The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1896-09-30


attorney general. in the confidence of his
fellow citizens, in strength of mind in
knowledge of law, in sturdiness of char
acter in loyalty to the common people,
and in devotion to those principles which
he regards as essential to the public well
fare, is an ideal candidates: man whom
all parties respect, and to whom all
classes feel that they can safely confide
whatever interests they may have in ie-
opardy.
While yet Republican, Mr.. Keyes took
prominent part in public affairs He
had more to do, a member of the state
legislature, with placing on the statute
books of Minnesota our present Austral-
ian ballot law, than any other man. And
the people of Minnesota now, if not be-
fore, fully appreciate the services render
ed in that work. For in these days when
gold standard employers assume to die
tate the political sentiment of their work.
1ngmen, there is not in all the state a
poor wage slave with sufficient intell-
gence to appreciate his situation, or a
farmer with mortgage on his farm, but
what overfiows with gratitude to Mr.
keyes, and deep in his heart eXclaims
Thank God for the secret ballot"
Mr.. keyes has a wide acquaintance over
the state of Minnesota, and his nomina-
ton was urgently demanded from all
parts OF the state, and was made unani-
mOusly by the POpulist state convention
at the cordial instance of both the DEM
ocrats and silver Republicans. The office
for which he has been named is one of the
most important on the ticket, being, as
1t We're the strong right arm of the eXecu-
tive department. The attorney general
will have in charge the enforcement Of
many good laws already On the statute
books, placed there to appease the people,
but which corporation administrations
have knowingly and purposely treated as
dead letters. Mr.. Reyes has proved him.
self to be perfectly fearless. And that
these laws. as we'll as all new ones, will
be strictly enforced according, to the de-
mands OF justice and to the, interest of the
plain people of the commonwealth of
Minnesota, if he is elected to that Office
no man will doubt for one moment who
knows him.
John keyes was born among the hills
at Chelsea Orange county; Vermont, in
June, 1859; was raised and worked upon
farm until his majority; educated in
the common schools and in an old New
England academy. In 1882 yhe, entered the
law office of Hon. Geo. L. Stow, in his
native town, and in the fan Of 1884 had
made such progress as to pc admitted to
the bar of the supreme court ST Vermont,
after rigid examination, and was dur
ing two years prior thereto a superintend-
ent of public schools Of Chelsea; was
member of the Vermont Republican state
convention of 1884, west in 1855, and
in June of that year settled at Winona.
Mimi, where he was associated in the
practice of law with w. H. Yale, after
wards becoming member of the law
firm of Reyes & Brown, and enjoying a
successful practice. In 1892 he removed to
Duluth. He represented the city of WI
mona twice in the legislature of Minneso-
ia, in 1889 and 1891 was the author of the
so-called Australian system of voting leg
islation in this state, the bill afterward
becoming a law, applicable to cities, hav-
ing been introduced by him as H. F. No
2. He was also the author of the law I'M
der which the prison labor system at
Saltwater was reOrganiZed. In 1891 he
drafted the election laws, and extended
the new system throughout the state;
was. during that session. chairman of the
prison investigating committee of the
house, which did effective service in
pointing out and calling attention to the
evil system of discipline and management
prevailing at the state prison, and the re-
suits of which have been radical and BEN
fetal . reforms in all departments In
1894. against his wishes, he nominated
by the peoples party state convention
for attorney general, having Joined that
party in 1892. He made an excellent run,
and was given larger vote over several
Of the candidates. He is regarded we'll by
all classes in Minnesota, and his nominal
ton is as satisfactory to the Democrats
as to 1.-THE Populists and free silver Repub-
as to the Populsts and free silver men.
While member of the legislature he was
always found on the side of the people
whenever their interests clashed with the
combines.