The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1904-10-12

The republican rally held last
night at the City opera house in
this city was without a doubt the
most enthusiastic political meet.
ing in the history of Beltrami
county as we'll as one of the most
successful functions ever held in
northern Minnesota.
Long before the speakers were
introduced and at the time Hon.
Robert G. Dunn appeared upon
the platform large number of
people crowded about the en-
trance for admission.
Mr.. Dunn made a 'splain talk, .
as he termed it, and before he
had half completed his speech the
enthusiastic applause given him
by his auditors gave expression
to the feeling that he need have
no fear as to the result on Nov. 8
next.
A mum Der of gentlemen who
have been identified with the re
publican party from Bel5rami
and Cass counties occupied the
platform with Mr.. Dunn and af-
ter a short introduction by L. H.
Bailey, Mr.. Dunn took the floor
and in speech characteristic OF
the man discussed the issues of
the campaign in his straightfor-
ward and lucid manner, replying
to the charges made against him
by corporation newspapers and
his corporation opponent for gov.
ernor. proving that he was en-
tirely innocent Of any offiaial act
which did not warrant the abso-
lutte approval Of every good citi-
zen of the state.
Mr.. Dunn stated that he was
proud to be on the same ticket as
that upon which Theodore Roose-
welt would be elected president
this fall, and asked that every
man who intended to vote for the
latter to cast his ballot for re-
publican governor. He spoke of
his official acts during the time
he held the office of auditor. and
defied John A. Johnson or any of
his friends to prove that during
the time he held that position he
did not with his every effort work
for the interests of the people of
the state, the working men es-
pecially.
He cited several instances
where through his efforts the
state had been saved hundreds
Of thousands Of dollars, and Of
fered the records of the state
auditors Office as proof in sup.
port of his statements. The
4 per cent gross earnings tax,
which he ardently supported
when he was state official, was
one of the best things ever, Mr..
Dunn said, and it would compel
the railroads to pay large bur
den of the taxes now paid by
individuals. Mr.. Dunn stated
that if the tax was raised from
three to four per cent it would
add to the amount paid into the
treasury of the state about $780,
900, while at the same time the
taxes Of the common people would
be materially decreased. At the
time John A. Johnson was a
memb Der Of the legislature, the
drainage bill came up, and when
it was voted upon the vote stood
thirty-six for and five against,
the bill, among the latter being
the democratic candidate for
governor. Among other in
stances of where the state was
saved large sums of money were
his dealings with the Little Falls
u Dakota railroad, where the
state recovered 10000 acres of
farming land in the west central
part OF the state, some Of which
now sells for $50 ali acre, the
Duluth & Iron Range railroad, a
similar incidence, and the Hast
ing q Dakota company. He
touched on the opposition of his
candidacy by several Twin City
newspapers, and gave reason for
this that Thos. Lowry Of the
Twin City Rapid Transit COM
pany, was compelled to pay taxes
upon an assessment of eight
million dollars wo tn of property
instead Of upon ere million, after
Mr.. Dunn had been elected audi