The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1900-10-19

Mr.. PRESIDENT, Ladies and Gentlemen:
shall endeavor to make some remarks
on the questions of the day, and 1 shall
particularly address myself this evening
to the state issues, as previous speakers
who have been here have treated almost
exclusively of national issues. The state
issues are of sufficient Importance to well
deserve a good deal of our attention.
When we consider that our state govern
ment costs something over four million
dollars in a year, expended direct from
the taxpayers of this state, from different
sources, it is then very apparent that it
is of such Importance that we should
study this subject and cast our votes in
telligently when we are deciding upon the
state ticket.
The national issues, say, are discussed
by all the public speakers and newspa-
pers of the land; everybody is talking
about them. But there are very few that
have a single word to say of the state
administration, the administration of it's
different departments, ard my services in
this state having been of such a nature
that has given me opportunities to study
these matters, perhaps more so than
great many others, what 1 shall say to
You tonight will be from personal knowl-
edge. 1t will not come second-handed.
1t is a subject that I have been able to
inform myself somewhat upon
Four years ago the Democrats, the Peo-
pies party and the silver Republicans
nominated a former Republican for the
highest Office for governor. He was in
that campaign unsuccessful. The same
forces renominated him two years ago.
He made campaign of the state, making
certain promises that, if he was elected,
he would perform. The people took him
at his word, and he was elected by a
handsome majority over the Republican
party that had been in almost unbroken
power in this state for the last forty
years. Now, Mr. Chairman, I believe that
it is our fair province to inquire into those
promises that were made two years ago,
see what they were, and see whether or
not they have been fulfilled to that ex-
tent that was expected by the people o:
this state.
Lind Posed rs a Republican.
Another thing that is eliminated from
this campaign is the statement that was
made four years ago by the gentleman
that is now governor of our state, that
he was then still a Republican except
money question Two years ago I be-
IIeve he admitted that he had changed his
mind somewhat, not only on the money
question, but he had also changed his
mind a little on the tariff question. He
was a little further away from it than
he had been before. and now he admits
that he is anything but Republican, and
hence we can treat him as Democrat.
6a oh hat
And it is perfectly honorable to be a
Democrat I like to see a good Democrat,
one who is not ashamed of being Demo
crat, who speaks right out in meeting
and fights on the Democratic side. A
Democrat ordinarily is one of the best
fighters I ever knew. He will fight just
as hard when there is no ghost of a show
TO elect a single man as when there is a
chance to elect them all. So / have
good deal of admiration for him, but we
should then treat him as the embodiment
of the Democratic principles. The gov
ernor stands squarely on their platform
with both feet, fighting their cause. Ee
is doing everything in his power to de-
feat the Republican party and its princi-
pies. Now, / want to ask of you, in all
candor, why should a Republican support
a man that is not with US. but who is
against us? Is there now any further
reason why Republican votes should help
to reflect him? If so, then why stay in
the Republican party? 1t is well known
fact that he could not have been elected
to that position if it had not been for the
Republican votes that helped to swell his
majority tw oyears ago. must take it
then that the people voted for Mr.. Lind
two years ago for governor because they
believed that he would do certain things
better than they had ever been performed
by any governor in this state.
Stand to Republican Principals.
There is no man in this state who can
say that Capt. Van SAINT, the Republican
candidate this year, is not a clean man
morally; that he is not an honorable.
upright, conscientious and good Ameri-
can citizen. That is equally true of Mr..
Lind, and no one will attack his personal
record in any manner; and least will 1
do so. We have been personal friends for
years. He has left the Republican party
and the principles in which believe. and
when he left them he left me- still be-
neve in the Republican principles. still
adhere to the same things that both of
US believed six years ago. 1 see no rea-
son why should follow him into a party
in whose principles I do not believe, ana
I believe that 1t is the duty this fall, of
the Republicans. not only to vote for
those who believe in the Republican prin-
ciples, not only to vote for the national
ticket, but to vote for the state ticket.
We have furnished the Democratic party
with candidate, but is there any good
reason why we should furnish him with
a sufficient number of Republican votes
to elect him? Now, say, that this is
carrying the thing a. good deal further
than any reasonable man should ask. If
we believe In the Republican principles,
we should adhere to those principles clear
down to the state, county and council
ticket. II we do not, we should go into
the other ranks and vote and work with
them; but see no reason why we should
now, at this time continue to give our
patronage to the other party
Governor Lfnd's Pledges.
Now. 1 said a little while ago, that Mr.
Lind was elected. upon the canvass that he
made two years ago, and the promises and
pledges that he made to the people Of this,
state. Hence. will devote some Of my