The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1905-01-27
SOME sQUIRMING

The scheme to divert from the gov
ernor of Minnesota portion of his
just prerogative dies hard. Efforts are
now being made to substitute for the
unpopular and already condemned
Horton bill some other measure that
will reach the same end in a less Of
fensive way. It shall not be done
without the stripping away of pre-
tense and the exposure of the main
purpose Of it, however.
That purpose is to invest the capitol
commission with entirely new powers
and duties foreign to it's original pur-
pose and utterly unnecessary for any
end except to transfer to it executive
privileges and to secure for some one
Of its members purely sinecure office
at a cost to the public of $4,000 a year.
That is all there is to it. That is the
proposition which the people Of this
state will duly stamp with their con-
domination. Unless the project is
dropped, that is the shape which the
issue will take.
The capitol commission was consti-
tuted to take charge of the construc-
ton work Of the new capitol building.
1t has discharged the major portion of
its office. Such Of it's duties as remain
to be done can be done without any
extension of its powers or privileges.
The capitol is not wholly completed,
but nearly so. The odds and ends of
work that remain can still be done
under it's supervision. There is no
necessary or rational connection what
ever between this work of construction
and the business Of maintaining the
building. The attempt to unite them IS
a mere effort to distract public atten-
ton and cover with dishonesty the
mean little raid upon the governors
office.
This is precisely why the people do
not tolerate It Gov. Johnson is
stronger with them today than he has
ever been before. He has grown In
stature and popularity with every day
that has passed since his election.
The appointments that he has made
have been not only beyond reproaeh,
but beyond criticism. He has shown
himself straightforward, SINGLE
hearted Van, bent upon doing his
whole duty to the state and its people.
That people has responded sensitively
to his confidence and his highminded-
ness. They placed him where he is,
and they will not pass over lightly the
despieable tactics of those who would
intrench upon his rights in order that
they may fileh away a little of the
power that belongs to the office and
not to the man.
The whole object of this wretched
campaign peeps out in every bill; In
the proposition to make this arrange
nIent with the capitol commission ten
tative and temporary. Always it is
booked to expire at the end of two
years, or year and half, or Some
other such time. This is falsely repre-
sented as having something to do with
the time when construction work will
be ended. We have shown that COIL
struetion and maintenance have no
connection with each other whatever.
The mentioning of this period is sim
ply to make the arrangement apply to
the term Of Office Of Democratic gov
ernor. Had the Republicans elected
their man, no such proposition would
ever have been heard; and it is to be
held in suspense, ready to drop or re-
new, according as the party shall be
successful or otherwise at the next
election.
To the credit of the best men in that
party be it It said, they have no pa
thence with a scheme that is one-third
self-interest, one third the lowest form
of partisanship and one-third mere
stupidity. It Will be fought by all
those who do not believe that systems
and methods of government should be
revolutfonized whenever there is a
party change, by those who believe in
the dignity and honor of the guberna-
torial office and by those who resent
the insidious and insincere attempt to
snatch bowl of pottage at any cost
to the reputation of the state. The
people will not stand Tor it. and it will
be fought to the last ditch.
{ The o'eonor Don, lineal descendant
of the last of the Irish kings, is about