The public weal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1906-1908, 1907-02-01

The two Houses Of the Legislature
met in their respective chambers on
Jan. % for the election of u. S. Sen
ator. It was not at all strange that
only few had an idea that any but
the regular" parties would have a
nominee for the position. For never
before had the Prohibition party OF
Minnesota had the right to take part
in such an election.
1t is reasonable to suppose that the
majority party in the House had
chosen it's most finished orator to
present the name of Senator Knute
Nelson to succeed himself. Glowing
references were made to the bare
footed boy from Norway who had at
tanned the highest position open to a
foreign-born citizen. But there was
not a syllable of reference to any
principle for which either he or his
party stands.
In an extremely brief speech the
Democrats placed their candidate be-
fore the House.
Then the Speaker, presuming that
all nominations had been made, was
about to order the roll-call when E.
E. Lobeck, of the 5Sth district,
Senator Nelson's own county, was rec
ognized by the chair. His manly ap-
pearance commanded instant atten-
tion. His earnest and statesmanlike
words won the respect Of all both for
the speaker and his party. His re-
ferences to the woes brought on the
people by the liquor traffic evidently
touched the hearts Of his hearers. His
biggest hit, however, was his refer
ence to the anti-slavery struggle and
to Lincoln's part in it. In these elo-
quent passages he fairly captured the
colors of the Republican party. He
said:
nomination a Prohibition candidate for
the office of United States Senator-the
first in the history of the state, and I
Rz"ihs man IN this s our North Star state to make
such nomination for forth this offiee
it behooves a speaker to state, his and
his party's princlpIes and why he nSmi- aSnnI
lengthy ii "' discussion Gus 0 Of this kind but per-
NIT me, Mr.. Speaker; to trespass upon
here ha Re
ty arose amidst numberless plaintive cries
Of starved children, pale mothers, heart
bands, who stood on the brink of de-
of drink behind them-just as the Re,
Of clanking chains, the crack of the
whip and the blood curdling bays of
bloodhounds and the means OF dying
such beginnings and with such an origin
have had and have their God-given mis-
sion to fulfil.
II hear on various occasions politicians
asking us to stick to your party-be loyaI
But 1 say this, Stick to your principles
and let men and parties CO. provided they
,u do not let com come W up to to the standard Of the
principles that have become part OF
your inner life and are not tuned in ac-
nature I know that you have principles
that that I have principles that are of such
# he he is not in harmony with themEprin:
ciples that have become a part Of my
inner life, developed during years o.
Tacking saef pai may cost worry
sorrow to stick to them. 1t may not be
policy to uphold them. Principles, gentle.
viii strive to live his life truly amidst 6
struggling, suffering humanity, We .ough
to learn and understand that with al
tend to do but what the true qualities O.
their nature compel them to do that de-
termines their careers. 1t will cost then
sea.11 serve rig righteousness in this world and no
abraham Lincoln was a man Of prin
ePS tane and o ne bs his
was covered sometimes with darkness ant
despair When something great is to b
me% to do the faa task 'a When Slavery
to be destroyed in these United States
God called upon Garrison, Lovejoy ant
Wendell Phillips put above we al IN ne .tcane, cane,
hands and bony feet, a big nose and