The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-10-20
RIVER At 8 A. NJ.
Danger Height of
THE AMENDMENTS.


1t will probably be true this year, as
It has been every other, that the great
majority of voters in Minnesota will
give but a cursory glance at the con-
stitutional amendments which are to
be voted upon, and viii either pass
them over altogether or declare for or
against any one of them in a haphaz-
ard fashion. This is a consequence of
the extraordinary campaign methods
to which we still adhere. An intelh-.
gent observer from the moon or one of
the planets, who should consider the
conduct of the people of Minnesota at
this present moment, would be COM
ple1ely nonplussed at their frantic in
terest in something which does not at
all concern them, to the exclusion of
a care for things that touch them vi
lot of proposed amendments to the con-
stitution of this state to be passed upon
two weeks from today Upon the sue
cess or failure of each of them will de-
pend important issues, and some Of
them are intimately bound up with
good government and with low taxa
ton. Yet you might search the press
of the state for the last two months
with microscope, and not learn that
there were any such questions to be
decided.
Instead of that, their columns have
been flied, and the air about the stump
has been made vocal with passionate
declamations for and against the free
coinage of silver, which, as an issue
in state politics, is just about as i'm
portant to us as whether the English
parliament shall refuse or consent to
permit a man to marry his deceased
wife's sister. That which a future gen
Grafton will regard as one of the hu-
morous extravagances Of our time is to
us painful and costly reality, namely,
that the majority OF voters set imagi-
nation above judgment, and permit
themselves to be absorbed in political
theories and vagaries to the exclusion
and neglect Of the great duties that lie
close at hand. As far as Minnesota
interests and Minnesota's government
are concerned, the free silver issue in
Whether the candidates representing
free silver or the opposite shall be
chosen to state offices and to the state
except as they may have
declared thnDoSalxac IN atbar icS,.aS
is as unimportant to us as the passage
of local ordinance in New York CITY,
The amendments to the constitution
on the contrary, relate to the actual
practical conduct of our domestic af-
fairs in important particulars. The
c l OBJ has already reviewed them
editorially, and urged the attention of
the public to them. 1t published yes
terday a synopsis of them, prepared by
the attorney general of the state, with
his clear explanation of the force and
effect of each of them if it should come
tG passage. 1t asks every voter to let
the silver question pass out OF his mind
for just tWenty-four hours some time
D0tNcSu ltIS anu lWO Nc0hS HUN To-
day, and to give that one day to the
study OF these amendments and an in
quiry into his duty in the premises.
We repeat briefly the advice that we
have already given to the Minnesota
electors.
The act known as the Anderson bill
which is TO be submitted to a vote of
the people. is not properly constitu-
tional amendment. but really an in
stance OF the referendum. Its PROPOSE
ton is to secure the taxation of unused
railroad lands in Minnesota There is
only one practical question involved
If these lands can be taxed without dis
turbing or invalidating the system of
taxing gross earnings, it ought to be
done. If there is any possible danger
that the gross earnings tax might be
destroyed, no advantage could compen-
safe for 1t. In or opinion. it would be
better to take no chances That the
railroads. or many Of them, are
quietly, but shrewdiy and earnestly
: seeking legislative relief from the gross