The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1890-10-23
kNUTE NElSON'G SPEECH.

kNuTE NElSON'o SPEECH.
GLENwcoD. MINI, Oct. l5-Follow-
ing the speech of Gov. VIM. R. Merriam
at the Republican rally held at this
place, last evening, and which speech
was we'll received. Knute Nelson,who
was in the audience, was celled to the
platform and spoke as follows:
Friends and Neighbors: [ am always
glad to speak to an audience in Pope
county, because here feel that | am at
home with you. But | speak to you
now as private citizen. am no long
er all office holder with shoulder straps.
| presume that | have been called upon
at this meeting on the same principlt
that they sometimes call upon superan
nuated ministers at Methodist confer
ences, to pronounce the benediction.
At the call of my country spent three
wears fighting In the ranks and after |
had laid down my mus et and came
home. whenever opposition showed it
sell, felt as pugnaclous as ever and 1t
is the same with me now, while no long
er wearing the shoulder straps of office
but only private in the ranks of the
Republican party when the fray begins
or The conflict approaches feel as pug
nacious and as tull of fight as ever. |
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 that there are certain reforms
to be accomplished, | have this to say
that | know how you feel but am
convinced that the best place i'll which
to accomplish these reforms is in the
ranks of the Republican party. While
there are reforms still to be made, the
channel through which to make them
is the Republican party. sympathize
with the Farmers Alliance. | am a
farmer myself, as we'll as a lawyer, but
in my opinion the reforms demanded
in our platform have le,n anticipated
and met by the Republican party in
legislation and while there remains
room for improvement, am convinced
that we can accomplish more in the di-
rection of these need reforms by re-
naming 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,
wiz Il to say that | believe him to be
honest and fearless in the discharge of
his duty. | know this to be the case in
the matter of his appointments which
is not the least important OF the multi
tarious duties which the executive Of
ficer is required to perform. | hap
pened to be in st. Paul on some private
business this summer and called upon
him in his private office, and, at that
time, he asked me concerning the APP
pointment of a judge for one OF the jul
dicial districts, which was then vacant
in this state. From the nature of his
inquiries and the trouble that he took
to obtain all the information he posi-
blv could in regard to the lawyers OF
that district and their ability and fit
ness for the position of judge, | was
more than over satisfied that he meant
to do VIVA. was right; and was con-
-; IL l. oly fn
point the best men for the office, taking
into consideration their qualifications
and general fitness for the office regard
less of political influence. What he ha:
lust said in relation to the Legislation III
this state is all true. In relation to
house file l31 about which SO much has
been said Of late. Gov. Merriam, as
speaker Of the house, was compelled to
sjgp after it had passed both branches
of the legislature. 1t was a bad bill and
ought to have been vetoed as it relieved
FROM taxation certain lands of a rail
road corporation that there were not
entitled to exemption and | believe
that if he had been governor at that
time instead of speaker of the house
he would
HAVE HAD TIT NERVE
to veto the bill, as ought to have done
| do now say, 50 far as tho administra,
ton of Mr.. Merriam is Concerned, that
it has been thoroughly Ecnest, fearless
and lust, having du3 regards iCr the
interests of all classes, and |, as citi
zen in The ranks, propose to support
Gov. Merriam for reelection freely
and heartily. | believe that he is en-
titled to my support and the suFpor
of all Republicans and the commc'
masses. Of the people, and call upor
YOU nv old and trusted friends anC
neighbors, you Republican friends t.
come
WITH ME TO HIS SUPPORT.
And now wish to say word in be
half of my old friend Mr.. Comstock
Upon retiring from congress, the high
est pleasure l eyer experienced IN my
life was that afforded me in introduc
ing there to my associates, my friene
and successor, S. G.. Comstock. HI
had ever been a friend to me. We
were pioneers together, he coming will
a shovel on his shoulder to Moorheac
and l locating in claim shanty a
Alexandria the same year. During
the famous Nelson-Kindred campaign
he was loyal and true to me and a
that memorable Detroit convention ht
withstood he sling-shot, billies and re-
volvers in defense of the Little Nor
weigh" He has served you faithfully
and .7ell. He is man, to use South
ern phrase, who always "totes fair
and my friends in Pope county canno
pay me higher compliment than by
giving him their hearty support.