersen record becomes even more
to their credit. Stassen's record con-
sists almost wholly of his not toe
flattering success as county attorney
of Dakota county. Ball has no back
ground to which he may point other
than his long connection with the re-
dictionary ST. Paul Pioneer Press &
Dispatch. He is, sensibly, keeping
very quiet about it.
Political writers predict that pre-
war policies will become an issue in
the campaign. What the scribes do
not seem to realize, however, is that
a revival of the debate may strength
en- rather than weaken the challeng-
ers.
This is indicated by the circum-