The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1894-04-11

and we'll, whether he win or lose the
victory, has before him no easy task.
The "wage earners" of St. Paul con-
stitute by far the largest class Of
voters, and the organizations you re-
present number in their ranks about
5000 legal voters in this city.
To be the standard-bearer of this
army of ''labOr and REFORM involves
heavy responsibility. The voters of
St. Paul differ widely in their views
on national questions and social Gus
toms, but you have not required me
to pledge myself to any of the policies
that govern men in national or state
elections, and only to stand for reform
in municipal affairs. A common dis
tress, and the misfOrtunes that en-
virOn us on every hand, has weakened
party political ties in municipal af-
fairs and drawn all classe into bonds
Of closer sympathy. The rich as we'll
as the poor are grOaning under heavy
burdens that now rest upon us as
people.
This condition of distress is as real
along Summit avenue and the streets
on St. Anthony hill as on the flats and
along the low-lands bordering the
river. We all suffer from a common
calamity
The people are all ready and all
clamoring for reform, for anything
that will lessen these burdens and
render life and the persuit Of happi-
ness more tOlerable.
You have boldly announced as one Of
your principles (the platform, | OBJ
serve. has never been published in
fully the clear and manly enunciation:
"Obedience to and enforcement Of
law is right. 1t embodies the best
citizenship and the noblest patriot
ism. We demand nothing more and
will be satisfied with nothing less"
The protection of all is equal to all,
and obedience should be as cheerful
and as universal If bad laws are on
the statute books they should be re-
pealed or modified.
An executive officer ought not to
assume legisla tive authority to prac-
tically repeal or relieve from the pen
atty Of violated law. This would lead
to anarchy, and would be most heart
lily condemned by all good citizens.
1t is his duty simply, without partial
ity fear or favor, and without Oppres-
sion or malice, firmly and kindly to
enforce the law, and leave it to the
courts to interpret and to the legisla
ture or the common council to repeal
or modify obnoxious laws.
If elected, | will simply, but firmly
enforce the laws and ordinances to
the best of my ability. | hope each
candidate nominated for mayor will
with equal plainneSs meet this issue,
and state whether, if elected, he will
or will not enforce the law. Will the
voters see that no candidate lodges
this issue, but that he puts himself
squarely on record for or against law
and order?
Lower and equal taxation. as near
as may be, the reduction of exqorbit-
ant salaries, and the payment by the
city of salaries equal to those paid in
business circles, for similar service:
the reduction of hours of toll to labor,
and the burdens of taxation and Of
special assessments on property; the
most rigid economy, consistent with
the best interests of our city; the
faithful performance of contract OBJ
legations by corporations: the con-
tinuance of our excellent local trans
fer system on street railways; the
giving of every convenience required
by law to those Of our citizens who
patronize the street cars, and the
sacred constitutional right for every
man to worship God according to the
dictates of his own conscience" are
demands that will meet the approval
of all good citizens. irrespective of
party affiliations. We need the sym
pathy, the earnest work and the solid
vote of this city, irrespective of party
ties, to make these principles vital.
living and controlling force in our
municipal affairs.
Let us not ALLEVIATE any vote by
chickering's over questions that do not
affect Immediately the interests of
citizens generally and municipal re-
form.
No business or persuit recognized
by law should be prosecuted or op-
pressed. Labor and capital should
go hand in hand to build up our in
dustries and reinvigorate our COM
mercial life and our industrial enter
prises, and to give employment to
the unemployed. Labor cannot be
employed and fairly compensated
without capital has been accumulated
to foster and build up manufacturing
industries, and unless the conditions
are such that capital is reasonably
safe and free from fear. In times of