The Saint Paul globe., 1905-01-24
1.-THE LASH OF POPULAR CON-
TEMPTn

stirred to. anger by the free criticism
and condemnation that this has re-
ceived from it's own associates. 1t
calls for the application of 'the lash
of popular contempt to all who are
unready to sing the praises of the
Horton bill. "The lash Of popular con-
tempt has already been freely applied
to the backs Of the advocates of this
pernicious scheme for increasing Re
publican patronage; and, smarting un-
der this, our contemporary make its
appeal.
We have to congratulate the Repub.-
Hcans of the state at large because
they have received with such GOODNESS
the impudent proposition to create
sinecure office, paying $4,000 year, for
the purpose of distributing patronage
taken from the executive because he is
a Democrat. The country press is al
most dead against it. These men have
pride and self-respect and will have no
pie. Self-respecting members of the
lower house have expressed freely
their disgust with the whole scheme;
and it's failure, We think, is assured.
The reason why "the lash of popular
contempt" has whirled SO f1ercely and
been so effective is apparent upon the
face of the returns.
We have read with care every argu-
ment made both by interested and dis
interested parties in favor of this pro-
ceeding. They are all so absurdly be-
side the point that one has to doubt
their intelligence or their sincerity.
Nobody questions that the splendid
new capitol should have proper and
intelligent care. Nobody has advanced
the slightest reason for supposing that
it will get this care better in the way
proposed than by leaving it's custody
with the executive.
The precious proposition known as
the Horton bill simply constitutes the
capitol commission the boss of the
capitol for the next two years. It does
not say that the capitol commission
shall be permanent body charged
forever with this duty. What, then.
will happen at the end of two years?
Clearly, 1t is intended that if Repub-
lican governor should be elected the
care of the building would go back to
| him where it belongs; and if not, then
another bill can be introduced to
leave it where it is until another elec-
ton comes around. We have a great
respect for the present capitol commits
sion, yet we ask this question without
fear that anybody on the other side
will hasten to answer it. Is there one
man in the state of Minnesota who
honestly believes that the employees
about the new capitol would be more
carefully or conscientiousIy selected,
and that the building would be guard
ed and preserved from deterioration
better under the care of any member
OF this commission. no matter who he
may be, than under that of Gov. john
son?
A few thrusts of honest question
like this let the light into many dark
corners. They dispose of the whole
pretension of the advocates of the Hor.
ton bill. Its condemnation is that
there is no reason for it's fntroduction
except as measure dealing with the
spofls. All the wordy contentious of
ITS supporters about the beauty of the
capitol and the sacredness Of guarding
1T are admitted at once. Nobody eva,s
questioned It. The point is that the
method which they suggest for realiz,
ing certain end offers no better guar-
antee- than the familiar law and Gus
tom OF the state; that the governor
can be trusted absolutely with all tho
duties of his Office, including the care
of the capitol building; and that there
remains. therefore, no excuse for such
legislation except the base one of pat
ronage mongering
1t is the irresistible logical force of
this conclusion that has made the
backs of supporters of the Horton bill
sauirm under its smarting, and that
has created among seIf-respectfng Re-
puDllcans in the legislature itself a
sentiment that will prevent this dis
gusting and hypocritical bit of mean