The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1904-10-01

begins when the Canadian border line
is no longer q barrier to free cx-
change of products.
Remove that obstacle and the twin
cites and Duluth are the commercial
keys to that vast country reaching far
off to the Boring sea. A natural growth
made possible by one system and ut
terly impossible under our present tar
III policy. Under one system we may
work out G manifest destiny which will
float our flag at Hudson's bay
Two years ago the one important is-
sue IN that campaign was that Of the
so-called merger of the Northern Pa
cific and Great Northern railways. The
people of the state spoke in no uncer-
tain sound in the election which fol-
lowed. and Endorsed the present ex-
ecutive and his official action with q
majority unparalleled in the history Of
the state.
THE MERGER STILL AN ISSUE.
The party which gave him such a
phenomenal majority two years ago has
as it's candidate to succeed him, one
Who, in every interview and utterance
by him, has taken his stand in oppo-
sit:cn to the policy OF the present state
administration and in accord with
those who sought to effect and did eff
feet combination Of these two vast
railway systems. The platform on
which he stands was adopted before
the convention was organized and those
instrumental in his nomination cvade
the issue with the declaration that the
party really did not adopt platform
at all But whether the question is
treated lightly or seriously, like Ban
quo,s ghost, 1t will not down.
me merger was contrary to law, it
crime against the statutes and was not
rlsht then and is just as wrong now
as tren. II was combination Which
annlhil&ted competition. 1t created a
power which places hundreds of thou
sands within It's control and gives to
one man or set OF men the power to
establish any rate of Transportation
throughout the great southern part of
this state.
1T was direct blow at the pro-
Queer, who has right to fair profit
Tor his labor and on his Investment.
1T is no argument TO say that there
VIII be no abuse of that authority,
The authority is illegal. The mer,s ~:
was against the law There can he no
question now as to the motive in nut
tins the law in operation to dissolve
the merger. The executive simply did
his outy. 1t is common knowledge that
minnesota shippers and producers are
sunerlns unjust discrimination. Every
shipper in the twin cities knows this
to be true. every farmer from here
to the Canadian border knows this 10
ne true. The railway commission is
inactive. Complaints are lodged ard
placed In pigeonholes to gather the
Gust and must of time, and the peo-
pie bear the burden.
(! If the farmer and the railway and the
business men are to enjoy IL community
of interests and to feel partnership
It is about time that there was a mora
even distribution of the profits. 1t has
heer said of at least one of our great
railway men that he has been A rrcnt
factor in the upbuiding of the NORTH
west True, most true. ! would not
detract from his greatness or the ex-
tent of his accomplishments, but while
he has done much for the commercial
development of our great state this
great state has Gone much for him. His
personal prosperity has been coequal
with the development of the state and
would never nave been possible but TO-,
the farmer who has toiled faithfully
end titled regularly.
1t would have been impossible but
for the laborer in the shops who toiled
faithfully and lived economically. The
producer would have survived without
him, he could not have prospercd with
out them. The fact that one man or a
dozen men have contributed much for
the development of the state gives
them no right that does not belong to
them under the supreme law of the
land. 1t does not give them the right
to take the profits of the store, the
shop and the farm because by COM
bination they may have the power
LAW MUST BE OBEYED.
| The merger is an issue in this cam
paign as much as in the last and must
remain an issue until absolute justice
is had by all the people. There must
be sanity in conducting public af-
fairs. We are not tor anarchy; we
raise no red flag here or in the time
to come. 1 would not destroy corporate
interests I would not take away a
single right that a railway has by
law, but l would give the humblest
citizen every constitutional right and
protection In that right, and to this
end the law must be obsyed by small
and great and should be upheld with
out favor by those to whom the duty
, of UNFOLDING 1t is committed
| The railway and other corporations
of the country have right to enjoy
fair rate Of interest on their i'll
vestment, and the farmer has q right
to fair rate of profit on his invest
ment. Farms are not bonded at f1c-
titious values, stores are not dispos-
ing of watered stock, and the public
has a right from all public-service
corporations to demand good service at
legitimate earnings, and any attempt to
take more than that is not in keeping
with good government. Any CONSOLE
dalton formed for the purpose of eA-
acting more than that Is unjustifiab BILE
and when contrary to law should be
prohibited by the law. 1t matters not
who attempts violation.
1t Is not more worthy in resident
than in a nonresident Let me again
emphasize my position by saying that
any consolidation or union for private
gain at public expense is unhOly. 1t Is
un-Amcrican. The trust should have
no place IN the land Of the free and
the home of the brave.
DEMOCRATIC SUCCESS NOT DAN
GEROUS.
It cannot be charged that humiliation
will come to the state with democratic
success. That charge was previously
made and the contradiction came in the
wise administration of as good gov
ernor as this state has ever had. For
two years of our almost half CEN
fury Of statehood the democratic party
had control OF the executive depart
ment of the state, or rather a portion
governor, John Lind gave this state an
impartial administration of its laws
which resulted in great credit to the
state and everlasting honor to him.
1t was a course marked by such wis.,
dom, economy and fairness that II has
never been surpassed by any other adj
miristration within our history Every
promise made by Mr.. Lind was fulfilled.
Every pledge was redeemed. In asking
again that the administration Of affairs
be placed in our hands we point to the
record Of Mr.. Lind and ask for a re-
newal Of confidence.
,11 60, Fr&v n,,{r 10 l,@