Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1906-05-24

position as travelling salesman for the
N. B. HARDWOOD Dry Goods company OF
Minneapolis and remained on the road
until 1856, when he moved to- Fisher,
this county. and started a general
store. This venture was successful
and after conducting it for several
years he sold out and engaged in the
farm machinery business, which he
followed until 1891, when he became
cashier of the Merchants NATIONAL
bank of Crookston, which position he
now holds.
Mr.. Stephens has never been a
seeker for office and has never held a
position OF public trust where there
was more than. a nominal salary at
tached,. although he has had many
opportunities to do so. He served two
terms as mayor Of Crookston and was
later appointed surveyor general of
logs by Governor Clough and held the
office under the administrations of
Governors Lind and Van SAINT The
position, however, which has made
him we'll and favorably known all over
the state, WAS that Of state senator,
to which he was elected In 1902. AL
though It was his first term he at once
took a leading position In that body
and early became recognized as oRs
Of it's most dillgent and successful
members. He introduced and secured
the enactment of the law to allow the
state funds to be used for drainage
loans at 3. per, cent interest. This
measure has already saved the tax
payers OF the state over $2a0,000 and
has made it possible to- redeem thou
sands of acres Of wet lands, which
probably would not have. been done
under other conditions. He has been
a most enthusiastic supporter Of state
drainage and at the second session Of
the legislature revised the state drain
age laws. Tt was largely through his.
efforts that the state was committed
to the policy of appropriating state
money for drainage. In 1892 he took
: in hand the matter OF getting the
first drainage law passed and spent a
great deal of time in St. Paul getting
the. measure through the Legislature
Previous to that time the word drain
age did not appear on the statute
books Of the state and It must be a
matter of great satisfaction to him
/ when he thinks of the difficulties he
encountered in getting this measure
/ through to- find that nearly all public,
men are now willing to commit them.
/ selves to the drainage idea, although
some OF these, who are now seeking
the nomination for governor on the
Republican ticket, have always here.
1 tofore strenuously opposed it.
/ Another feature Of his work while
In the senate was the securing of a
branch OF the State, Agricultural col
lege for Northern Minnesota. THIS,
like the per cent drainage loan law,
/ fs going to be a decided advantage to
the agricultural interests OF the state.
1t is the beginning Of a new principle
that the state will broaden opportunE
ties for farm education.
/ Mr. Stephens keen insight into
character WILL. should he. be- made
governor. enable him To select honest
aud we'll qualified men to Gil the vari.
GUS positions that would deyoIve upon
him tn MI and his wide acquaintance
/ with businesH men and business meth
dds, together with his excellent 1udE
ment aud conservative principles. quail
ley him III q marked degree tor the pat
sit1nn az cl1isf axacut1ye of MinnssotA