The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-02-04
NELSON AT THREE-sCoRE.

The Northwestern contingent the national capital
celebrated Monday evening with banquet, oratory and
silver tea set in honor of the sixeth birthday
sary OF MlnnesOtas senior senator Hon. Knute Nelson
Senator's Capp Deliver and Others eu1ogiun:
the president sent letter which evoked cheers and
song written for the occasion, entitled |Knue the Ex~
plorer sung the Viking tune "Se Norges Bloms-
terdal and the senator responding Delivers presen-
aton OF the tea set to that he knew be-
fore that Washington full of Norwegians and
wanted to know If they all had taken their first
papers.
The career of Senator Nelson we'll illustrates what
the opportunities Of this republic may mean even to
fatheress barefoot boy the far hills of Norway At
the age Of three without father at seven with his wild
owed mother in the wilds of Wisconsin, at the age Of
eighteen an American volunteer fighting for his adopted
flag; at twenty-five member of the Wisconsin state leg
sature at twenty the county attorney of Douglas
county Minnesota, three years. at thrty-two
minnesota state senator to serve four years; at forty
elected to congress Kindred by majority Of 900
and subsequently twice reelected by the big mar
gin OF $780, and then by the practically unanimous vote
implied by the unparalleled majority Of ii 6o8 at the age
Of fortyine the governor of Minnesota and reelected
by plurality Of 10000; fty-two elected for six
year in the United States senate and at ftyeieh
reelected for another siXyear term finally today at
fhree-score, recognized of the ables and most
popular and influential leaders of the upper house of the
greatest nation earth-he record is one to inspire
hope the breast Of the poorest youth in humbest
hut of the remotest Of the earth
1t tells the boy that if he has the stuff in hin-le
backbone the sereliance the to-it-aveness the
eyes to things they are the energy to do things
when they should be DONE the aspiration to lift himself
to his full stature and the will to fight for his rights
and meyer yield while breath 1asts-there is land with
freedom and opportunities enough to give him good
lighting chance whatever his birth race or previous
dition.
knute Nelson has made for himself during thirty
years Of public service for Minnesota record of which
he may well be proud 1t is doubtful however if there
Is any period of his history which stands out with greater
ulster than those memorable six years of his career IN
the lower house Of congress- when true to his convic
tons and the interests Of his and nation he defed
the party whip and fought for tariff reform His meas
re tor free COAL free sugar free salt free binding ve
and tree lumber and his final for the Mills tariff
Ieduccn Dill when the party leaders turned his lust de-
1anaS down without hearing, will stand as an act of
courage and independence in the fight for lust cause
which has few parallels in congressional history
In later years he has been inclined to follow the
lines of least resistance and husband his nerve force bv
pursuing easier paths, the custom of most men LONG
IN potcs-the fight of Gladstone for home rue at
the age OF fourscore being Of the few notable e
Ceptions
But there is time and opportunity enough, there is
Nlgor and hight enough yet in Minnesoas senior senator
10 give the country sample Of the stuff that is in him
and u be herewith takes the liberty to suggest
mat the tariff tree list and the demand for removal of
protection from trusts, championed by CONGRESSMAN
hnue Nelson III 1889, is good sound satesn7ansbin
and offers brilliant opening for great record for SEN
ator knute Nelson in Ioo3-z