Senator Pro Tem

Governor Floyd Bjornstjerne Olson, kingpin of Minnesota's Farmer-Labor Party, months ago laid his plans to get into the U. S. Senate when Minnesota's Republican Thomas D. Schall should come up for re-election next autumn. Suddenly, last fortnight, a Senate seat was dropped into Governor Olson's lap when Senator Schall died after an automobile accident (TIME, Dec. 30). Farmer-Laborite Olson had only to resign as Governor and let his Lieutenant Governor appoint him to the Senate. Being a shrewd politician he knew that such a maneuver would look too raw to his State.

In 1933 old Governor John E. Erickson of Montana got to the Senate that way only to have his constituents, apparently resentful of a "horse trade,'' retire him at the first chance. Besides, if Mr. Olson should resign to go to the Senate, his Lieutenant Governor Hjalmar Peterson would almost automatically become the Farmer-Labor candidate for Governor in 1936. What Governor Olson obviously needed was a Senator pro tern, someone who would take the job for a. year, then quit willingly and help elect Floyd Olson to the U. S. Senate. Who would be so likely to fill this bill as the man whom Mr. Olson had picked to be Governor after him? Next autumn they could politely change places on the ticket and support each other for office.

Hence, this week the U. S. Senate sees Elmer Austin Benson take a place beside Minnesota's Hendrik Shipstead as No. 2 Farmer-Laborite Senator. Benson's age: 40. His manner: mild, cautious. His religion: Lutheran. His disposition: silent Norwegian determination. His habits : abstemious. His appearance: well-groomed. His instinct: righteous conservatism in everything except politics. Until two years ago he was a bank cashier in his native Appleton. Minn., a man who displayed his deep-seated ambition by being hardworking, meticulous, self-denying and an ardent Farmer-Laborite. Then Governor Olson made him State Securities Commissioner, later State Banking Commissioner. His appointment to the Senate last week gave him his cue, and he launched into the political theme song which fellow Senators may expect to hear whenever he speaks: "The reactionary elements of our country which have been lying dormant, biding their time, are again assembling their strength, closing their ranks for a decisive clash with Progress."

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