The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1904-12-16

enough for McCleary already. There
were times when the board made inquir-
les of Mr.. McCleary regarding his posi-
ton on certain subjects and he gave
evasive answers.
Mr.. Hughes said he believed the con.
CHEESEMAN'S son knew more about the
matter referred to in the Andrews reso.
luton than the congressman himself did
The board should be wholly non-partis-
an, neither for nor against McCleary
There is no question that the circular
was political one. It's issuance was a
wrong act. Yet the words political
trick" seemed too drastic.
Mr.. Willard thought Mr.. Andrews was
probably little mad when he wrote the
resolutions and naturally so, but such
anger had better not be shown in this
way.
F. NJ. Currier said somebody had done
something wrong; either the congress
sional committee, or the officers of the
board or Mr.. McCleary. If the board
should try to whitewash the matter, it
would only be made worse. If the reso-
lutions that We're adopted should be
taken back, no one could say he was
safe in being a member of the Board of
Trade or to what that membership might
commit him. If the board should try to
whitewash the matter, it would make
itself a general laughing stock.
c. L. Benedict, as chairman of the re-
publican congressional committee, said
that if he had seen the circular before
it was published, it would not have gone
out as it did. Leslie McCleary went to
the officers of the board and got them to
sign the circular. The circular was sent
out by him as secretary of the congress
sional committee. The committee itself
did not try to mislead anybody. The
Willard resolutions, he thought, whereby
the board repudiated the circular, ought
to fill the bill. He was willing to have
the parcels post feature removed if Mr..
Andrews so desired.
DIR. Andrews, the president, suggested
that the whole matter be referred to Mr.
Mr.. Hughes and Mr.. Andrews to arrange
and adjust and report at the next meet
ing.
F. NJ. Currier made motion accord
ingly and it was carried, Messrs,
Pond, Jensen, Taylor and Currier vot-
ing in favor of it and Messrs. Wise,
Andrews and Benedict against it.
F. M. Currier, delegate to the Cam
non Falls mass meeting on freight
rates, gave report of that meeting. He
did not observe that there We're any
other delegates representing municipali-
ties outside of Cannon Falls. Yet there
was very large attendance of six
hundred or so from Cannon Falls and
the neighborhood. There was much en-
thusiasm and interest. The editor of
The Cannon Falls Beacon spoke. A
speech was also made by a local legis-
lator- elect, who remarked that his con-
stituents were especially interested in
freight rates. He was elected on that
issue. Governor Van SAINT made the
principal address of the evening. Reso-
buttons were adopted urging the passage
of the Quarles- Cooper bill by congress.
By this bill the interstate commerce
commission would be given the power to
adjust freight rates on complaint by
any party after full hearing of both
sides. Such freight rates would stand
until subverted by some court. The reso-
luton also called for state legislation
giving similar powers to the state rail
road and warehouse commission. The
Municipal League will hold a state con-
vention in Minneapolis next month and
that matter will be discussed. In Mr..
Curriers' opinion that will begin one of
the biggest fights of the present age
between the railroads and the people.
The Twin Cities would stand solidly
against any change in existing condi-
tions. The only hope of success was to
get the country together and do some
thing.