The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1894-11-02
CONDEMNED BY THEIR OWN
RECORD.

Minnesota is not obliged to go out
side it's borders to find the effect of
Populist rule. 1t has the print of
their work right at, home and it is
not such as to commend them to the
taxpayer. The Minneapolis Journal
condenses the following from the
Fergus Falls Journal of the history
of Populist rule in Otter Tail county.
1t is history of extravaganza from
beginning to end:
In that county the Republicans, for
many years before 1891, had control
of affairs. In that year the Populist
officials, who had been elected in 1890,
proceeded to business as PERFORMERS"
who would show the citizens how to
run the county economically. Re
ceiving a cash balance of about $780,
900 from the Republicans in 1891, the
Populists have now little or nothing
to show for it, and will probably end
this year with a deficit. Four years
ago the Republicans had nearly $780,
600 on hand and left a clean record for
the county. The Populists have in
creased taxation all along the line for
revenue. the poor, the poor farm and
sinking fund. For the revenue fund
they have levied taxation up to the
| full limit of mills the past three
years, against an average of 4.32 mills
under the Republican regime, one of
the Republican years being a grass
hopper year, which required levy of
go mills. The revenue levy of 1890
under Republican control was only
LA mills. The revenue raised by the
| Republicans during the last five years
| of their control averaged $500; the
Populists averaged 5000 the last
three years. The three years of Pop
| uliSm have cost the county Sl6S, POS,
while, during the three preceding
years, the Republicans spent $751;
547.25, leaving out an extraordinary
and necessary expenditure for enlarg-
ing the court house, amounting to
SIS, 1876 .95. The cost of clerk hire,
light, fuel, ETC., has been increased
by the Populists to 81, S42. Is year, as
compared with the cost under Repub-
lican control of 1854. "a average year.
Blank books and stationery under
Populism averaged $500 a more per
year than under the Republicans, and
the only thing in which the POpulists
economical was advertising by neg
lecting to give the taxpayers due no
tice of their expenditures and other
acts of the county. In every other
item this reform party increased the
burden of the taxpayers and will end
the year with. practically an empty
treasury.
This accords well with the taste
the people of the state got by a COM
bination of that party and the Demo-
Gratis on the lie gislature in 1891 where
by the running expenses of that body
was increased some $4,000 and the
general expenses of the state so in
creased that an increase of the tax
levy became necessary.
While protesting to be friend o
the farmer and the workingmen,
they did nothing in their behalf.
They had made many promises but
failed to fulfill them.
When this is placed be side the re
cord of the legislature of 1898 and the
present administration what con-
trast is shown. The expenses Of the
state were reduced; economy enforced
everywhere; the state tax levy cut
down, and legislation in the interest
of the farmer and the workingman en-
acted.
The record of the Populists in this
state condemn them and show them
utterly unfit to administer the affairs
| of the state