The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1904-02-12
THE GOvERNORsHlP.

In its issue of the End of last Octo-
ber this paper, II discussing the is
sues of the impending gubernatorial
contest, said:
ION the merger issue there must
tie no compromise or shadow OF re-
lenting, and no man should be con
sidered as a candidate for the suo-
cession to Gov. Van SAINT who does
not stand pat in fearless support of
the.posi ton taken by the Republi-
can party on that issue in the last
campaign.
The merits of the merger issue
will be in no manner affected by
the outcome of the litigation.
Whether the contention of the State
on the various legal questions invol-
we'd is right or wrong, the Repubi-
can party and Gov. Van SAINT we're
eternally right in declaring that no
corporation is powerful enough to
override a statute of this state with
IMMUNITY and that the laws must be
rigidly and impartially enforced at
all times and under all circumstance
es. This position must be steadfast'
ly maintained.'
Conceding, for the sake of argu-
ment, that the merger question,
which is now in the courts, is no
longer in politics, the fact respect
ing the position which the Republic
can party of this state is bound to
maintain, remains still and will con-
tinue to remain, las above stated. TO
abandon it's position in the last cam
paign by choosing as it's nominee for
governor In the next campaign a
candidate who stood IN an attitude
of antagonism to that position,
would convict the Republican party
OF dishonesty OF hypocrisy and for
felt it's claim to public respect and
confidence.
But the merger issue is not elm
ina ted. Call it by what name we
will, the issue on which the Repub-
lican party won it's overwhelming
victory in the last campaign is still
the paramount issue. The forces
that stood for the merger and fought
the Republican party in the last
campaign will be no less active in
the pending contest. They are seek
ing now to wreak vengeance on the
present administration both state
and national, and to gain in the
pending contest the victory they
lost by the Republican triumph Of
1902. They began the fight Of 1904
where the fight of 1902 was ended.
Their ultimate object is to gain con-
troll Of the state government. Their
purpose is to subvert the agencies of
government for the people to the
purposes Of government for the ben
eft Of private interests. To accom-
plish their ends these forces will
have candidate for governor. They
will give him powerful support in.
the contest for the nomination, and
if he is nominated and elected he
will do their bidding. Who, then,
is the candidate of these forces
Who is the candidate in opposition
to these force-the candidate who
stands squaraly for public interests
In the answer to these questions the
citizen who acts from honest, patri-
otto and disinterested motives will
find the resolvent of all doubts as to
his choice Of a candidate.
Two facts, we'll determined, give
practically a conclusive answer to
one Of these questions: 1t is known
that the merger forces are bitterly
hostile to the present state admins
tration; Judge Collins is the recog-
nized candidate of the aiministra
ton. 1t is safe, therefore, to con-
clude that the merger forces are OPP
posed to Judge Collins. AS to the
loyalty Of Judge Collins to public
interests, his record and standing
leave no room for question.
The Herald does not concede to
tself the right to exercise personal
choice in the endorsement of a cand-
date for governor. Preferences in
luenced by personal friendship,
personal obligations or personal adj
7antage or profit, must give way al