The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1906-10-19
LETTER FROM THEODORE ROOSEVELT READ
AT REPUBLICAN RALLY LAST NIGHT.
Declares That rlinnesota's Senior Representative in
Upper Branch of Congress Was Right
Railroad Legislation; Speeches
BY Baker and Nye.

declared General Baker, while the audi
ence applauded.
!; The speaker asked the audience to
look over the list of governors that the
state has had. 1t has not been the
ornamental governors who have done
any good, but the hest ones have been
workers, like John S. Pillsbury. Cole is
more like him than any other governor.
and will make just such an official.
!. What Candidates Stand For.
The speaker related what the two
candidates stand for in national affairs.
johnson has endorsed Bryan for presi-
dent-Bryan, who stands for govern
ment ownership OF the railroads-who
would dump all the vast railway power
into party politics, with the thirteen
billion dollar investment. II the railways
were to enter politics, an era of de-
/, hatchery worse than anything ever
known in the world would result. John
son favors Hearst for governor of New
York-a man who represents all of the
political vagaries, and whose platform
j Is like JOseph's coat-a man who is a
socialist and the author of yellow jour-
nalism. Cole, on the other hand, is a
Roosevelt republican. The country never
had man in the presidential chair of
which it was so proud. He has settled
wars, and does things. This is the kind
of man that Cole is.
| General Baker then took up the ques
ton of control of railroad rates. He said
THAT as time goes on, the corporations
Twill own the government, or the govern
,ment must control the corporations.
What is needed is strong, irresistible
control, not purchasc,of the corporations.
The republicans are opposed to excessive
and. extortionate rates by the railroads,
that eat up the people. Minnesota pays
i$24,O0OO0O more TO the railroads than
Iowa does. The railroads Of Iowa earn
i$l,70O a mile net, whereas in Minnesota
5000 a year,. pei. eamile is paid over
TO the roads, This is what makes the
difference in the price. Of land in Iowa
and Minnesota.
DR.. T. L. Halves arose in the audi!
lcncc and asked why the republicans had
not Strengthened this out before,
| Johnson Has Been Inactive.
! General Baker replied that Governor
Johnson had done nothing about it. The
railway. and warehouse. commission is
working on the rates, and Cole will bring
about a readjustment if elected. Gen.
eral Baker spoke of the railway discrim-
lination in favor of ST.. Panl as against
AIankato and other interior towns, and
said: 81 pledge myself to do what l
can to bring about a better condition of
things if / am elected to the senate. ]
was for five years a member of the Min
nesota state railway commission, and in
fact drew the law providing. for the rail.
! way and warehouse commission, al
though it has since been modified. Iwant
you to trust me with this matter. l
have some knowledge of. it, gained by,
lmy service on the commission, and l.
want to go into the reconstruction of
| the railroad laws so that we will have
more prosperity and our land viii adj
Lvancc in price to where it is in Iowa."
| General Baker referred to Senator La
Follette's speech in this city recently,
when he animadverted strongly upon
Senator Nelson. George LOTUS and Joel
P. Heatwole had sat in the audience
and asked as to how Nelson had voted
on La Follette's amendments. The pur-
pose of La Follctte's reading the vote
was manifest and clear-that he intend
ed to inj,ue Senator Nelson all that he
could. General Baker said that he had
written TO Senator Nelson and has in
formed him of what La Toilette had
said and done. In reply he had received
the following letter:
Letter From Senator Nelson.
alexandria, Mimi, Oct. Z, 1906
General J.. II. Baker, Mankato MINI.
Dear Friend: I returned this morning
lat four O'clock from a weeks stump
ing tour in the northern part of the
state in behalf of the state ticket and
find your favors of the 4th and 5th.
- If you strike any men who
! have been affected by La Follette's
TRADE against me, you suggest to them
that they write the president and ask
him how 1 stood 'on' railway rate legis.
ilation and if 1 was not in touch and in
entire harmony with him throughout
!, the whole movement connected with the
} passage of the rate bill, and if I did not
favor and work for every amendment
that he. thought Just and proper. I pre-
fer that you write the president your
} self and tell hinEswhat La Toilette has
Isaid about me and inquire of him as to
|: my attitude on the rate bill, and think
he will give you such information that
you will need no more ammunition.
,i* ~
with kind regards, remain yours
. 5 ~