The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-12-13
WHAT OTHER PEOPLE THINK
The State Board Of Control.
The Editor Of the Journal.

To the Editor Of the Journal.
The proposal to divest the office Of the
governor of exclusive responsibility for
nominations to the state senate Of candi-
dates for confirmation to membership
on the state board of control, and to
divide such responsibility between the
governor and other officials associated in
state affairs, is untimely in the present
situation in Minnesota politics, because
it is open to challenge of the sincerity
OF purpose which alone could Justify such
an amendment Of existing law.
AS republicans who have at heart the
welfare of our state and party, we may
not consistently assume that a demo-
cratic governor will be less solicitous in
effort to deserve public approval of his
official conduct than republican prede-
cessor; and we may not ignore the truth
that the greatest hope of altruism in the
public service is inseparably associated
with that spirit Of courtesy which prompts
political parties to a disarmament while
administering q service to prevent and
alleviate mutual social misfortunes. Ex-
ecutlVe discretion is "a fundamental CO.
requisite of executive responsibility, and
this truth is recognized in the law Gre
ating the state board Of control The
governor, with the consent of the state
senate, appoints the members of the
board, and may remove any member for
cause and appoint his successor The
board may appoint and remove all SUI
perintendents of. the institutions over
which it exercises full control, and the
superintendent of such institutions NAV
appoint and remove all officers, teachers
and employees subject to their respective
jurisdictions. It is important to have
IN mind the provision of law which re-
strains the members of the state board
of control from using the power of Off
c1al station to promote personal or party
interests, and the statute bearing upon
this subject reads as follows:
Any member or officer Of the board
OF control, or any officer or employee of
a. state institution, subject to this board.
VINO, by solicitation Or otherwise. exerts
his influence, directly or Indirectly, to in
duce other officers or employees of the
state to adopt his political views or to
favor any particular person or cand1dat e
Tor office, or to contribute funds for cam
paign or political purposes, shall be re-
moved from his office by the proper an
thorities.''
This is the written law which governs
each one In his place while discharging
the duties devolved upon him. The un-
written law binds every member of the
state board of control to abstain from the
"'S " tiAS 1lllloeHCe anu opportunity Which
are afforded by his position, to contribute
to the success Of his party save that
which Is necessary to the performance
OF his plain duty as citizen.
So far in Its history the state board of
control has kept free. from just criticism
upon the score Of the public political ac-
tivity of any of its members 1t cannot
fairly be presumed that the temptation
to violate the implied obligations attend
Ing the acceptance Of a position on this
board will be any greater with any who
may be appointed by Governor Johnson
than that which has been experienced by
the appointees of Governor Van SAINT.
The bonds for a faithful discharge of the
trust conf1ded are written in an assurance
of esteem for duty performed, and an in
| surance Of condemnation for duty disre-
garded. Let Governor johnson have an
unhindered executive hand in the appoint
ments which rightfully belong to the Of
fee Of a governor, and the state will
have the very best security which it is
possible to obtain to secure the welfare
Of the public interests affected.
&C. e. Faulkner.