Bemidji Daily Pioneer Newspaper, October 31, 1914, Page 7

‘WM. E. LEE FOR GOVERNOR OLE SAGENG THLLS VVHY HE IS FOR LEE Otter Tail Senator Certain Election of Candidate Will Bring Better Gov- ernment to Minnesota. When 1 come befors ths voters to wrge the election of Willlam E. Lee t the governorship, said the “man behind the plow,” it {8 not because 1 have any party Interest in his candi- dacy. [ am not & Republicen. It is mothing to me from a party point of view whether we have a Republican or a Democratic administration in St. Paul. I come to speak to you as a citizen, wot as a partisan. I am as deeply in- terested {n everything which makes or mars the moral and material wel- tare of the state as my Republican and Democratic friends are. Indeed, when political campaigns rise above the low level of a mere scramble for positions, when real issues are in- volved affecting the lives of our citi- the safety and security of our the economic welfare of begcome essentially con- ould be settled from the cltizenship rather than viewpoimt of partisanship s« s s s s s & 8 s 8 . ® There are two dlstinct and * * {mport gues involved—the * 4 and the booze * * business—both of which chal- * * lenge the most deliberate con- * * sgideration and judgment on the * ® part of the voters of the state. * s s 2 s 4 4 s ¥ 8 3 s & Equlpped For the Office. In the history of the state few men huve sou the oflice of governor better eql d for its dutles in this respect t William E. Lee. He knows Minnesota. He has lived here 87 years, @ entirs period of our statehood. lie Is a successful mam of affuirs with a practical knowledse of men and methods that would be almost {nvaluable to & governor at this time. The Democratic candidate, on the other hand, is practically a stranger to the state, and he proves it when he makcs a specch about state condi- tions and state problems. The one thing, however, which the taxpay- ers of Minnesota will consider most carefully in connection with Mr. Ham- mond’'s candidacy for governor is why, with all his ability and influ- ence, of which we have heard so much, he has mever made a fight for economy &s a member of congress. It was needed then. e ¢ s 4 & o & & s s » Indeed, #f Mr. Hammond is of an economical turn of mind at all, it is a pity he did not stick to his job in Washington and use his abllity and influ- ence In ar effort to shut the floodgates of extravagance in federal appropriations. N T ) LR N R Mr. Hammond, as a prominent mem- ber of the powerful house organiza- tlon, will have to wash his hands pretty clean of responsibility for this state of affairs before he can make the taxpayers of Minnesota believe that he Is the right man for the job of enforcing economy In our state government. Brewery Influence the lIssue. e e e v s s e o s 1 have often wondered why it has been impossible to move the state of Minnesota forward even ome inch on this issue dur- ing the last 25 years. Since the enactment of the local option law we have been standing practically still in the matter of legislation. I believe the reason for this situation has beerr that we have had to con- tend with a tendency to dissi- pate and divide the forces of sobriety on one hand, and on the other an absolutely perfect working alliance between whis- ky and crooked politics. e e s s 3 ¥ * s s @ Thers was not during the primary eampaign, nor is there now, any ques- tion where William E. Lee stands on the issue of county option. There has becen no equivocation or evasion there. That language ex- presses a conviction and does not conceal one. That Is what the in- telligent, progressive voters of today expect of a candidate for a high pub- lic office—willingness to take the pub- lic fully into his confidence and courage to stand up and be counted on the big, vital Issues which divide public opinion. When we examine the positior of the Democratic candidate for gover- nor there is a different story to tell. During the primary campaign not a word came from Washington Indicat- ing his position on this questiom. Fi- nally the announcement came. What was it? A non-committal dodge. A statement from which neither friends ror foes can determine where the Democratic candidate really stands e %0 ssssccssses e e IR R R R R E NI and what really are. Hammond's Neutrality Declaratlon. If Mr. Hammond’s declaration to hia chairman means anything, | assume it should be construed as a declara- tion of neutrality, together with a vague promise to sign a counmty op- tion bill if one should be passed. ¥ 3 & s a3 & % & 3 e @ Ed One of Mr. Hammomd's first * * duties as governor would be to * * advise the legislature by mes- * * sage. What is he going to say * * about county option? He can- * . - - - . . -~ . his convictions, if any, not ignore it. He admits that it is one of the absorbing issues of the campaign. L N T B Y I appeal to every sincere friend of county option in the Democratic party not to be deceived by the idle prom- ise, such as it is, to sign a coumty op- tion bill. John Lind on County Option. I am quoting now, as reported in the Minneapolis Journal, from a speech by the Hon. John Lind, delivered in the city of Albert Lea, October 11, 1910. Mr. Lind said: I not feel that I had done i stice without dis- cussing lLe most important ques- tion agitating the public mind more fully. I refer to the ques- tion of county option. County option does not mean county pro- hibition; nor does It, of itself, make any county ‘wet’ or ‘dry.” It simply means that the legislature shall pass a law authorizimg the people of the counts to determine by a v for themselves whether saloons shall be allowed in the county or not. Ior the life of me 1 cannot see anything startling In this proposition. The startling thing to my mind is that it is not the law today.” “The Saloon Wants Boys.” * s 2 s s s s e s . “I was out at Portiand and took a street car into the sub- urbs of that city. I happened to pass a little Methodist church and a notice nailed on the side of it attracted my attention. I read these four words, In crude, large letters: ‘The sa- loon wants boys.’” My attention was riveted on that notice as it mever had been before by any other notice. I thought of my boys. Almost unconsciously I began to scrutimize it. Who did the lettering? Who put it thers, and why? Was it a widow's desperation, or was it a brok- en-hearted mother’s revenge.” I O T What the brewery Interests are bending every effort to accomplish in this campaign is the election of Mr. Hammond and a tractable legislature. The only candidate who stands in their way as far as the success of our part of their program Is concerned is William E. Lee. Shall the forces of temperance deliberately play into the hands of the enemy by scatter- ing their votes among two or three candidates? L T R T T P We have a situation In Min- nesota today similar to that which confronted the best ele- ment in the Democratic party in Nebraska four years ago, and we have not forgotten that the greatest Democrat in the na- tion, Mr. Bryan, did not hesitate under those conditions to repu- diate the candidate of his own party. s 2 3t s s s e e 8 R R R R IR R E R R L Y What a contrast to Mr. Lee’s frank and candid position on these questions we find when we examime the attitude of the Democratic candidate. On the question of county option he starts out with a declaration of neutrality. Then he shoots his neutrality declaration full of holes by making an extemrded argument against such a law. 2 3 % * % 3 3 % s @ All the time, however, he holds out a vague promise to sign a bill if one is passed. Is it not remarkable that this man of great attainments could not find words in the English lan- guage to say even that much briefly and plaimly? If Mr. Hammond were to shu® his eyes and in broad daylight walk Into a crowded street trying to make the people believe that darkness covered the earth he would be just as con- vincing as he is in his present effort What will the people of Minnesota do? The choice is between a candi- date who takes the people into his confidence and one who meets them with quibbles and silence. D T R R D R I R I I I N R S A i e S R ] J. A. A. BURNQUIST Nominee for LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR. The presiding officer of the state senate, though he has mo vote, occu- ples a strategic position and through the authority which I8 given him to appoint committees can exercise great influence in the shaping of legislation. It thus happens that the lieutenant governor may be a great power in the state. It depends on the mam. Lieutenant Governor J. A. A. Burn- quist has shown what can be accom- plished in such a position. To expedite business he first se- cured the reduction in the number of committees, eliminating the unimpor- tant omes, combining some and chang- ing the names of others. By employing tact and rare judgment in the ap- pointment of the standing committees and subsequently in the appointment of conference committees, he was largely imstrumental in securing the passage by the senate of a large num- ber of excellent measures. Throughout the session ths lleu- tenant governor kept & weatchiul eye on senate expenditures and labored for economy. For years it had been the custom to authorize the purchase of supplies without limit as to amount. A resolution to this effect was intro- duced at the beginming of the 1913 sesslon. Through Burnquist's efforts this resolution was so amended as to provide for the purchase of only temporary supplies. His committee on rules subsequently provided that the purchase of all other supplies must be approved by that commit- tes. This had the effect of reducing senate expenditures considerably. Other examples of his saving money for the state were furnished by his opposition to the payment of exorbit- ant bills. By refusing to sign the or- ders for the payment of such bills, he compelled their reduction to reason- able amounts. JULIUS A. SCHMAHL Nominee for SECRETARY OF STATE. Those who have had business with that branch of the state government under the control of the state secre- tary have been gratified over the rap- idity with which business has been handled during the incumbency ot Julius A. Schmahl, the present secre- tary of state and Republican party nominee for another term. In less than four months after Mr. Schmahl took hold of his office and ever since that time, it has been the boast that unless there was am un- usually heavy rush of work the pa- pers that came in from patrons were and bave been returned to them on practically the same day on which they had been received. This was &c- complished without extra help and is being continued so. Prior to 1906 there was a general disposition on the part of many draft- ers of corporate articles to so prepare their purpose clauses as to avoid the payment of the filing fees into the state treasury amounting to $50 on the first $50,000 of the capital stock and $5 on each additional $10,000. So conspicuous were these attempted evasions that in 1907 the present in- cumbent of the office recommended and secured the enactment of a meas- ure placing all corporations proposed to be organized for pecuniary gain on the same basis, and requiring the pay- ment of the filing fee into the treas- ury. Certain farm corporations, build- ing and loan associations, telephone companies, etc., were exempted from the law, as were also religious and charitable OJrganizations. That the measure has proved of some benefit to the State is seen in the biennial report of Secretary Schmahl for the two years ending July 31 last, where it is shown that the State has received nearly $35,000 more in filing fees than in the corresponding years. J. A. 0. PREUS Nominee for STATE AUDITOR. WHY HE SHOULD BE ELECTED. He is eminently fitted as a lawyer and experienced as an administrative official. From a clerk to Senator Knute Nelson’s committee on public lands to that of insurance commission- er of the State, he has acquitted him- self with credit to himself and the public. His service has been one of achieve- ment and progress. He drafted and secured the passage of Minnesota’s only “Blue Sky Law” which regulates the promotion of in- surance companies, prevents the sale of bogus insurance stock and has cleamed out questionable promotion concerns. He secured passage of the law which prohibits the State from buying fire insurance upon its properties and al- lowing insurance companies to make money thereon and established the state insurance fund which is saving the taxpayers thousands upom thous- ands of dollars every vear. He secured passage of legislation which has broadened the scope of ac- tivity of farmers’ mutual fire insur- ance companies, which now enables them to carry insurance upon auto- mobiles, etc. Through his efforts the health amnd accident insurance business has been placed upon a more permament and stable basis. He initiated legislation which com- pels every legal life insurance com- pany to place a sixty-day saving clause in its policies, which discourages lap- sations and prevents runs upon insur- companies during panics. He obtaimed legislation which en- abled insurance companies to furnish the public with automobile insurance policies. He has been the constant friend of fraternal insurance societies and has co-operated with them in placing their rates upon proper basis in order that these institutions may continue to orosper and furnish the poor man with family protection. WALTER J. SMITH Nominee for STATE TREASURER. Over forty-three million dollars were handled by Walter J. Smith, state treasurer of Minnesota, last year. Be- sides seeing that every cent received by the state is properly accounted for, and that every cent expended is ir accordance with law, the state treasurer also has charge of the trust funds, and as custodian keeps the $22,- 000,000 in bonds and certificates own- ed by these funds and collects the in- terest as it falls due. Few people perhaps realize the re- sponsibility resting upon the treas- urer of Minnesota, In order to handle this vast amount of money he must be & man with a thorough business train- ing and well versed in banking. Mr. Smith predicts that within the next ten years the total amount handled in his office will reach sixty million dollars annually. It therefore seems important that tne people should carefully choose the man who is to fill this important of- fice, as the safekeeping of the wealth of the commonwealth and the distri- bution of its receipts in accordance with law is one of the most important of all the executive functions. Since becoming state treasurer Mr. Smith has given his personal atten- tion to the comduct of his office and has made a study of state finances and related subjects. The fact that the books of the department are well kept is attested by the public ex- aminer who makes an audit of the account each quarter. He never has failed to praise the treasurer for the excellent condition in which he has found the records. Recently A. D. Roberts, of the American Audit company of Chicago, ln 1912 was by the Republican stste convention unanimously chosen mems ber of the National Republicas cone mittee. Is now cendidate for elerk of the supreme court. issued a statement to the effect that the comdition of the records and the system of accounting in Mr. Smith’s office is equal to that in any other state treasurer’s office in the country and superior to a great majority. LYNDON A. SMITH Nominee for ATTORNEY GENERAL. PLATFORM Correct Opinlons, Sound Advice and Diligent Care of the Legal inter ests of the State. Experience in Public Life. Attorney General............ 3 years Assistant Attorney General. ..3 years County Attorney, Chippewa County ...... wine wimiaiwian ine 8 years Lieutenant Governor......... 4 years President Montevideo WIBAEO! (o0 cio vininie me-simsmimmninimin 8 years Mr. Smith was born in Boscawen, New Hampshire, July, 1854. His father died when he was eight years old and he was from that time com- pelled to assist in his own support. It was not until he was 22 years old that he was able to enter college. He was graduated at Dartmouth College in 1880 and immediately thereafter was glver a position in the United States Bureau of Education. He re- mained in connection with that bu- reau until October, 1885, and studied law in the College of Law of George- town University, from which he re- ceived the degrees of LL. B. In 1882 and LL. M. in 1884. Mr. Smith came to St. Paul in 1885 and remained for a few months when he located im Montevideo, Minn., his present resi- dence, where he has remained in the general practice of law until he en- tered the attorney generai's office as assistant attorney general in Jamu- ary, 1909. During more than half this time he was either county attorney or the village or city sttorney of Monte- video and occup’® many public posi- tions. He was for a time a trustee of Carleton College. Five and a half years ago he gave up his private law practice and has devoted himself since to the legal work of the state. Mr. Smith asks the voters to con- sider his record amd achievements and to give him their support if, in their opinion, it is deserved. IRVING A. CASWELL Nominee for CLERK OF SUPREME COURT. Born on farm near Ancka 44 years 2go. Educated in common schools, Anoka High School and University of Minne- sota. Learned printer's trade, bought Anocka Herald and published same for 10 years. Married amd resides at Anoka. Member Fourteenth Minnesota regi- ment during Spanish-American war, 1898, Practiced law at Anoka. Appointed clerk of supreme court by the unanimous vote of the justices, 1909. Elected to that office in 1910, now serving his first elective term. Has been chairman Anoka County Republican committes, member Re- publican state central committes and 0. P. B. JACOBSON Nominee for RAILROAD AND WAREHOUSE COMMISSIONER. O. P. B. Jacobson, Republicax camw didate for state rallroad and wares housge commissicner, served for & nume ber of yearz as member of the stai® board of graln appeais. As such he inaugurated numerous reforme for the benetit of the grain-producing clasz of the state. During his Incumbency Iz office the well known velvet chaff wheat question arose, and the board of appeals declded that it wee eme titled to the seme grading as the blug stem and other sprimg grader of dollars to the farmers of the ststa. He was appointed a member of the rallrond and wearehouse commiusion without any solicitation upon his perfy but upon account of his long residemce in the Red River valley, the grea$ wheat producing section of Miunes sota; also on account of his wide am perience in graln matters. Mr. Jacobson was porn in Norway and comes from an old family of shipe owmers in the eastern part of thas country. In the fall of 1884 he bex came & wheat buyer for the Farmere | elevator at Fergus Falis, Micn Im 1908 he became publisher of the old and well known Norweglan weeklyw “Fergus Falls Ugeblad,” ané wag editor in chief of that peper unt# three years ago. } Mr. Jacobson favors giving te al} | persons and to all corporationz & saquare deal. He believes that all laws affecting transportation companies should be | strictly enforced, and efforte made | to remove unfair discriminations of inequalities in the rates and servica Mr. Jacobson stands for s striot observance of the laws, and the rulet governing all those who are licensed to hamdle grain and farm produce and shall insist that they obtaim the highest market price, and make prompt and accurate returns ef alf transactions to their shippers. He will favor maintaining the widest possible market for all products of the farm, and support any fair plem for bringing such products to the coms sumer at the least expense. DULUTH CHURCHMEN FOM LE% Scandinavian Speakers Say Veote Fef Him Is For Ciean Rule. Duluth, Minn., Oct. 20.—Willlern %K Lee, republican candidate for goverms or, was warmly indorsed by speakert and an audience of 1.200 last night im the Swedish Mission church. The civic mass meeting had been oalled by the Duluth Union Temperznce Ba clety and the pastors of all of the city’s Scandinaviad echurches were present. The principal address was by Da Frank Nelson, president of the Minne sota college of Minneapolis. Other addresses were made by Rew J. J. Daniels, pastor of the Swadisk Mission church, and Watson 8. Moorg, of Duluth, both of whom urged theif hearers to vote for Mr. Lee, declaring that & vote for him meant & vote fog good, clean government, free from brewery domination. Sunday the Swedish ehurches of Duluth, representing all denomimae tions In the city, had a meeting and passed resclutions indorsing Mr. Lea The resolutions were read at lasd night’s meeting and loudly cheeredy~- Minneapolis Journal, Oct. 36 wheats, thereby saving millions eof