The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1904-09-01
SOME STATE ISSUES.
R. G. Dunn Enumerates Few in a
Speech at West Duluth Re-
publican Club Banquet.
States His Position on Some Very
Live Issues in Which the
People are Interested.

The banquet of the West Duluth Re-
publican club which was given at
West Duluth on Thursday evening of
last week was the most enthusiastic
event of the kind held in the Zenith
City for some time.
Congressman Boutelle of Illinois
was the principal speaker and he de-
livered scholarly and eloquent adj
dress. He was to have been followed
by Congressman Bede, but Mr.. Bede
was obliged to leave early in the
evening to depart with the congress
sional rivers and harbors committee
for St. Paul.
Among the invited guests was r. c.
Dunn, Republican candidate for gov
ernor, who was assigned the topic:
THE Republican Prospects in Mime
sofa From the Viewpoint of Our
Standard bearer.'' Mr.. Dunn said
in part:
It is needless for me to assure you
that it affords me great pleasure to be
with you this evening. First and
foremost 1 embrace this opportunity
of thanking the gallant Republicans
of St. Louis county for the splendid
support they gave me in the pre-con-
ventiOn fight and in the Republican
thank the press of Duluth for the fair
treatment accorded me. No candidate
for office in this or any other State
ever had a more loyal and devoted
following than I had in the State con-
vention, and the Republicans of St.
Louis county led the van. It was es-
pecially gratifying to me to have the
solid support of my own-the Eighth
congressional district-without a sim
gle break. I want and expect the sup
port of all Republicans, and would
not spurn the support of members of
other political parties.
AS you all know, the pre-eonven-
ton fight was the hottest ever waged
in the State and considera BILE feeling
was engendered. Naturally the friends
of each of the successful candidates
were disappointed, but I am glad to
say that from information I have re-
ceived from every section of the State
the outlook is exceedingly bright, and
[ have reason to believe that every
nominee on the State ticket will be
triumphantly elected on the Sth
day of next November. Of course
there are sore spots here and there,
but if there are any who are irrecon-
cilable and who refuse to be CON-
forted, want to say to them that I
cannot apologize for being success
full.
During the pre-convention fight I
repeatedly asserted that no matter who
would be the nominee he would receive
my hearty support. and I have the
right now to expect the support of
those who espoused the cause of the
other candidates prior to and during
the convention.
In the announcement of my candi-
dacy, which was published in the
Princeton y n O n of Jan. 7, 1904. [
said:
mo man is big enough to dictate a
platform for the Republican party of
Minnesota. The party through it's
representatives in convention assem-
bled will formulate a platform on
which I will squarely stand. The COM
bined wisdom of the Republican party
of the State is better than the iudg-
ment of any individual member of the
party.''
The platform adopted by the Repub-
lican State convention is good enough
for me. I stand by the pledge made
in my announcement.
There are, however, few matters
of State" interest which were not
touched upon in the Republican State
platform that I earnestly believe in
and will champion on the stump and
recommend to the legislature if the
opportunity is afforded me. -..
GROSS EARNINGS TAX.
By an oversight no reference was
made in the platform to the four per
cent gross earnings tax. In my bien-
NAL report as State auditor to the
legislature Of 1899 I earnestly recon-
mended an increase of 80 1-3 per cent
of the taxes paid by railroads. After
a hard fight the bill providing for an
increase was defeated in the legisla-
ture. In my biennial report to the
legislature of 1901 the recommendation
was renewed, and after stiff fight the
bill passed both branches: was ap-
proved by the governor and was SUBJ
mitted to the voters of the State at the
ensuing election of 1902. Through
failure of majority of those voting