The Princeton union., 1904-09-01
Dunn Opens the Campaign.

ne is Familiarity called by his friends
the Republican candidate for gov
ernor, at the banquet of the Republic
can club at Duluth. It was character
istic of the man. For there were no
rhetorical frills about it. It was a
plain, straightforward business talk,
bristling with strong points on the
business matters which most concern
the people of the State-the admins
tratiOn of the public business. And
he spoke by the card. For these are
matters of which his mind has been
full to overfowing these ten years or
more past. He is probably better in
formed on the whole about them than
any other man in the State. His
eight years. experience as State audi
tor made him familiar with all the
most important phases and branches
of the business of the State govern
ment. and he was endowed, by idiosyn-
Grassy and temperament, with that ma
tive civism which impelled him to be
always on the lookout for better ways
of doing the public business and i'm
proving the public service.
So it was that while State auditor
his annual reports teemed with intel
ligent and often original suggestions
for improved administrative and fnan-
cial methods which would lessen the
burdens Of the people or distribute
them more equally or increase the
efficiency and economy OF the public
service. It was in those reports that
he took the initiative in this State in
recommending the establishment of
a State board Of control. He was the
first to urge an increase Of the gross
earnings tax on railroads from three
to four per cent. He made many i'm
prOvements in the administration of
the State school and other lands.
The legislation which has resulted in
giving the State large increase from
its iron deposits on it's school, swamp
and other lands is due chiefly to his
sturdy resistance to the more wasteful
methods insisted on by the large pri-
vate interests concerned. The rev.
enues of the State from these and
other sources, including timber, were
largely increased as the result of his
improved methods.
His Duluth speech was largely upon
some of these or kindred subjects.
While standing squarely upon the Re-
publican platform he supplements it
with announcements Of his own views
on important public problems which
he will urge upon the legislature and
the people, and which will generally
command public approval. He re-
pairs an oversight in the Republican
platform by a strong plea for the rati-
fcation of the constitutional amend
ment raising the railroad gross earn
ings tax to four per cent. He would
have the primary election law ex-
tended to the nomination OF State
officials, but with amendments that
will cure the acknowledged defects OF
the present law. His proposition that
the interest of the internal improve
ment fund of s2SO,000 be devoted to
good roads will be generally welcomed
by the friends of the latter. The per-
ennial subject of a reform in our pres
ent tax laws receives his attention. He
especially favors gross earnings tax
Of public corporations, but of course
recognizes the necessity of a constitu-
tiOnal amendment, both for this and
other arrangements for eQualizing
taxation. He advocates law pro-
hlbiting the giving Or receiving of
passes on railroads. The abolition of
this practice would enable the rail-
roads to reduce fares. Although he
was the first to recommend State
board of control in this State he has
never deemed it wise to place the edu-
cational institutions under it's charge:
and in this he shows his good sense.
He wants the State to take better care
than it has OF the old Union soldiers
in their declining years, and urges any
needed increase of the tax levy for
that purpose.
These are the chief topics of his
sensible and practical business talk
at Duluth. In conclusion he pledges
himself, if elected, to "a fearless and
impartial enforcement of all laws on
our statute books which protects the
interests of the people from the en-
croachments OF corporate greed and
aggression. The Pioneer Press does
not think he is far wrong when he
predicts that Roosevelt will sweep the
State by at least 100, 900 majority, and
that the State ticket will be elected
by at least 5,000.-Pioneer Press.