The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1906-03-28
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Sage of Vesta Thinks Hon. Jas. A. Lar
sons Platform Not Deep Enough.

mass meeting, a platform was
promulgated and gentleman named
to stand on it. The platform was
good enough as far as it went, but
it reminds one of the lad who went
to village party with his mother,
farmers wife, who before start
ing, told him he must praise the
viands at the tea table. Of course,
on the farm the lad had been used
to an abundance of all home pro-
ducts and was somewhat surprised
when the butter was passed, to find
1 it a very small piece for the num-
Der to partake of it. He helped
himself very sparingly and with his
bread started into the business of
the meal Having tasted the butter
he looked over to the scrap still in
I the butter dish and remarked, so
that all could hear, that's pretty
good butter, what there is of it. !"
Being afraid that he had made a
bad job of his intended compliment,
he continued, yes, and plenty Of
it, such as it is" Now, the Wa
basso platform is much like the lads
compliment on the butter, very
good, what there is of it and plenty
of it, such as it is" Since that ex-
traordinary meeting Mr.. Thompson,
having read that platform, endorses
the small pat of butter and adds
some good stout oak planks which
must raise him in the estimation of
all honest citizens. To mention them
in brief, they are: l. Amend the tax
laws so that taxation shall be equal.
p. Elect United States senators by
the popular vote. They would then
represent the people, instead of the
money bags and vested interests as
they do no now. 3. Extend the
primary law to the nomination of
all state officers This is simple
justice. 4. That legislators should
keep their ear to the phone, listen
to the peoples voice and represent
them instead of sectional interests
in legislation. And this brings me
to Mr.. Thompson's original plat
form which was not promulgated at
Wabasso, tho it was known there
at that time. The little cabal of
little men who run that meeting
(about six of them met in private
to arrange matters and run the
meeting) had no use for a platform
as broad and sound as Mr.. Thomp
sons for they were read for a
special purpose, for special interests
and to endeavor to aid in bringing
about special legislation for the
pharisees and cranks, who think
they ought to run the world on their
own little 2x4 plan.
Every citizen of the county (and
u. S. for that matter) should paste
Mr.. Thompson's platform in his hat
and every time he takes off his hat
this summer to wipe his sweating
forehead, he should read it and pom
der on it, for it contains the essence of
self-government and yet is composed
of only five words: "A square deal
for everybody" Could any honest
citizen ask for more? |. That plat
form is Rooseveltian and has made
him the most popular president of
the United States since Abraham
Lincoln. 1t is on this platform that
he is now after all the big thieves
of the United States, so that honest
men may reap the fruits of their
labors e. Mr.. Thompson's plat
form is laconic, no waste words to
darken ideas, for it can be under
stood by any average intellect and
the wisest philosopher cannot better
! it. 3. 1t is "Multum in parvo,
j Ii. e. much in a little), because it is
clear, for justice is its basic prin-
ciple and at once suggests the idea
of a straight jacket for the greedy
and a helping hand to the weak.
4. Mr.. Thompson's platform sug-
gests the idea of no sumptuary laws,
for sumptuary laws are the bane of
just legislation, therefore down with
the lobbyist, for as every person has
the right of petition, let him pre-
sent his petition and let it have
dispassionate hearing and if it is for
the greatest good to the greatest
number let it pass into law, if not