Morris tribune., 1890-10-22
KNUTE NELSON.
A Ringing Speech in Favor of Merriam
and Comstock.


unable to gain admittance to the
hall, were turned away. After elo-
quent and effective speeches by Gov.
Merriam and S. G.. Comstock, Hon.
Knute Nelson, being loudly called
for, came forward and made follow
ing urging speech:
Friends and neighbors; / am al
ways pleased to speak to audiences in
Pope county, because here / feel that
1 am at home with you. But / speak
to you now as q private citizen. l am
no longer an Office holder with
shoulder straps. presume that
have been called upon at this meeting
on the same principle that they some
times call upon superannuated
ministers at Methodist conferences, to
pronounce the benedictiop. AT. the
call of my country ] spent three years
fighting in the ranks and after | laid
down my musket and came home, when
ever opposition showed itself, l felt
as pugnacious as ever and it is the
same way with me now. While nc
longer wearing the shoulder straps oil
Office but only a private in the ranks
of the Republican party when the
fray begins or the conflict approaches,
| feel as pugnacious and full of fight
as ever. l am as good Republican
as ever and loyal to the Republican
party. Hearty applause.
/ have been poor man all my life
A large portion of my frontier days
were spent in a claim shanty, and the
feeling of communism has sometimes
been pretty strong within my own
breast, but to my friends
IN THE FARMERS ALLIANCE
who feel with me that there are GER
tain reforms to be accomplished, I
have this to say-that I know how
you feel, but l am convinced that the
best place in which to accomplish
these reforms is in the ranks of the
party. While there are
reforms still to be made, the channel
through which to make them is the
party. Isympathise with
the Farmers Alliance. I am farm
er myself, as well as a lawyer, but in
my opinion the reforms demanded in
our platform have been anticipated
and met by the Republican party in
legislation and while there remains
room for improvement I am convinced
that we can accomplish more in the
direction of these needed reforms by
remaining with that party than by
acting as an independent party or
uniting with the Democratic party
from which we can expect no aid.
''IN REGARD TO GOV. MERRIAM,
l wish to say that l believe him to be
honest and fearless in the discharge
of his duty. l know this to be the
case in the matter of his appoint
ments which is not the least impor-
tant of the multifarious duties which
the executive officer is required to
perform. I happened to be in St.
Paul on some private business this
and called upon him in his
private Office, and, at that time, he
asked me concerning the appointment
of a judge for one of the judicial dis
tricts, which was then vacant, in this
state. From the nature of his inquiries
and the trouble he took to obtain all
the information he possibly could in
gard to the lawyers of that district
and their ability and fitness for the
position of ,adge, L was more than
ever satisfied that he meant to do
what was right, and was convinced
that he intended always to appoint
the best men for the office, taking
into consideration their qualifications
and general fitness for the Office re-
gardless of political influence. What
be has just said in relation to the
in this state is all true.
In relation to house file 157 about
which so much has been said of late,
Gov. Merriam, as speaker of the
house, was compelled to sign it after
it had passed both branches of the
1t was bad bill and
ought to have been vetoed as it re-
lieved from taxation certain lands of
q railroad corporation that were not
entitled to exemption and I believe
hat if he had been governor at that
time instead of speaker of the house
he would
HAVE HAD THE NERVE
20 veto the bill, as ought to have been
lone. | now say, SO far as the admin
stration of Mr.. Merriam is concerned
hat it has been thoroughly honest,
fearless and just, having due REGARD
for the interests of all classes ana l.
rs citizen In the ranks, rropose 70
support Gov. Merriam fJr re-eiectlon,
.reely and heartily believe that he
S entitled to my support and the
support - al Republicans and the
c..ililon masses of the people, and !
all upon you, my old and trusted
riends and neighbors, you Repubi-
an friends to come
WITH ME TO HIS SUPPORT.
And now I wish to say a word in
,ehaf of my old friend, Mr.. Comstock.
Upon retiring from congress, the
highest pleasure I ever experienced in
ny life was that afforded me in intro
lucing there to my associates, my
riend and successor, S. G.. Comstock.
lie had ever been a friend to me.
We were pioneers together, he coming
With shovel on his shoulder to Moor
lead and / locating in claim shanty
It Alexandria the same year. Dur
ng the famous Nelson Kindred CAM
,aign he was loyal and true to me
md at that memorable Detroit con-
7ention he withstood sling-shot, billies
md revolvers in defense of the Little
Norwegian" He has served you
and well. He is man, to
lse Southern phrase, who always
totes fair" and my friends in Pope
county cannot pay me a higher com
,liment than by giving him their