Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1946-03-15

Political
Roundup
BY Arthur Naftalin

OunRdahl as JOf candidate Tor
Governor, is causing some discus
sion as TO the propriety Of his be-
ing a candidate without resigning
from the Supreme Court. His OPP
pOnents can be expected to insist
upon his resignation as condi-
ton Of his candidacy. They will
claim that his campaigning for a
partisan office is incompatible with
his nonpartisan judicial duties.
The discussion about Youngdahl
calls TO mind among party old
timers the internal COP fight that
developed in 1904 when Associate
Justice Loren w. Collins was ad-
vanced for the party's guberna-
tOrial nomination. A factional
clash between the supporters Of
Collins and of Robert Dunn forced
Collins TO leave the bench despite
the fact that the nomination went
TO Dunn. In the general election of
that year, the Democrat, John A.
Johnson, defeated Dunn, thereby
succeeding Samuel K. Van SAINT as
Governor.
Maneuvering for control Of the
DEL party is under way in earnest
this week with county conventions
set for Saturday. While the strug-
gle has not been brought complete
iy into the open, there is a definite
contest for delegates to the state
convention between forces Of the
left" and right" Lining up with
the left" are the DFL Association
formerly the FL Association), its
newspaper, The Leader, and the
CIO-PAC. The other element is
loosely organized around the in
huence Of Elmer F. Kelm, who is
stepping down as State Chairman
following his confirmation as Col
lector of Internal Revenue.
The big prize in this struggle
will be the State Guardianship.
Both sides have been very cagey
IN announcing their respective can
dldates for the top party job. 1t
is understood that Charles Egley
Of st. Paul, the present vlce-chalr-
man, will be advanced as the can
didate OF the left" and there is
talk of Representative Charles Hal
sted Of Brainerd, liberal leader in
the House of Representatives, as
the candidate of the other forces.
As middle of the way candidates,
the names of Byron G.. Barney
Allen Of Detroit Lakes and George
T. Phillips, Chairman of the Min
neapolis United Labor Committee
and President of the Minneapolis
Central Labor Union, have beer
advanced. 1t appears unlikely that
a compromise arrangement will bG
made in advance of the convention
to forestall fight on the floor. Sc
the state DFL convention is likely
to produce good old-fashioneC
party fight,
The Minnesota State Legislature
is one Of two IN the nation which
is elected without party designa
ton. Repeated efforts to re-estab
lish the party basis Of election have
been defeated. This year, however
supporters Of partisan elections arr
expecting to make some Roadway
They are encouraged by the recen
Minnesota Poll which revealed 4
per cent Of the states voters nov
feel that the Legislature ought L
he elected on u party basis, 40 pc
cent favor continuation of the non
partisan feature and II per cen
have no opinion on the question
This is an amazing reversal o
public opinion since March. l94S
when 20 per cent of the voters in
dicated a preference for non-parti
, san elections.
The switch in sentiment concern
ing the party designation featur
is believed to be due to the fac