Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-09-11
REFORM BEGINS AT HOME.
Why Don't the Minnesota Republicans
Wade IN and Do 1t.

Why Don't the Minnesota Republicans
Vade In and Do 1t.
Chicago Times.
The Republicans of Minnesota held
State convention at St. Paul on last Thurs
day. The primary object of the gathering
was to ascertain which of the candidates for
the various State Offices had succeeded in
electing the largest number of delegates,
while the secondary object was to adopt
series of resolutions, called a platform.
which the party leaders had previously
agreed upon. The design of these resolu-
tions is to catch votes. They
represent different kinds of bats
of great variety o. forms and colors, but
all covering a hook, attached to a
single line and controlled by the same fisher
man. s,me of the hooks and bats were ar
ranged f. + trolling aud others for still fish
ing. The like of them have been played out
in Minnesota ever since there were votes to
capture. Over one villainous shaped hook
with long barb was the following bait.
probably arranged by the manager of some
State institution:
"We demand greater economy in State ex-
penses, and particularly those incident to the
charitable institutions, and, if necessary. such
legislation as will cause to cease all combine
tons by which irordinate sums are sought
to be secured for these purposes''
Now, the questions naturally arise: WHY
don't the Republicans of Minnesota reform
their State institutions? And why did they
ever squander s'inordinate sums'' upon
them? They not only govern the State at
pre- ent but have governed it since it was adj
mitted Into the Union. They have had
everything their own way. They have not
had sufficient opposition to allow of much
excitement at a general election. All the il
lnstrious statesmen of the commonwealth.
Donnelly, Dunnell and King, have
been members of the dominant
party. The literature of political
reform has received very large ac-
cessions from the resolutions adopted by lie
| publican conventions in Minnesota. while
the Republican politicians of the State have
| INDUCED largely in reform oratory. Now the
fact is, no reform in the management of
State affairs should be required at the pres
ent time. To point out existing evils and
| to promise to remedy them is to cast refec.
tons on the very persons who are INDUCING
in criticisms and in making promises.
Matters in Minnesota are much the same
that they are in other States. Resolutions
are framed and kept conspicuously before
the people till election morning, when they
are put out of sigut for year. party
having obtained power uses it for the
advantage of its own members, who
hold all the public positions. The en-
ployes in every reformatory, educational, OF
charitable institution :,,ake their own esti
mates for running expenses, new buildings
and repairs. and present them to the legisla.
ture, which has nothing to do but to formal
y appropriate the money. The consequence
is that the INDECENT benefciaries of char1ta
BILE institutions are better housed, fed, clothe,
and educated than the majority of persons
who pay taxes. Most of the managers Of
State institutions have no prac, ical and little
theoretical knowledge of the affairs they
nominally have charge of. They are giver
places for the reason that the party in power
is presumed to be indebted to them for ser.
vices and there are not enough Offices to "gc
| round.''