The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-10-22
NEW ENGLAND LETTER
! BY r, G. Larsen.

Boston, Mass, Oct. 19.--Henry M.
Whitney, as a corruption of the Massa-
chusetts legislature, has become the real
issue in one of the
Henry M. Whitney warmest political
<.g campaigns in the
the Issue histor y of the
state Mr.. Whit
In the Bay State ney has been a
I-.. very active man
all his life. He is man of big ideas
and big enterprises, who, once undertak-
ing project, is determined to see it
carried to successful conclusion. 1t is
for that very reason he has entered poll
tics and become the democratic candi-
date for lieutenant governor. He does
not want the office, but he does want to
prove that there is a strong sentiment
in New England in favor of reciprocity.>
It was Mr.. Whitney who years ago. con-
solidated all the little street railway
systems which used to make travelling
expensive in Greater Boston. He was
one of the most prominent figures in the
gas war which was waged in Boston for
years, and became the subject Of much
scandal and many magazine articles. In
both these instances Mr.. Whitney
wanted the legislature to pass bills IN
the interest Of his companies, and he
used what he considered the most. eff
fective means of influencing the leglsla-
tors. He gave them dinners at his club;
he employed lobbyists and spent money
freely; there are different versions as
to how some of it went.
> Many times since Mr.. Whitney has
been accused of having corrupted the
legislature; charges of the most serious
character have
Whitney Breaks been made against
him, but for ff-
Silence; teen years he has
ll remained silent. It
Replies to Charges was not until
George Fred Will
liams, leader Of the New England de-
mocracy during the years when the
Bryan wing was in control, came out IN
long TRADE against Mr: Whitney, thus
week, and announced his Intention OF
supporting the republican, that Mr..
Whitney ever took occasion to answer
these charges, and he did SO in one of
the most Sensational documents Of the
campaign. He admitted the dinners
and the employment of the lobby. de-
clared that these methods were the best
he knew to get his ideas before the law
makers; then bitterly assaulted Mr.. vii.
liams. who happened to be a member OF
the legislature at that time, and in OPP
position then, as now, to all of Mr..
Whitney's projects. This was the first
of the heavy artillery which is being d.
rected in Mr.. Whitney s direction: The
republican state committee are follow
ing it up with advertisements, one of
the most effective Of which quotes the
late Governor Russell as having said
that, altho the street railway measure
met the just demand for quicker and
better transit, the circumstances under
which the legislation was secured Were
such that had he been governor he
would have vetoed the bill.
Something in which New Hampshire
people generally are now interested is
petition which has been signed by l,5oC
summer visitors and sent to Governor
McLane, asking that special session
of the Legislature be called to consider
the best methods Of preventing the i'm
pending devastation Of the presidential
range. The petitioners ask that this
noble range be kept as state park anc
a monument to New Hampshire's fore
sight and liberality," and lay particular
stress on the fact the beauties of the
mountains attract the thousands Of