St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-11-02
The Declaration Of Indepen d.
ence Contains the Car
dinal Principles.
STATEMENTS OF NOMINEES.
Congressman Halls Re-elee-
tion Generally Conceded
by Republicans.

and have been all the years of my life.
l believe in the Declaration of lnde-
pendence, which declares that all men
are created equal: that they are en-.
dowed by their Creator with certain in
aiienable rights, that among these are
life, liberty and the pursuit OF happl>
ness: that to secure these rights gov
ernments are instituted among men de-
riving their just powers from the con-
sent of the governed These words are
the cornerstone and inspiration of the
Democratic party. and upon them are
based, as upon solid and unyielding
rock. all the hopes which the world has
of government by the people, of the
people and for the people in this and all
coming generations"
Thus speaks Gen. George L. Becker
in his reply to letter from the secre-
tary of the Minnesota legislative board
of the Brotherhood of Locomotive En-
gineers.
low, will be an inspiration to the Dem
ocracy of Minnesota. In it are found
in concise form the reasons the Demo-
cratic party can give for the claim that
it is the party of the people.
Equal rights to all, special favors to
none" This is-oAe of the fundamental
principles OF the Democratic party. de-
clares Gen. Becker.
After reading Gen. Becker's letter
there will be few Democrats who will
refuse to fall in line and aid in placing
him in the Office of governor.
/ "We have too much legislation. state
and federal.' is another statement that
will strike responsive thrill in every
Democratic heart. as well as another
cardinal truth, stated in these words:
"We cannot make men good and true
and honest and thrifty and economical
and temperate by legislation. They
who think we can mistake the eud and
overrate the power of government"
Gen. Becker is Democrat. and he is
able to tell why. because he knows and
believes in ergreat principles of his
party.
On Sept. 26 last William e. Hayes.
chairman and secretary of the Mime
sofa legislative board, Brotherhood of
Locomotive Engineers. addressed let
ters to each of the candidates for COY
ernor asking them to state their posi-
tions regarding labor legislation. Pre-
lIminary TO this Mr.. Hayes called atten-
tiOn to the fact that whether partly or
not laboring men feel that their inter
ests have not been so carefully guarded
as those OF great corporations.
The Questions Asked.
1--WE respectfully ask, therefore," Mr..
Hayes wrote, ''frOm you, the candidate
of one great POLITICAL party for the Of
fee of governor of the state, what Spe-
cifc legislation looking to the benefit of
the toilers of Minnesota can be expected
if you and the party which you repre-
sent are successful at the polls next
November? We further respectfully
request that you state what.if anything.
is now being done by those connected
with your political party in preparing
legislation alOug the lines which we
think can be expected at your hands If
given the majority of votes in our
state"
Gen George L. Becker, the Demo-
cratic candidate for cover nor, replied
to this letter on Sept. 2S. two days
later.
S. M. Owen, the Populist, delayed
his reply until Oct. Is, over three
weeks.
Gov. Knute Nelson was. of course.
the last, his answer being dated Oct. %.
nearly four weeks after he received the
inquiry of Mr.. Hayes.
The failure of Messrs. Owen and Mel
| son to respond i'll reasonable time
| caused the entire correspondence to be
| held back nearly month. until now
| on the very eve of election, when the
| people are supposed to be paying very
| litcle atte ntion to such matters. Gen.
| Becker's prompt reply follows:
Democratic to the Core.
ST. PAUL, Mimi. Sept. 2S. ls94.-Wil-
| liam G. Hayes, Esq, Chairman and
Secretary Minnesota State Legislative
| Board of Brotherhood of Locomotive
| Engineers. 1725 South Morgan Avenue,
| Minneapolis, Minn.-Dear Sir: l am to-
| day in receipt of your letter OF the 26th
| inst, asking from me a statement of
| my position and that of the Democratic
party, whose candidate [ am, upon So
called labor legislation in Minnesota.
The convention which placed me in
nomination made the following declara-
| ton upon this subject:
1--WE see great promise in the prln-
ciple of arbitration and conciliati0n in
adjusting the disputes between labor
anu Cdplbdls anu VIC COuucIlI any luule
| vidual or corporation who is unwilling
| to submit such disputes to a fair aud
| honorable adjustment"
| accepted the nomination upon this
| platform, and feel bound to do what /
can in support of this resolution, w hethl
| er | am in public position or private
| citizen.
AS to the so-called "labor legislation
| in Minnesota" to which you refer.
| have to say that / am not at all informed
| concerning it in general or in detail.
| Until l know more about what is pro-
| posed, it is not competent for me to pass
| judgment upon 1t. Nor have | any
| specific legislation to suggest In this
direction nor am aware that ANYTHING
| Is now being done by those connected
with the Democratic party in preparing
legislation along the lines indicated.
Fundamental Principles.
Having thus endeavored to answer
specifically the inquiries of your letter.
| trust you will pardon me. for stating
briefly the general principles which
will govern ma If ! am made chief
magistrate OF this commonwealth.
You will, OF course, understand that
am Democrat from the ground up, and
have been all the years OF my life. L be.
lieve Ia the declaration of independence
| which declares that "All men are
! created equal, that they are endowed by