Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1888-10-17
VIM. r. Merriam.-A Good Re-
cord.


cord.
The record Of the Hon. w. II. Mer-
ram MS speaker of the house OF repre-
.entatives Two years ago, is an envi-
able one. No flaw can be found in 1t.
No chance for adverse criticism IL
given. 1t Is record OF unbrolen
pledges, faithfully kept promises, aud |
true friendship for the agrIculturist
and laboring man. His election az
speaker was received with apprehen-
sion by the farmers and laborlng
classes. The Republican state cen.
trail committee has prepared record
from the house journal. from which
the following extracts are taken:
Two years before, with Hon. John
L. Gibbs as speaker, new err OF an.
timonoply legislation had been In
augurated; ami, while the railroad
and grain inspection laws Of 1885
proved themselves meritorious, 1T had
nevetherless been discovered that
there were still many defects that
enabled the corporations to evade
the real and proper intents of the
law. The people demanded that
these be remedied, and distrust of
Mr.. Merriam was naturally aroused
by his business and the misrepresenta-
tions Of partisan organs. They were
afraid that their hopes wsuld be dis
appointed, but instead of bringing
his influence and power as speaker
to bear in favor OF monopolies, Mr..
Merriam soon proved to the farmers
and laboring people that in him they
had firm ANA steadfast friend, and
that all fair legislation demanded by
them would have In William r.
Merriam willing and able champion.
The committee of most importance to
the agriculturists of this state was
certainly the committee OH railroads.
The people felt that the extortions of
railroad corporations had become un.
bearable and demanded that legisla-
ton be enacted by which they should
be made amenable to common law.
No man in the state had been q more
fearless and outspoken enemy of the
railroads than Ignatius Donnslly,
and him Mr. Merriam made chair
man OF this committee and gave
him as associates men particularly
favorable to the interests OF the farm
ers, many of whom were members of
the Farmers Alliance. Conspicuous
among the measures favorably repor-
ted by this committee was a bill to
fix maximum charges upon the trans
portation of wheat and the products In
the state, which was defeated in the
house. The bill would have saved
thousands to the producers. Mr..
Donnelly charged that 1t was defeated
by corrupt means and y committee
was appointed by Mr.. Merriam to in.
vestigate. I'll announcing it Mr.
Merriam said: "Spare no one. Let
the truth be known" OF the FIVE or
the committee four had voted and
worked for the bill. The committee
was not appointed to whitewash the
matter, but to investigate, and the
report Of the committee as, is well
known, created a sensation.
The most important measure wal
the one creating the grain and ware
house commission and defining iti
lpowers. This commission will Civ,
all the protection necessary to thu
people against the railroads. A coura
geous governor to appoint q courage
Gus commission, and to fearlessly On
force their decisions, il all that Il
necessary, and the man who appoin
ted the committee which reported
the act would see the act enforced.
| Mr.. Merriam's action in regard Il
the law reducing the legal rate Of In
terest from 10 to per cent is an ex
ample of unselfishness rarely equaled
The last legislature passed acts TOT
numerous to enumerate to amello
rate the condition of the farmers an(
laborers. And in all the preliminary
and subsequent struggles to secure
the passage of these laws, Mr.. Mer'
Ram steadfastly and courageously
cast his lot with those that were
working with this in view and wher
he had to choose In standing by thu
cities or by the country, In every in
stance was he found on the side Of thu
latter. To make long story short 4
can be truthfully asserted that thu
laboring men got everything thel
asked for, and in all the measures
proposed in their interest they wer'
assisted and their efforts supported
by speaker Merriam.
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