The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1886-12-30
THE LIQUOR TRAFFIC..

THE LIQUOR TRAFFIC..
You will be called upon at this session to CON-
slider measures looking 10 the tprther regulation
OF the liuuor business in this state The people
have pronounced in iavor of high license, local
option and che rigid enforcement of the laws re-
lating to the liquor traffic. and now turn to you
In the hope and expectation that you will. i'll the
form If suitable legislation, give effect to the
verdict which they have found. Outside Of the
limited number engaged in the liquor traffic In
and without regard to political parties, favor
the measures proposed. can SEQ no reason why
the desired leAslation should not be promptly
enacted 1t is undoubtedly true that while the
question OF high license does not properly relate
to party politics. 1t Is of intense interest to
the liquor vendors OF the state, and in our cities
issue at every election. The liquor Interests are
organized as compact power for the avowed
purpose of combating all efforts looking to the
further regulation OF tho liquor traffic. The Of
feet of such on organization in such case can
not be otherwise than harmful All questions
are made secondary to that OF high license. and
tlculariy legislative otiice-is required to
pledge himself against it, stand the
brunt Of their united opposition. in
many cases Gaming utter defeat from the out
set. In all candor submit to you il this Is not
a pernicious influence on the legislation OF the
state. Two years ago q high license bill was be-
coming q law, but was finally defeated through
the organized efforts OF the liquor interests.
This organization is much stronger to-day than
1t was then. and will no doubt oppose with q zeal
worthy of better cause the measures proposed.
But trust this legislature, elected on the issue
of high license and local option. is also
stronger on this subject than its predecessor.
and that it has the courage and independence TO
refuse to be bound and controlled by the liquor
dealers. have no word to utter against these
men-I am willing to concede that many OF them
regard the proposed measures as an infringe
ment on thcir personal rights snd liberty, but in
the name of that great body OF our citizens who
beleve In sobriety, in law and order. and VINO
recognize and deplore The evils traceable to the
liquor traffic, l protest against that interest
being permitted to dominate the legislation OF
the state 1t is not only your province put your
evils. 1t is believed that high license and local
option will minimize them. Sharing In this be-
lief, and de irin2 to keep faith with the people
recommend the enactment of suitable and ell
Gent legislation to carry the proposed measures
into effect.
PRISON LABOR
During the last few years-and more especially
during the last year or two-the subject OF
prison labor and its effect on free labor. when
brought into competition Herewith. has received
much earnest considerat ion. not only by labor
organizations throughout the country. but by
thoughtful men In the professions ana other
walks Of life, whose onlT interest ia the matter
has been one of justice to all parties concerned,
and OF good to society. That prisoners should
work does not admit Of argument. For reasons
of discipline and health. ii for no other, they
must be kept employed. But how to do this and
not bring the products Of their labor into COM
petition with those of free wOfklngmen and me-
chanics is a problem which has engaged the at
tention of many earnest and able men, and
which you will probably be called upon to con-
slider at this session. [ am well convinced that
the system of letting the prison labor out by
contract to the lowest bidder, now prevailing in
this state, is unjust in many ways, and should
be abolished; and to this end recommend such
legislation as will prohibit its extension beyond
the term Of the present contract The price
paid by the contractor in Minnesota per convict
is /, cents day, and this labor is utilized in
the manufacture Of articles which are sold in
the market in competition with like articles
manufactured by free labor. The inevitable re-
suit of this system Is TO reduce the wages OF free
mechanics, and in numbers of cases in
other states has broken down manufacturing
establishments and thrown hundreds Of me-
| chanics and other worklngmen out OF employ
ment. With this state Ct things existing it is
not to be wondered that the representatives OF
free labor complain. confess the fullest SYM
pathy with them state can not be greater
than its citizens Its prosperity Is measured by
theirs, and whatever contributes to their ad-
vantage adds to its greatness 1t may be found
| On investigation that the evils resultant from
| the system in this state are not SO great az
Observation-Disclosures the system is bad, and
should be abolished. Free labor naturally rebels
| against competition with the labor OF criminals
and who can blame it? Is should be the policy
| of the state to exalt and dignity labor, and to
conserve in every reasonable and proper way
the interests of its laboring mon. In this spirit
recommend the abrogatIon OF the system IN
Minnesota, and commend the matter to you in
the expectation that whatever LEGISLATION is
necessary to bring this about you will freely
grant.
DRAINAGE
and property owners Of that portion OF the Red
| river valley lying in Minnesota was held at the
| city of Crookston. to devise means and adopt
! methods for comprehensive system of drainage
! for that fertile section OF the state The acior
| of the convention resulted in the employment o.
| competent engineers to make surveys, adopt
| plan and report at subsequent meeting, witt
| estimates of the cost OF the proposed work. The
\ report has been submitted and. am informed
| will be laid before you with request for legis
| lation in furtherance Of the enterprise. The
| scheme is one of great Importance. not only tt
| the agriculture OF that wide bet of territory
| stretching from the mouth Of the Bots de Siou,
| river on the south to the Manitoba line on thu
| north, with its deep alluvial soil and wonderful
| wheat producing powers, but to every city
town, village and industry within its limits. ant
| indirectly to the state at large doubt not tina
| you will extend to an enterprise promising sucl
| far-reaching results all the aid which the statt
| can render, keeping in view the restrictive pro
| visions Of sections and 10 Of article of tn
| constitution. The passage OF a we'll considered
| drainage law, applicable to all sections OF tn
| state, would prove OF great utility. The law OF
! the subject, now on our statue books, has beef
found inadequate to the necessities and shoult
| be radically amended or superseded by an &C
| much more comprehensive and better adapted
to our wants.
I A SOLDIERS HOME.
l i
the subject OF a soldiers home Representative
| OF several organizations Of ex-soldiers In thi
| state who have for some time past given th1
subject careful consideration, insist that tn
| state to provide a home for the veterans Of tn
late war, citizens of Minnesota who are disable
and needy. 1t has been ascertained that mes
| than fifty ex-soldiers arc subjects OF publ
| charity within our borders. 1t Is also a notabl
fact that the generous provision made by tn
government nearly twenty years ago IN estao
1ichi f1vvah nv,nh n
| the country have now become entirely made
quate to the needs Of the ex-soldiers. While !
nnauestionaby the ds1y Of the nation All to pro
| Minnesota will never willingly consent that be
cause OF inadequate provision made BY the gen
| eral government, any soldier within our Dor
ders shall be chartered In an aims house. Man
other states, notably Michigan and Illinois, hav
act worthy examples in this direction. 70 70
is accorded the privilege OF giving substantia
expression to the gratitude which the people 0
| Minnesota feel toward the defenders OF Tn
Union, whose heroism and valor from 1861
| 1865 preserved us . nation:
plainly that whatever is to he done IN this al
reotton must be done promptly. II must Q
done, not as a charity, but a. one OF the man
| obligations resting upon us as citizens oil o com
| mon country for which these men did vallen
service in the dark days of the rebellion
However generously we may deal with them
| their debtor. And while would not recon
| mend extravaganza even in this direction. q
recommend such reasonable expenditure az WI
secure home and comforts to these old vel
| Grams, leaving the details Of the measure to yor
| Judgment.
BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS.
| I take pleasure in recommending the creatio
| and establishments by suitable LEGISLATION OF
| state bureau Of labor statistics This measur
was promised by both of the leading polite,
parties Of the state in the late campaign. ant
as matter Of good faith now. II for no otht
. | reason, should be carried out. But there a.
other reasons sufficient in themselves to justtf
it. 1t is important to tho whole state, an
especially to the laborIng men. that there shoul