The Saint Paul globe., 1904-08-31
AN IMPROPER CUSTOM


We believe that the time is appro-
pirate for referring in plain terms to
the delicate subject of mixing political
and party purposes with the conduct
of great public institution like the
Minnesota state fair. In so doing we
would expressly diselaim any personal
reflections. We believe that the man
agement Of the Minnesota State Agri-
cultural association is in excellent
hands. We have the highest personal
respect for the eminent politicians who
addressed the crowd there assembled
on the opening day. All of these peo-
pie merely followed a precedent set
for them In the past and hitherto un-
rebuked. We do not especially blame
them for so doing, but we blame the
custom itself and declare that it ought
to be abolished.
There is no reason whatever in the
nature of things why a man prominent
in public life-a governor, or a sena-,
tor, or a congressman, or a cabinet
officer, or any other political official
should be called upon to deliver the ad-
dress proper at such functions a
state fair, especially when it attains
the proportions reached by that of
Minnesota, is an enterprise belonging
to all the people. 1t knows no Demo-
Gratis and no Republicans, no party, no
political preferences, and should know
no personal friends. 1t is supported by
the contributions of all the taxpayers
of the state. They have right to re-
quire that 1t should be kept perfectly
free from all political entanglements.
or alliances.
Now this is not possible when prom
inent politicians are made the central
feature of the opening day. We give
to such men their just due in saying
that, as a rule, they try to avoid If
only for policys sake, subjects that
would rouse antagonisms or give Of
fense. They do not always succeed,
for man whose entire thought is
bound up in the daily struggle of po-
litical life, and whose earnest convic-
tions perhaps are engaged in the poll
cies that he and his party support, to
keep away from such topics in any
address to the people. Thus we find
Senator Nelson in his address, in many
respects admirable, lauding and glori-
flying, in a partially submerged but
none the less distinct fashion, the tariff
system and work Of the Republican
party We submit that the time and
the place rendered this improper.
We fully believe that Senator Mel
son intended no impropriety. There
are few men eminent in politics who
do not know that it would be inexpedi-
ent to abuse an occasion of this sort,
and would cause them more injury
than advantage. The thing itself, how
ever, is inevitable. And the mere Sc
lection of a man prominently before
the public as known candidate for
future honors at the hands of one
party or the other is the mistake to be
aimed at.
This country is by no means de-
pendent upon the politicians for its
thinking or its speaking. We could
mention half dozen men Of great IN
formation. of splendid breadth of view
and of admirable power of expression
who might have been selected to grace
the opening day. We think that the
management of the Minnesota state
fair, and of all other such institutions,
should seek for these, and give the
politicians the go-by. 1t is certainly
not for the interest of great nom n-parti-
san associations and not in the long
run for that of the politicians or par
ties themselves, that the dividing line
between them should be crossed.