The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-09-13
THORPE DEFENDS
WORK OF STAPLES.
SAYS RAILROAD COMMISSIONERS
rs UNJUsTLY CRITICISED.
Leading Reform Member Of State SEN
ate Says Staples Is Responsible More
Than Any Other Man for Progress in
Railroad Legislation Always Watch
full Of Peoples Interests. z

Senator L. 0. Thorpe of Willmar, one
of the leading members of the state
senate and a candidate, for reelection.
is a warm defender of Railroad Com.
missioner Staples against the attacks
being made by democrats and by some
republican malcontents. Senator Thorpe
has always been an advocate Of rail
road legislation and regulation, but de-
clares himself entirely satisfied with
che work Mr.. Staples has done. He
said to The ] ourn a today:
~ Every political campaign we have
charges and insinuations against some
of our most trusted and active officials,
and that sometimes from members Of
their own party. Whether it is true
or not seems to make but little differ
ence; as long as the charges can be scat
tered broadcast, somebody, they hope,
will believe them. The recent attacks on
Senator Nelson, Commissioner Staples
and Attorney General Young illustrate
this. These men have given excellent
and faithful service, and still they are
held up in some quarters as negligent
and as giving succor to the enemy.
Take the case of c. j.. Staples.
Elected to the legislature in 1892, he
became prominent as an able, conscien-
tious and hard working member. I
remember during the sessions Of 1895
and 1897 how he and j. f. jacobson
were constantly on the watch lest some
thing detrimental to the peoples in
terests should slip thru How these two
ton and how some corporate interests
were ridiculing them for their activity
in behalf of the people was we'll known
and understood by the members and
the public at large at that time. When
Mr.. Staples became member of the
railroad and warehouse commission he
did the same persistent and systematic
work in accomplishing the best results
possible. 10 anyone that understands
the difficulties and responsibilities of
the position it is apparent that no radi-
The commission has adopted the only
course that will be sustained by the
and value Of the different railway lines ines
and using that as abasis, fair and euuit-
able rates can be established. I happen
to know that. during the sessions of
1908 and 1905, Mr.. Staples was very &C
tive IN securing such legislation as he
considered necessary to enable the com
mission to deal more effectively with
the problems before them. The benef.
cent laws on this subject passed dur.
ing the session Of 1905 owe their origin
and passage to Commissioner, STABLES
more than any. other one man-this was
apparent to, allw had any thing to do
with the enactmentsof these laws,
1T do not know that it. is necessary
to defend Mr.. Staples, as his faithful
and efficient work speaks for him, but
it is unpleasant to say the least to sec
an official who at all times has made
every effort and succeeded in doing his
duty held up before the public in a
false light. = 55E :
Our public service would be bette,
if the faithful Servants were upheld
and given credit for what they do and
only the bad ones condemned. y