The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-02-28
WHAT OTHER PEOPLE THINK
state Development an Issue.

70 tho Editor oS Tho Journal.
From present indications It would seem
that the people, as we'll as the politicians,
will have something to say as to who
shall be the next republican nominee for
governor. They (the people,, should also
have a voice in shaping the issues In the
next .,e c saig Believing that that priv
1lege IS not only the right. but the duty
OF every citizen, and also believing that
the people generally think that new ques-
lions. questions affecting their material
welfare, should have prominent place
IN the councils of the party, make bold
not only to voice my own views but to
reflect the sentiments generally ex-
pressed.
During the years that have gone we
have looked altogether too much to Wash
1ngton, D. G., for our inspiration Fed
eral officers have written our platforms.
National questions have afforded the alb
sorbing themes. While it Is the duty Of
every citizen to look beyond the borders
II his state and consider all the questions
which affect our national welfare, in
growing, vigorous state like ours a state
yet in the morning OF it's development, 1t
seems to many Of us that those questions
which most closely affect us, the home
questions, have not received fair or
necessary share Of public attention.
Every political campaign should be an
| educational campaign The public thought
should be directed along lines affecting
our material and Industrial welfare
From the national standpoint, this
work has been well done, bat done, I
fear, at the expense Of the welfare Of the
state. The national government has
yielded up untold millions Of acres of land
| to aid us in the work Of state develop
ment. It has bequeathed to the common
schools Of the state a grand Inheritance;
but It seems to me our people have not
| been sufficiently aroused on the great
question which the government SO nob1y
fostered, the question which affects us
all, the question Of state development.
Many Of our sister states have shown
more enterprise, and certainly our neigh
Dor on the north has outstripped US.
That measure Of development to which
we are entitled ana which we can secure
II we go after 1t we certainly are not en-
joying. Let us not allow ourselves to be
beaten in the race Let us become thought
fui; let us get busy 1.-The great repub-
lican party, the party Of progress, has a
work to do. That work lies before it. We
have In our state an undeveloped terri
tory almost as large as the state of In
diana. We need more railroads in this
sparsely settled portion of our state. We
need more manufactures, we need more
| worlzingmen. we need an Industrious
laW-abiding farmer on every unoccupie6
100 acres Of land in the state XII
When we have realized all this we will
have more villages, larger cities, more
manufacturers, a higher price of real es-
tate. everywhere. It will mean genera
/ benefit to all. We have plenty of work
to do to accomplish all this. Until every
piece Of undeveloped land is yielding up 9
fair measure Of profit we should not, anc
we will not be satisfied. = "
Properly directed effort, a healthy pub
lie sentiment, wise laws, with Officers
liable and willing to DO their full duty, will
finally accomplish the adesired result. I
j is not necessary to spend immense sums
4 of money to accomplish all this. Wha
| we think. what we say and what we do
lean and Will accomplish it all If we think
say and do right Let us make state de
velopment one Of the burning issues o
s. the next campaign.e Let W US q nominate
men of energy, men Of capabilities, mel
who do things and. do them right. Lie
us keep ever, to- the forefront our gran.
possibilities, ever pointing out. the RICH
course of action, and Minnesota Will soo1
stand in the very front rank in size en-
ergy, progress and prosperity; one Of tn
grandest and wealthiest states of tn
union .---- & H. G. Erwin.
st. Cloud, Mimi, Feb. g. II