Morris tribune., 1900-09-29

Milaca, Mimi, Sept. 22.-State Audi
tor Dunn fired the opening gun of the
campaign at a largely attended Repub-
hcan rally here last night, other speak
ers being Hon. S. R. Van SAINT, Repub-
lican candidate for governor, and his
son, Grant.
Mr.. Dunn said:
Since the day Of it's birth the destinies
of the State of Minnesota have been
controlled by the Republican party,
with the exception of one or two brief
but memorable periods, when certain
departments of the state government
fell into the hands of the Philistines.
But for these temporary alterations,
the history of Minnesota has been one
of steady progress and increasing pros
>perity and growth until she stands to-
day, the foremost of the grand galaxy
of young Western states which in years
to come will form the heart of the Re-
public.
So interviewer during the past forty
years has been the history Of our state
and that of the Republican party in
Minnesota, that the history of one is
the history of the other. Their stories
cannot be separated or read apart
We are all proud of our State. proud
of its growth, proud of its strength and
greatness, proud Of it's reputation. No.
Minesotian can be ashamed Of his
state for it's escutcheon is unstained
and it has nobIy done it's part in and
for the Union.
Our citizens have ever been first to
offer their services and arms for the de-
Tense of the flag and the nation, and
have acquitted themselves with honor
on many a bloody battlefield. In the
paths Of peace they have played a
manly part, and the people of Minneso-
ia to-day, whether they regard our in
situations or our laws, can dc with
pride and satisfaction.
And yet we are told by political OPP
ponents that the Republican party is a
party of corruption and dishonor. We
have been told that if the Democrats
and Populists could only secure control
Of the state government they would
work wonderful reforms and rescue the
commonwealth from the straits into
which they allege it has fallen.
Well, during the past forty years our
political opponents have had three OPP
portunities to show what they could do
in the way of reforming things. In 1851
and 1853 there was a Democratic gov
ernor and legislature. The particular
reform engendered at that time-the
formative period of our state. when it
was first emerging from its territorial
swaddling clothes into the freedom and
of statehood-was the
loading upon the new state OF bonded
debt Of $2,275, 900.
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form saddled the State of Minnesota
with public debt of which there is
81, 209, 900 outstanding to-day on which
the taxpayers pay interest, and will |
probably continue to do SO for the next |
ten or twelve years.
In 1881 bonds for $4,287, 900, represent
ing half Of the original indebtedness to-
gether with the accrued interest on the
same, bearing 41-2 per cent interest,
were issued by the state in full salts
faction of the claims arising out of the
Minnesota State Railroad Bonds.
In 1891, the then governor, Hon. |
VIM. r. Merriam, formulated plan
for the funding of this state debt /
which, thanks to his financial ability |
and sagacity resulted in a saving to
the. state of many thousands of dol /
lars. Under the provisions of Chapter
81 Of the General Laws of 1891, the |
treasurer and auditor were
appointed a commission to refund the !,
debt, which was successfully accom-
plished, and in place Of the 4 IL per
cent adjustment bonds, the commission
issued new funding bonds bearing 3 IL
per cent interest.
The 1891 law provides that $150.000 OF /
these Funding Bonds can be cancelled
In every year, and this has been done, /
with the result that the amount of the
Funding Bonds now outstanding is
ST .2O9 900, and this is the present condi-
zion Of our only state debt, created in
1858 by our first Democratic state gov
eminent.
THE FUSION LEGISLATURE OF 1891
About the time that the Republican
state officials were having their final /
struggle with the legacy Of debt be
aueathed the state by the pioneer
1l1emocratic reformers of 1858, the DEM
ocratic and Farmers Alliance parties
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