The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1904-12-22
VAN SAINT
IN THE RACE
THE MINNESOTA GOVERNOR
WOULD BE U. S. SENATOR
He Made Speech at Hastings Last
Night in Which He Virtually AM
nounced Ills Candidacy for the Place
Held by Clapp.

SAINT addressed a largeaudience at Hast
ings last night on Freight Rates" and
his speech is regarded as his entry in
to the senatorial contest as candi-
date for the seat in the United States
senate now occupied by Senator Clapp,
of st. Paul. Before going to Hastings,
Gov Van SAINT was asked il he was
going to make formal announcement
.of his candidacy and said:
Il am going to let that take care Of
itself. If the people of Minnesota
think | am the man who represents the
principles / advocate and that / am
the man to carry them out as Unit-
ed States senator, then my address
may be looked upon as an announce
.ment of my candidacy"
In his speech on freight rates Gov
ernor Van SAINT said: l@ \
"All men are interested in the ques-
ton Of freight rates. What IS a
freight rate? A freight rate is tax
.on everything that enters into the life
and commerce of the country. I'M
reasonable rates are charged and dis4
ordinations are common. These evils
exist and should be remedied.
This question will be settled and
settled properly. To admit that we
are helpless is to declare that consti-
Etutional government is failure.
81 should urge. the legislature to me-
morialize congress in favor of grant
ing increased power to the Interstate
commerce commission trust it will
do this and that every legislature meet
ing this winter will do likewise am
ready to join hands with any man or
any body of men to carry on the con-
test. Before joining the battle you
had better take time for reflection. Do
you know the power of corporate
wealth? Do you realize the vast ilr
huence it wields?s Do you know how
mercilessly it Furnishes those who stand
in its way and opposes its will? 4 do
and enter into this fight with a full
knowledge Of these facts.
For years have been abused and
villi6ed, and Certain persons and pa
pers have delighted to misrepresent
me, and the virulence OF their abuse
has seldom, If ever, been surpassed y
have often asked myself what the
cause was Have / been unfaithful
TO public duty? Has the credit of
the state suffered since have been in
office? Have public moneys been
squandered? Have any of the inter
ests of the state been neglected? Have
the state institutions been mismanag-
| ed? Have the unfortunate wards of
the state been 1nistreated? Has any
official found guilty Of misconduct
been shielded? Ichallenge an inves-
tigation of my official acts. Examine
the records. Il
What, then, is the cause of my of
tending? 1t is. simply this and nothing
else. had the, hardihood to perform
my sworn duty and to say to a great
Corporation when it attempted to Unite
two parallel and competing lines of
railway in violation of the law that it
should not be done. The result is
known The merger went out Of bust
ness forever. This is the cause of
my offending and has brought down
upon me the wrath and abuse Of that
company, and every man and news
paper that it could control This is a
matter OF common knowledge: am
not only opposed to the violation 81
law by this and every corporation, but
/ am unalterably and everlastingiy OPP
posed to the domination of the repub-
lican party by the Great Northern
Railway Company.