St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-09-24
WILSON AT PRESTON.
The Democratic Candidate Of the First
District Addresses the People Of
Fillmore County.
Many Republicans Congratulate Him After
the Meeting His Prospects Good
for Carrying the County.
An Exhaustive Review of His Legis-
lative Career, the Points of Which
Appear Below.
Mofiopolfes, Tax-Iitle sharks and
Patent-Rfght swindlers Bitterly
Opposed to Him.
wiIsan,s secon.l snesch il.

Wilson's second speech.
Special to the Globe.
PRESTON, Mimi, Sept. 23.-Hon. ThOs.
Wilson, candidate for congress in this dis
trict spoke to large and enthusiastic au-
diehce in the court house this, evening.
The audience was largely Republican. This
being the second day of the fair, many OF
the farmers stayed to the meeting He
was loudly applauded throughout the meet
ing, and at the close three rousing cheers
were given him. after which many Repub-
licans came forward and shook hauds and
pledged him their support. He also spoke
this afternoon before the Democrats and
peoples county convention for half an
hour and held short reception. 1t is be-
leved by many that he will carry Fillmore
county by a handsome majority.
MIR. WILSON'S SPEECH.
In a lengthy address reviewing his legis-
lative record, Mr.. Wilson said:
1 stated in declining to become candidate
for congress that certain political influences
in this district would tie opposed to me. I'm
less information coming from different quar-
tiers is wholly unreliable, the opposition which
predicted from certain corporations is al
ready manifest and the reason of 1t is not far
to seek. My conduct in office and out OF
Office has been such as to condemn me with
that class as legislator. They know me to
be unchangeably opposed to all land grants,
subsidies and bonuses, either by way of orig
inal grants or renewal, and to any special Ia
VOrS or privileges to them at the expense or
the people. / have always by word and act
opposed the expansion of power of corpora
lions and any and all special privileges or i'm
munities to them
INV IVA zfJoT T.
Mr.. Wilson then gave few examples to
illustrate his principles and actions in such
cases and at the same time the ground OF
the opposition of these corporations to his
election. A conspicuous instance was cited
in which in 1853. when certain railway
companies applied for state credit of S.
600, 600, Mr. Wilson saw that the scheme
was one to plumber the commonwealth, and
worked herOcally to prevent its cOnsumma-
ton. In an election bearing on the question
in Winona Mr.. Wilson was the only one OF
L, 1872 who voted to oppose the loan. In
1881 MI Wilson, as member OF the legis-
lature, strenuously opposed the final as
saults of the bOndhOders for the payment
of this loan. and by his able work saved the
state S21. 500 annually, and Gf the bonds
| run as long as it is provided that they may
there will be saved to the state $645, 600
| and 5000, 600 additional by reduction of
| interest. Mr. Wilson said that he had OPP
posed one and all of the swamp land grant
schemes of the railways, and that he had
drawn all the bills and resolutions looking
| toward the taxation of these lands. He
said he could truthfully assert and
PROVE BY THE RECORD
that he has collected very much more from
the railroad companies of the state than
any other attorney in the state Referring
| to patent-right sharks he said he had fought
them right and left and drew up and car
RED through the legislature bill which
! gave to defendants in suits against them
| the right to prove that such notes were OBJ
tanned by fraud, and thus defeat the action,
whether the notes were in the hands of the
original payee or not. Mr.. Wilson stated
that he drew the first bill offered in the
| legislature to make it penal for ware
housemau to ship out grain stored with
him without the written consent of the
owner He also favored and aided in the
passage of the OleOmargarine bill and bill
requiring notice to the owners OF land be-
fore the right of a tax-title holder should
become absolute, so as to make impossible
the acquiring of tax title without the
knowledge of the owner Of the property.
Mr.. Wilson said
IN CONCLUSION:
While have served four sessions in the
legislature your county has had as senators
and members many witnesses of my acts, all
of them opposed to me politically, or at least
nominally. 1 now challenge any one OF these
meE for respect them ALL to rise up and
say that ever let attachment to party blind
nue. to my duty as a citizen or legislator; or
that have ever covered before wealth or
people against any and every form of attack
by wealth or power or chicanery: or that l
have ever let m, own personal interest inter-
.fere with the fearless performance OF my
duty, as I understood it. Again L go
farther, and 1 challenge any one
of those men to say whether there
was another man in the legislature
whom the monopolists, tax-title-sharks,
patent-right swindlers and all of that class
more hated or feared. l am told my adj
versaries have their MEN investigating and
critically examining my record. Let the
work proceed. / do not claim to be perfect
or to have been always right. On the con-
trary, l know have often erred. But this
do know, that have never by word Or act
permitted
POWER OR WEALTH
to deter me or turn me from the right. 1
wish to be elected to congress, but only as the
representative of the people-nly old friends
which 1 have always stood OPP
| posed to will beyond doubt continue to
| oppose me-they seem to prefer my opponent
| over me, as they preferred him over Mr..
White. And you will find them re-
| sorting to the same means to defeat
me by which they defeated Mr.. Whites nom
| ination. l believe they will not succeed.
The transparent and dishonest cry of :'stop
thiefl' which they have set up, by which 1t
| is attempted to divert attention from their
| methods and themselves and their candidate,
will not avail them. 1 appeal to you-the
electors of the district. See to 1t that you are
| not circumvented, for the canvass made in
! the district for the nomination is merely a
| foretaste of that which will be made for the
| election. / have no doubt you will candidly
| look at the record the principles and pre-
| vious practices of both candidates, and judge
! them on that. And by that we should both
| stand or fall No man should seek or secure
| an office unless his acts have shown him wor.
| thy OF it. ....