Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1906-09-08

STATE POLITICS.


+ STATE POLITICS. +
: 3 3 !, +
st. Paul, Sept. 5.-In view of the
fact that the campaign for the fall
c.cut-Cn cannot oren in reality until
after the primary nominations, Sept.
Is, it did take quite a squirt this week
owing 10 the campaign speech of Mr..
Cole, the Republican candidate for
governor. 1t was so unusual for a
candidate for governor in Minnesota
to declare at the very outset of the
campaign that he favored regulating
railroads and compelling them to re-
duce their rates of freight that the
utterances of Mr.. Cole have attracted
widespread attention and are the talk
of the people in both city and country.
The people recognize by the speech
arisen to lead them out of the wilder
ness of excessive and extortionate
freight rates and the change of pop
ular sentiment is noticeable in the
very air Of course, this bold utter
ance secures for Mr.. Cole the hostil-
ity of the railroad managers, but, by
the same token, the people love him
all the more "for the enemies he has
made" 1t is the fight of the people
for themselves and the voters see in
Mr.. Cole, after his bold declaration,
that they have friend at court who
rests his cause not with the railroads
and their possible campaign subscrip-
tions, gut with the people. The peo-
pie are at last to measure swords with
the railroads and determine whether
or not the creator is greater than the
created. %.l
All over the state the political tide
Is rising to sweep Mr. Cole triumphant
ly into the governors chair, where he
will be able to make good It is the
first real impetus the campaign has
had and it is a royal starter. .zszs
The exuberance of the campaign as
sumed a somber hue when the death
of General H. w. Childs was an
nonnced on Thursday Mr.. Childs'
death Is everywhere recognized as
both a public and political loss. He
was leader of men and by his clear
conception of duty was enabled to
teach them and show them the path
way to protect their own welfare. He
served the state six years as attorney
general and set a pace which any sue
cessor of his may we'll feel proud to
emulate. In his official capacity he
was the earnest friend of the people
and during his term of service he did
much to guard against the, unjust en-
croachments Of corporations. An
ardent Republican he was delegate
to the Republican state convention at
DultIth, was largely responsible for the
admirable platform and was expected
to be heard upon the stump in behalf
of his party during the present cam
paign. He would have carried weight
and force wherever he could he heard.
He was honored and respected by
every one who knew him.
"None knew him but to love him,
None named him but to praise"
It seems almost superfuous for the
Democrats to hold state convention
this year. Governor Johnson is al
ready in the field with his literary
bureau and such papers as still cling
to his waning fortunes are being de-
luged with weak praise and diatribes
by Frank Day, Rosing and other
henchmen who have been dreaming
that they were to dwell in marble
halls for two years more In addition.
Frank Day has not only made up the
rest of the ticket, but has absolutely
been indiscreet enough to announce it
q week in advance of the convention
date. Tom O'Brien, the insurance
commissioner is struggling with the
platform and shaping it to face both
ways on the railroad question so as
not to interfere with the history of
two years ago repeating itself and
permitting a generous campaign fund
to be produced by the interests
most in peril The convention is to be
held the day after the great race of
Dan Patch at the state fair grounds,
The matter being thus all arranged
In advance it seems almost cruel to
go through the motions Of conven-
ton. When Frank Day cracks the
whip the perfunctory Democrats can
dance to the refrain,
"since so soon have been done for,
wonder what was begun for"
It is almost appalling and spectac-
ular to think that after all this labor
on the part of Frank Day, some of the
hard shell Democrats want to prevent
him succeeding himself as chairman
Of the Democratic state central com
mittee because he was once lieutenant
governor of the state as Repub
lican. Governor Johnson may save
his proteges bacon but it can we'll be