The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-09-25

abide. If public officers viii ignore the
law. little can be expected of the people
as individuals.
BY his own party officials the Repub-
deliberately ignoring the law in the settle
ment of claims of the state and Of using
discretionary power not given him by law.
! lyme use of this discretionary power
IT is alleged that state claims against
trespassers Were settled at small per-
centage of the amount due the state. In
answer, he says he did the best he could
under the circumstances. Who is to be
the Judge as to what was best? Clearly
II was the duty of his department to
INSIST that the legal machinery of the
state be set in motion to collect every
dollar due the state of Minnesota
II ne mad the right to settle claims
dor less than n one hundred cents on the
OF the amount he could collect what is
70 prevent future officers from settling
t tSt' cases at their own discretion and
thus divert the school fund of the state
INTO improper channels through all the
years to come?
The school fund of the state is an insti-
any part of 1t to other than proper Channels
is against public policy, unfair to the
people. and contrary to the law of the
The state has the right to exact abso-
lutte honesty in all of Its public officials
ana discretionary power not conferred
- - w ~ laetooutIfSQs the Officers OF the
i 5is, can be SO abused as to border upon
dIshonest service and invite just criticism
NJ NY opponent in this campaign, in reply
f s1 the predeITred charges Of public Of
record as public official, says that he
a e,I nothlng he was ashamed of and adds
lii nj ne would do the same thing again
mat Is not satisfactory answer. vet
II may pc taken as an index of the course
ne mlght pursue should he be elected gov
ernor OF this state. The duties Of the
0r~n - n zs<.41-
of the state without fear and without
favor TO any Individual or set of individ-
o ohls; Gooo government is the result of
the officers to enforce the law as il is and
not 10 govern by a standard of what the
indlylduai thinks the law should be.
Inc exercise of discretionary power
ana thus setting at naught the laws of the
iand can only result in government that
Is contrary to the best interests of the
state; It is alleged that by the exercise
come to private individuals and corpora
tons and great loss to the educa tionaI
institutions of the state. The state has
saleguarded ats interests by laws for the
proper regulation and control of the pub
Tic business, and no man has a right to
set aside that law and safeguard
do not make the charge of personal
interests Or dishonesty on the part of my
opponent, but the charge of usurpation of
authority which did not belong to him is
graver than the other.
a LII tiic Sst1f1G course followed In the
conduct OF the greater Office to which he
aspires would. endangerst the law, the well
pelngeand the honor of the state The
pine lands of this state were the prop
property proper laws were enacted. One
provision of these laws absolutely pro-
hlblted the state auditor from making
any settlement for trespass at any amount
less than double the value of the timber
taken. The law gave no discretion be-
yond that limitation.
For q violation and total disregard of
the law-it is insufficient to say II would
do the same thing again." neither is it
sufficient to state that his record was
better than that of his predecessors. The
greater than the legislative. They are
equal, and when one arm of the govern
ment ignores the other and sets aside it's
will the purpose of government is not sub
served and the win of the people is de-
Stroyed.
THE BOARD OF CONTROL
The management of our state institu-
paign. Two policies have been pursued
at different times. For years they were
managed by separate boards of manage
ment, but more recently by a board of
control Mr.. Dunn was one of the early
advocates of the present system, and as
state auditor urged the adoption of the
present plan by the legislature: AS a
member of the state senate 1 resisted the
innovation as far, as it lay within my
power.
Hoping to defeat the measure, favored
an amendment including the educational
institutions, as to their financial manage
ment, this amendment being offered by
myself. have no apology for that ac-
ton now. 1t was not an action prompted
in any way by any unfriendliness to the
state university, the normal schools or
any other educational institution, but was
prompted by thought of the best inter-
ests of the state and those institutions
operated by the state, and with the belief
that the board of control would become
partisan and be used to further political
ends of those in power.
I believe that the past has to some ex-
tent borne out that view of the question.
There must always be a difference of
opinion as to the best method, but the
state is practically agreed that it is the
duty of society to care for its unfortu-
mates, and undertaking that duty it be-
comes the further duty to perform it to
the best advantage of those coming with
in the scope of paternal care.
The board of control has doubtless made
some saving in some of the departments
at the expense of the comfort of the un-
fortunate wards of the state.
However. it is .manifestly unfair to I'M
duly criticise the system. without being
in possession of the facts, and offer
the criticism that the people are not in
possession of the facts. Contracts are
made in secret and the business of the
public is withheld from the public itself.
Freedom should prevail and suspicion
might be removed by having public bust
ness transacted in the light of day.
AS our, nominee for governor stated
in the last campaign, the important ques
ton is not in the saving per capita but
whether the state receives adequate return
for every dollar of the money expended in
the care of the state wards. The system is
comparatively new and IS entitled to a
fair trial 1t should be removed as far as
possible from the machinery and spirit of
partisan politics and while altruism should
obtain in the management of the penal
and charitable institutions of the state,
there should always be kept in sight the
one cardinal doctrine of honesty in public
affairs and honesty in the expenditures of
the money which is taken from a
heavily taxed people.
AS to the state university and the nor
NAL schools / want to say that 1t was
never intended that the board of control
should have more than financial jurisdic
ton over them. The educational iHSti-
tutions should not be restricted in any
way in the good work they are doing, and
the educational policy and methods should
lie wholly within the authority of those
in charge, and to that end believe there
should be no change in the law as it now
exists. do not and would not favor any
change to board of control for the uni
versity.
Our great university, which stands
among the great educational institutions
Of the world is the pride of all our peo-
its youth who would do aught to hamper
1t in even the slightest degree in the
fruition of its purpose and the endeavor
of those carrying on the great work. The
state is great In its people and its wealth.
generosity should be and is extended to-
extended should not encourage prodi-
EaIity.