The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1906-10-19

Two big political meetings in one
was the record of AIankato republicans
yesterday The crowd in the evening
was not so great as in the forenoon
which was TO be expected, but it was
big enough nearly to fill the theatre
and was enthusiastic from start to fin.
ish. The stage decorations of the fore
noon had been left, and a large number
of party men were seated upon the
stage Two excellent addresses were
given, that electrified the audience and
did world of good for the party
ticket.
Chairman s. B. Wilson of the republi.
can county committee presided. He an
nounced that the republicans would close
their campaign in Mankato on Friday
evening Nov. 2, with an adrdess by Sen
ator Knute Nelson.
General j. Fl. Baker opened his re-
marks by saying that he had been placed
or the program merely to fill the va
cancy caused by the inability of Hon.
A. L. Cole TO be present. He COM
pared the two candidates for governor
greatly to the advantage of Mr.. Cole He
spoke of the Importance of the governor
ship TO the party, because Of the numer
ous appointments that he makes, includ-
ing the filling of vacancies caused by
death on the supreme bench end even
in the senatorial chairs. 1t was there
. fore right and important that the domi-
nant party should have the governor.
ship. Both candidates have spotIess per-
sonal characters, both are good, clean,
noble men, and no dirt will be thrown
in this campaign. Yet the voters must
60 behind personal character, and re:
member that they do. not vote for the
men, but for the principles back of them.
johnson Loves Ease.
General Baker asked what Johnson
had ever done to, entitle him to contint
nance in the governors chair. He had
searched the statutes and had been nm
able TO find a single measure that John.
son had gotten through the legislature
while a member of the senate, or one
that he had advocated strongly. He had
fought the law for the creation of the
board of control, which was one of the
best laws ever enacted. johnson is a
man who loves ease rather than the
thick of battle. With Cole it is diff
feIent. He has done more than anyone
else TO develop the northern part of the
state. He is recognized as man who
can do things, He has started all sorts
of business for the developing of the
north country He found beautiful
country that needed only the hand of
the empire builder. Cole was a most ag-
gressive, active member of the house for
two terms. He was the author of the
good roads bill, the drainage bill, the inn
migration law, the law for the taxation
OF logs in the counties where cut, and
was a most valiant champion of the
measure TO raise the gross earnings tax
on railroads from three to four per cent
by which the state has secured mil
lion dollars a year more revenue. The
state normal school in this city has
$4,000 acres of swamp lands that are
not worth penny unless drained. The
drainage bill will open 100000 acres to
settlement and prosperity. Logs can no
longer escape taxation.
While Johnson was spending his time
in luxurious idlcness, Cole was working
on his bills and getting them passed.
Cole favors taking the tariff off of lum-
Der. He also introduced measure to
forbid corporations from subscribing
money to political parties. He stood be-
hind the anti-pass bill. 1--WE want, to
have all passes forbidden, and must
have il we do Justice to the people'