The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1906-09-21
NOW FOR THE FIGHT
9sas&TE
Primary Obstacle Is Out of
the Way.
VIEW,
CAMPAIGN WILL BE EARNEST
Republicans Are All Prepared to Do
Battle and Wipe the Enemy Out
Of Existence.
CAMPAIGN WILL BE EARNEST
Especial to The Free Press.1

Especial to The Free Press.1
st. Paul, Sept. l9.-The primary cleo
ton has interfered considerably with
the state campaign in this city. There
was hot fight on here and as it grew
in intensity it distracted attention from
state issues. That is out of the way
now and interest will probably center
in the campaign for the state ticket.
:!
President A. B. Stickney of the Chi.
cago Great Western is a most interest
ing character. He is an original kind
of fellow and has his own way of
doing things. In long article, fully
illustrated and published in an evening
paper, he exposes some of the trickery
of railroad rate making. He demon
strates satisfactorily that the provision
OF the law requiring the rates to be pub
lished is dead letter so far as its
practical effect is concerned, and shows
by Photographic exhibit the volumes of
schedules a shipper would have to go
through in order to inform himself of
any rate. There are a good many peo-
pie guessing what Mr.. Stickney is up to
in informing the public so fully as to
'this common form of swindling," as he
calls it. Some are inclined to think it
is desire to get even with someone.
don't believe that. Mr.. Stickney does
not seem to me to be that sort of a
man. He is a big, broad gagged fellow,
who sees no reason for the existing con-
ditions, and is sick of the whole affair
and wants the rate schedules made as
plain as the time cards. He believes
all the shippers should be treated alike.
1t is hard for the ordinary man to un-
derstand Stickney, for he is by no
means an ordinary man. He has pursued
his Independent course so long now that
he deserves to be given credit for sin
certify until some act of his exposes 9th
er motives than the good of the people
and the railroads
The "stuff" sent out by the demo.
cratic bureau, 1 notice, refers to john
sons speech of Jan. 10 before the Mu-
nicipal league in st. Paul, and recites
how accurately he pointed out the mat
ter of rate excuses and determinations.
Instances are given as to how he COM
pared rates with those in force in Iowa
to the disadvantage of this state 1t
also alludes to his speech before the an
nual meeting of the northwestern trav.
cling men at Albert Lea when he declared
for 2-cent fare. These things are all
right, as far as they go. But the trou-
BILE is that they are nothing more than
sounding brass and tinkling cymbal. It
reminds me of the illustration in the
Scriptures of the emptiness of talk. In
the Epistle of James, 1 think it is,
practical example is given by reciting
the condition of the naked and hun
CRY, who are admonished to "depart in
pease, be we warmed and fed, notwith-
standing We give them not those things
which are needful for the body what
doth it proft?" The governor did nice
lot of talking, but it ended there, and
what did it profit? Had he followed up
his talk by some earnest work I would
not now have my own credulity strained
tC believe that he meant business when
he finally made the attempt to get into
the game.
was talking to an ex-representative
the other day who sat in the house with
Staples. My friend was in reminis-
cent mood and he talked of Staples and
"Jake," as the gentleman from Lac qui
Parle is Familiarity known. 'That was
a great pair" said my friend. "They
were very different in character-very
They differed on some
questions and then it was a clash
of giants, for both were keen and
able, but there was an affinity be-
tween them just the same, and
that sprang from the common hatred
they each had for the CRATER and the
woodchuck. Staples was probably one
of the keenest men who ever sat in
the house. He has an analytical mind
and the man who introduced general
bill affecting the whole state had 10
'show him" before he got it through.
If he couldn't do that Staples usually
showed the house. I'll bet 500 no man
in the state can point to one vote of
Charley Staples during his entire legis-
lative experience which has not been on
the right side. I don't know so much
about his record as a member of the
railroad and warehouse commission. That
is not an easy position to fill, but I am
satisfied that Tony Schaefer win not be
able to trot out anything that Staples