The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1907-03-22
OPPOSED THE BILL
Objections Raised to Loan
ing States Credit.
LOCAL SENTIMENT STATED
Leading Business Men Of Mankato
Are Agrlnst the Scheme, They
Give Their Reasons.

From Thursdays Daily.
Some little time ago Senator S. d..
Works wrote to a prominent local gen
tleman asking what the sentiment was
in Mankato in regard to the bill lend
ing the states credit to the extent of
one million dollars to the project for
the celebration of the states semi
centennial in the twin cities. This bill
proposes to guaranty any deficiency up
to one million dollars. If the revenue
is sufficient, it will be returned to the
state but if not, it will be paid out.
The Free Press has interviewed some
of the representative business men and
Others on the matter, in order that
the Blue Earth county delegation may
have some knowledge as to the local
sentiment, and the interviews follow:
II. A. Patterson: 81 am agreeable
to spending the money for the inn
provement of the roads, as in that
way it would benefit every section of
the state. Under the proposed bill
there would be too much benefit to
one section"
Mayor Taylor: "The exposition
would be great advertisement for the
state, but whether it would be able to
return the funds advanced by the state
would be a question. L don't think
that the state should advance the
money unless it expects to get the
money back"
George NJ. Palmer: Il am in favor
of the bill. 1t would be much better
to appropriate the money for good
roads, if possible"
F. NJ Currier Il don't think that the
money guaranteed by the state would
be expended, as the receipts would re-
pay the state. 1t will afford an oppor-
tunity for advertising the state that by
all means should be taken advantage
Off
Cen j. III. Baker: SIT is too much
money. 1t will be like throwing money
into a rathole, for it would never be
gotten back. Let Minneapolis and St.
Paul take care of their own glory and
not call on the rest of the state to help
them ont. / do not favor the bill to
appropriate the money for memorial
bridges"
|
of such q bill passing. | would rather
see the money eXpengded for good
roads,"
Thomas Hughes: 81 am opposed to
| it. 1t is a scheme of the twin cities to
have the state build buildings for them
The state ought not to 90 into it. |
| favor a semi-centennial celebration, but
not on the scale proposed, nor with
state assistance. To pass the bill would
be an outrage on the state. l am also
opposed to building the approaches to
the capitol asked for by st. Paul"
Judge Comstock: with the excel
lent management of the state fair asso-
citation, under whose direction and con-
troll l understand that it is proposed to
hold the celebration, the financial sue
cess of the venture would be assured.
The time is very opportune to advertise
the state, on account of the great
amount of travel east and west to the
jamestown and Seattle eXpositions. I'm
der those circumstances there would be
no probability of the state hazarding
anything. The guaranty would be mere
ly temporary. 1t is business PROPOSE
ton to advertise Minnesota, and the OPP
/
1t would be merely guaranty and no
responsibility to the state may ever
exist"
Judge Plymat: "The proposition does
not strike me favorably at all. l can
not see where the state can hope to gain
anything substantial through it. l
would favor devoting the money to Sc
curing good roads or memorial bridges
instead
j. c. Thro: 81 think it would be
good thing and would advertise the
state"
George E. Brett: con many accounts
it would be fine thing, although it
would be more of an advertisement for
the twin cities than any other part of
the state. However, it would be good
thing for the whole state, and | favor
the bill. L think that good part of the
money would be returned to the state"
w. ID. Willard: Il am favorably dis
posed toward the bill. The management
of the state agricultural society has al
ways been good, and | believe it will
work it out and make it big thing.
1t will be a good thing for the state
and the latter may get back its money"
George w. Sugden: Il think that it
would be well to have something of
the kind, as it would be a good thing
for the northwest. There has never
been anything of the kind this side of
Chicago as far as the coast"
John H. Holman: Il am heartily in
favor of the celebration, or anything
else that will show to the world the re-
sources, industry and wealth of the
state. Since the state has the buildings
and grounds, | do not think that a mil
lion dollars would be needed, and would
favor limiting the guaranty to half a
million dollars"
w. l.. HiXon: eff million dollars
was to be given to the twin cities, the
legislature ought to do something for
the country. A million dollars would
do more good if it was appropriated
for good roads than it would if given
to the cities"
John B. Richards: Il wrote to Sen
ator Works my views two weeks ago.
am strongly opposed to the bill, for |
believe it is in the interest of the twin
city merchants, to give them a chance