The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1906-08-22
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} FROM THE STATE CAPITAL

: FROM The STATE CAPITAL :
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The annual meeting of the Grand
Army has distracted political work
somewhat this week, aside from that
of those who are especially engaged
In the work, like the state committee.
They keep resolutely at their posts
because there is no moment for relax
49,
The letter which Mr. Blakely of the
Rochester Post addressed to the rail-
road commission asking what Gov
ernor Johnson had done to secure any
reduction in railroad rates or to pre-
vent discrimination, and the reply of
the railroad commission, have proven
a veritable bombshell in the Demo
cratic camp. Governor Johnson is a
smooth political article and by his
speeches and interviews he has ac-
tually created the impression that he
has been endeavoring to do something
to relieve the people from burden
some railroad charges. He evidently
thought all that was necessary was
TO create the impression that he was
doing something. All this now passes
tor nothing and the mask is stripped
OH from Governor Johnson by the cor
resDondence. This one circumstance
ought to lead enough Republicans
who strayed away two years ago to
realize the mistake they made to
Change the result this fall, for it shows
that Governor Johnson has made no
attempt whatever to secure any relief
from excessive railroad rates or dis
elimination
Next week the campaign will be
formally opened by Mr. Cole at Cass
Lake, his home county. His opening
speech will have no doubtful or uncer-
tain sound and from the time it is
uttered the campaign will be on. The
Republican state central committee,
too, will meet next week to take fur
Their aggressive steps in pushing the
work. A goodly number of the com
mittee have visited headquarters this
week and all agree in bringing the
most favorable reports from their re-
spective localities.
No political campaign can be con-
Quoted without considerable money
for legitimate expenses. The Repub-
lican state committee has decided to
make an effort to secure a popular
subscription to carry on the great
work they have in hand. This is I'M
questionably the way to conduct a
political campaign. Of course, every
one understands that it has been the
custom to secure large contributions
from corporations and parties who, if
they have not already, are almost
sure to have large interests which. in
return for their contributions, they
expect the political party to which
they contribute will protect and assist.
The present Republican state commit
tee do not wish to involve themselves
In any such entangling alliances and
they very wisely decided to try the
experiment of conducting a campaign
for the people direct from the people
and their experiment will be watched
with great deal Of interest. It is
really new method of conducting a
political canvass and 1t is a method
of such merit that it certainly ought
to prove great success. Small con-
tributions from a large number of
people place the committee and the
party under no other obligation than
to look after the general interest of
the people and why should not the
people, if they wish their interests,
national and political, to be cared for,
make their contributions to secure
this result.
The expenses of printing, CORE
spondence, clerical assistance, speak
ers, public meetings, etc., involve in
the aggregate large sum and they
are certainly perfectly legitimate ex-
penses. 1t would not be natural to
expect that individuals Or corpora
LlOQS WOulu contribute thousands OF
dollars to pay these expenses unless
they did so with the feeling that they
had some claim for a substantial re-
turn either in the way Of new legisla-
ton or in neglecting to enforce pres
ent legislation which they might con-
slider onerous. 1t was a good plan to
put the people to the test and marks
a new era in politics, which should be
established as the successful and the
only way to properly conduct polit-
zeal campaign. If Minnesota succeeds
in this movement it will establish a
precedent for the whole United States
and will carry with it a relief from
obligations which have heretofore
been imposed upon political parties
which carries with it expectations and
a right to demand protection which is
good for the interests" and detri-
mental to the people.
While the Democrats will not be in
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