The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1888-11-01
". Il. MERRIAM.

THE republican nominee for governor,
Hon. William r. Merriam, is not only
fully equipped by business training and
tried executive ability for the office, but
the farmers and laboring men owe it to
him that he receives their votes for gov
ernor. While speaker of the house of
representatives he advocated every meas
ure calculated to further their interests and
contribute to their prosperity. Occupy
ing a commanding position as speaker
he used it from first to last to further the
interests of the laboring man and farmer.
At the very outset, in defiance of the de-
mands of the railroads, he appointed Mr..
Donnelly to be chairman of the railroad
committee-a man who is known to be
radically opposed to every railroad in
fringement upon the interests and rights
of the farmers. A powerful pressure was
brought to bear upon him by the roads
to place some one less obnoxious and
hostile to the roads in that commanding
position, but he said "No! The farming
interests of this state demand relief from
administrations, and the yrepresent the
material wealth of the state, and shall,
so tar as am able, place such interests
in the best possible condition to cope
with the railroads, and shall appoint
friend ofthe farmer at the head of the COM
mittee onrailroads." And so it had to be,
and Mr.. Donnelly was appointed chair
man of this important committee.
Later in the session when the usury
and interest bill was pending, he vacated
the chair and came down upon the floor
to advocate the passage of that bill
which provided for the reduction of inter-
est from ten to eight per cent. and i'm
posing severe penalties for usury. His
argument was that the laboring man
struggling to build up home, and the
farmer fighting for existence, could not
afford to pay higher rate than eight
per cent, and that the capitalist, who
was raised above any danger of want,
could we'll afford to ST and a reduction OF
two per cent. in interest. These two
| features of his official record alone should
entitle him to the honor to which he as
pires, the voters having the assurance
| that he is not only a safe man to entrust
with the affairs of the state, but in the
confidence that their interests will be
cared for and fostered.
His executive ability is amply shown
| in the tact that he has builded up one of
the most magnificent banking businesses
in the state, he being president of the
Merchants National Bank, of St. Paul;
| and again he snatched from the jaws of
| bankruptcy the state agricultural society
| and placed it upon a firm and safe foot
ing This important association, one
which appeals directly to the interests OF
the agriculturists, had been run for years
in the interest of little coterie Of ring
sters, who were operating for it and i'll
their own interests. 1t had fallen as low
as it was possible for it to fall and exist,
but he took it in hand, as its president
and in two years has raised it up so that
it is one of the most thrifty and prosper
Gus societies in the United States.
Such, briefly, is his record, and upon it
he certainly is entitled to the support OF
every money borrower and agriculturist
in the state. Vote for William r. Mer-
RAM.