Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1907-02-23
ANXIOUS TO BE INVESTIGATED
The Railroad the Shippers Association Meets
With Complete Approval.


BY LYNN f1AlNES,
Things do not often happen thai
way. There was fight to finish, nc
compromise and yet both sides were
, pleased with the result. We refer to
the spectacular Peterson attack on the
Minnesota Shippers and Receivers AS
sociation.
The Hon. S. D. Peterson, of New
Him. has been before the Legislative
fiootlights continuously for nearly
decade. During portion of this I'M
portant period his record has not been
particularly pleasing to all con-
cerned. It was owing to this fact
that the Shippers Association palo
some slight attention to the campaign
in his district last fall, knowing well
f, that a certificate of election in his
hands would be very likely to render
reform one vote more difficult OF ac-
comnlishment. 1t was in remem-
hrance thereof that this representa-
tive mothered resolution calling Tor
a committee to investigate into the
character and methods of this organ
ization.
The House was quick to note the
rarsonal motive of Mr.. Peterson and
the few scattering individuals, who
like him, object to publicity, yet the
common membership had reasons for
sshumoring'' the disgruntled minority
on this occasion. 1t had been quietly
tipped off that the Shippers Asso-
ciation would like nothing better than
an investigation and Mr.. Peterson
was visibly surprised at the practlcal
unanimitv with which his personal
desire for revenge was approved.
Mr., Peterson's position was pecu-
liarly embarrassing before. The fact
that he was leading an attack upon
the Shippers Association invited at
tention to the fact that he had been
attacked by them and that fact in
stantly suggested, to everyone Ia
miliar with conditions, that very like
ly there were good reasons why he
had been pointed to as man who
would produce discord in the move
mea,t for reform. And then matters
were made naach worse for Mr.. Peter
som WREN ElEaer il. Adams, one of the
House insurgents, took the hoor and
after eulogizdng the president OF the
association, who lives in Fergus Falls,
explained something of tareir methods
and declared that this organization
would warmly welcome the inq1isitors
and would meet them more than half
wav. This settled MIR. Peberson's
ssvictory" and there was To dissent
save from "a few who felt that the
House might as we'll spend it's time
peering into Ladies Aid societies as to
waste it's costly hours investigating as
wholesome an institUbion as the Ship
pers Association.
It may be we'll to reiterate that the
Shippers and Receivers Association lis
an organization composed largely of a
superior class of co3mtry business men
from all over the state. One of their
objects is ITO aid in tine securing of the
enactment of laws which will result in
halter cn.s,rnercias vsondlIl0ns. tIhelr
activity in legislative elections and
subsequently in the work of the Segis-
;lature itselfdis therefore perfectly le-
sgitimate and Every .coGnmendable. 1T
lis not going Soo far and we make the
assertion without fear of successful
contradiction, that no measure of rail-
road reform Wanld Ibe possible at the
present session had it not been tor the
systematic work ofthis association be-
fore and after election.
This Atheforen and also "after" ae-
tivity of the Shippers Association is
strikingly illustrated in the condition
of things out of which this Peterson
resolution is said to have had it's ORR
gin. This resolution is supposedly the
the offspring of q peculiar alliance it
might alaost be said to be matri-
monial venture in view of the fact
that this political progeny resulted
therefrom. The paternal RESPONSE
bility for the investigation" may be