4 . ▁That ▁same ▁year , ▁Ol son ▁ran ▁in ▁the ▁Democratic ▁primary ▁for ▁the ▁local ▁seat ▁in ▁the ▁House ▁of ▁Representatives ▁but ▁lost . ▁ ▁As ▁Hen ne pin ▁County ▁Att orney , ▁Ol son ▁quickly ▁earned ▁a ▁name ▁for ▁himself ▁as ▁a ▁stern ▁pro sec utor ▁who ▁rel ished ▁going ▁after ▁cro oked ▁business men . ▁He ▁took ▁on ▁the ▁Ku ▁Kl ux ▁K lan ▁in ▁a ▁well - public ized ▁case ▁that ▁brought ▁both ▁respect ▁and ▁death ▁thre ats ▁and ▁was ▁re elect ed ▁to ▁the ▁position ▁in ▁ 1 9 2 2 ▁and ▁ 1 9 2 6 . ▁ ▁C andid ate ▁for ▁governor ▁ ▁In ▁ 1 9 2 3 , ▁Ol son ▁brought ▁a ▁case ▁against ▁the ▁leaders ▁of ▁the ▁Minnesota ▁Cit iz ens ▁Alliance , ▁a ▁conserv ative ▁business ▁organization ▁dedicated ▁to ▁pres erving ▁right - to - work ▁laws , ▁after ▁they ▁h ired ▁a ▁hit man ▁to ▁dynam ite ▁the ▁home ▁of ▁a ▁union ▁leader . ▁Ol son ' s ▁vig orous ▁purs uit ▁of ▁the ▁Cit iz ens ▁Alliance ▁made ▁him ▁a ▁hero ▁to ▁the ▁local ▁labor ▁movement , ▁which ▁encourag ed ▁him ▁to ▁run ▁for ▁the ▁Minnesota ▁Far mer - L abor ▁Party ' s ▁g ubern atorial ▁nom ination ▁in ▁ 1 9 2 4 . ▁ ▁Having ▁secured ▁the ▁end ors ement ▁of ▁the ▁Hen ne pin ▁County ▁Far mer - L abor ▁Central ▁Committee , ▁Ol son ▁narrow ly ▁won ▁the ▁nom ination ▁in ▁a ▁bitter ly ▁fought