The Minneapolis journal., 1904-09-26
Discretionary Power Abused.


The state has the right to exact absolute
honesty in all of it's public officials, and discre
tionary power, not conferred by law but assumed
by the officers of the law, be so abused as
to border upon dishonest service and invite just
criticism. My opponent in this campaign, in
reply to the preferred charges Of public officer
commissioned to Investigate his record as pub
lie official, says that he did nothing he was
ashamed Of, and adds that he would do the same
thing again. ...'
That is not a satisfactory answer; yet it may
be taken index of the course he might
pursue should he be elected governor Of this
state. The duties of the chief executive are to
administer the laws of the state without fear
and without favor to any Individual set Of in
dividuals. Good government is the result of obe-
dience to the law, and it is the duty of the Off
GERS to enforce the law it Is, and not to
govern by standard of what the individual
| thinks the law should be.
The exercise of discretionary power, and thus
setting at naught the laws of the land can only
result in government that is contrary to the
best interests Of the state. 1t IS alleged that,
by the exercise of this discretionary power, gain
| has come to private individuals and corporations
and great loss to the educational institutions of
the state. The state has safeguarded its inter.
ests by laws for the proper regulation and control
Of the public business, and has right
to set aside that law and safeguard.
| A Grave Charge.
| 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. And
| the same followed in the conduct of the
greater office to which he aspires would endanger
the law, the well,being and the honor of thu
property of the people, and to protect this prop
erty proper laws were enacted. One provision
of these laws absolutely prohibited the state
| auditor from making any settlement for trespass
at any amount less than double the value OF
| the timber taken. The law gave discretion
beyond that limitation.
For violation and total disregard of the
law it is insufficient to state that his record wa
better than that of his predecessors. The execu
| tive arm Of the government is not greater thar
the Legislative. They are equal, and when ont
aside its will, the purpose of government is no
subseryed and the will of the people is de
stroyed.
His Board Of Control Idea.
Taking up the board of control, MI
well enough alone.'' He had oppose
the creation Of the board of contro
when in the senate, because he believe,
it against the interests Of the institu
tions. This he believed had been born
: out by the facts. He had never con
temp1ate!d anything e more than 6nanci?
amendment. The system should not b
changed to hamper the educational man
agement of the institution. On thi
point he said:
| 1 hold that every that holds a publ
:, trust must be held to the strictest account fc
| good and: efficient SERVICE and that he mus
, abide by the law Of the people in whose servic
he may be.
There must be conscience in the public servic
or the state will decline. Whatever may hay
, been done in the past, take this position nov
, that there should be no change in our boar
, Of control system far as it applies to ed,
. cation. x -
, Let educators manage educational institutions
, let only men known for their strength Of cha
. . acter, their ability and worth, be appointed 9
! the board of regents and other boards, and let o.
schools be divorced entirely from partizan polite
l A separate board Of control for the education
institutions would, it to me, work I
E good for society; it would reach to the hig
5 school, the college of the common people, ar
r might endanger the wellbeing of our educa ton
3 system. In other words, let us let we'll enoug
alone. - '....~' re-" .t-.... :
On the labor question, Mr. Johnso
s indorsed the declaration Of his platform
E in favor of the right Of labor to organ
g ize and defend its rights. =
e He took up the question Of the no1
$ partizan judiciary, declaring that jud
e cial nominations should not be H gooC
q for the bargain COUNTER He also d