The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-08-28
COLE STANDS FOR
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Republican Candidate Formally Launch
es His Campaign in an Ad-
dress at Kenyon.
Special to Tho journal.

Albert IL. cole, republican nominee for
governor, addressed a large audience of
Of the campaign, declaring his position
clearly. and emphatically. He confined
himself to state questions, and to de-
claring what he would do in each aues-
tlon IT elected governor. Mr.. Cole
said:
"All wealth comes from the land.
Upon the farmers and their success
Minnesota must continue to depend for
as state is to be furthered by a w;se
and concerted endeavor to increase the
number OF persons who are engaged in
agricultural pursuits, and to add to the
system and intelligence with which our
farming is conducted, and hence to the
productivity Of our lands. The farmer
is not only the state 8 greatest produc-
er; ne is also the states greatest con-
sumner.
SIN both these relations. tho ques-
ton most vital to him and to every citi-
zen is that Of railroad facilities, rates
and management. Under conditions of
modern business, the railroads are our
main highways. In permitting them
to pc owned and operated by private
capital, the state has entrusted to their
owners the discharge Of function. over
supervision.
Duty Laid Upon Governor.
"Too high freight rates tend to rob
both the producer and the consumer
and to lessen, if not destroy, all pros
perity. The transportation question in
all its forms is in the hands Of the peo-
pie. The only limitation in the reduc-
ton Of freight rates is measured by
nd Fol- b
carrier. That carrier is entitled to lust
and reasonable compensation for the
service rendered, and no more. With
IN the limitation stated, the people
have, the, absolute right to reduce
freight rates at will. While there are
certain additions to, and changes in,
our rate laws, which, it seems to me, are
advisable, there are already upon our
e erat,s5 b93oks, laws VS., which when Wig
stantial relief, and it is the duty Of the
states executive to urge that those
laws be justly and honestly enforced.
Certainly, the executive is clothed with
great influence in this direction, and it
IS rightly expected Of him that he will
fearlessly and energetically exercise
that influence, I believe. that most of
the freight, rates now collected in this
state are altogether too high, and that
the railroads Of the state are making
too much money, and I feel that it is
my duty to state that, if elected. I
shall do all in my power to cause them
to be reduced to point where thew are
equitable to both carrier and shipper,
1.-The specific duties which the law
imposes upon the states executive,
which affect the people generally, are
numerous and weighty, and his dis
cret1onary powers in that direction are
q
In express terms, declared that Presi-
dent Roosevelt should insist upon ac.
tion being brought, against trusts, but
he exercised what had been treated as
discretionary power, and the result
is, the great trust question is being
brought before the courts for adjust
ment, to the very great benefit Of the
general public. Thru the exercise of
his discretionary powers, the Sherman
antitrust law, which had lain for many
years as a dead letter upon our nation
al statutes. had the breath Of life
inert and worthless statute is now a
living force, before which all men
have. learned to bow in respect and
obedience. -.
Consumer Is Most Interested.
"For many years the republican
party has been enacting laws giving
our railroad and warehouse commission
authority to properly adjust railroad
rates. The result is we have as good,
if not the best laws of any state in the
union upon that subject. Minnesota
was pioneer and leader in this class
OF legislation, Two or more men living
business are quite likely each to first
seek to know that neither one has the
advantage in rates over the other. This
question settled satisfactorily, the next
is, has any competing point a rate ad-
vantage9 When this question is sat
isfactorily adjusted, it makes but lit
tie difference to either dealer whether
the rate of freight is So or 81 per ton.
Whatever freight he pays helps to
make up the cost Of the goods. The
freight and the profits to be made are
both added to the Wholesale price Of
the goods, and the sum total falls as
burden upon the consumer. The con-
sumner, the man who eats and wears, Is,
in the last analysis, the man who pays
the freight. The most numerous class
of such consumers is the farmers. They
are, necessarily, the ones most directly
interested in the cost Of transportation,
because they not only pay the freight
on the merchandise shipped in from
abroad which it is necessary for them
to buy, but they also pay the cost Of
transportation to the market, on every
product of their farms. The market
value Of wheat or any other grain at
any station in Minnesota, is the market
price in Minneapolis or Duluth, less
the freight. The market price Of the
farmer cattle at nearly every station
in this state is the South St. Paul mar
ket, less the freight. Even if he sells
his animal to the local butcher, and
it is not the subject. of transportation
at all, the price he receives is the St. !
Paul market, less freight. - -f.
mo consumer. is so much interested
in the rate question that he can af-
ford to spend the time and money nee
essa1ry to secure the benefits which
would come to him from general re-
duction of freight rates. What IS
ness, except the officers, who have
the matter in charge. The result is. 4
the consumer is the last man whose in
terests are. liable to be considered.
r. Should Have Explicit Power.
"While we have laws giving to the
commission large powers to make rates
and modify those that are excessive;
While the commission has done much
to relieve the people from excessive
burdens, I believe we have not had the
enforcement Of those laws which insure
to the people their full and complete
benefit. The courts Of no other state
have taken a. more advanced position
than those. Of Minnesota in holding that
the commission, in fixing rates, shall
take into account only the cost of re-
producing the road and equipment. I'm
der this decision, it would seem that
the cost Of the railroads of the state
must he known in nrdnr 4hn4 ~ aa..a