Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1907-05-18


tions," Duluth and Other Delus
Railroad Values
Politics is largely confidence game.
Political success means that candi-
date possesses real ability and real re-
liability, or else that he is able to de-
-ceive the public into the belief that
these qualities enter into his character.
This deception has become too COM
mon. The man who now wins Min
nesota majorities is too often a cor
ruptionist. rather than a patriot. This
fact is my excuse for an attempt to
acauaint a portion of the people with
actual political conditions in the North
Star state today.
: The late legislature illustrates both
the wholesome and the deplorable
tendencies in politics. Its member
ship included men whom I learned to
J admire for their simple honesty and
consistent, conscientious service to
the state. Both branches also con-
tanned men whose legislative lives
were one long elaborated lie. To the
first class these articles are dedicated;
they will be devoted to the other.
During the decade there has been no
issue before the public which did not
exemplify some phase of the conflict
between the classes and the masses.
There is nothing else to politics today.
The vested interest are fighting to gain
and maintain commercial advantage
over the rank and file. The people
are simply seeking square deal. Our
national congress, every state legis-
lature and every large municipal coun-
Gil is a battle-ground in this way for
supremacy on one hand, and equality
of power and privilege on the other.
With popular government public
oninion must be the final court OF ap-
peal, The state of sentiment must
determine how far and how long any
iniustice can continue. Realizing this,
and knowing full we'll that the public
must be sseducated" along lines of
ignorance concerning commercial and
political tendencies, the corporations
,are now engaged in gigantic cam"
paign of Misrepresentation Without
an exception every daily newspaper
in Minneapolis, St. Paul and Duluth is
subsidized by some special interest.
These corporation controlled organs
are the instruments of misrepresenta-
sions, With circulations reaching into
thousands of homes in every section
of the state, with columns bulging
with utainted news" and editorials in
tended to hide or distort the truth,
these great dailies misdirect the public
mind and dull the public conscience.
Perhaps the most far reaching evil
effect of this system is the fact that it
gives the people misconception OF
prominent public men. To illustrate
the press has at different times inn
piled that such a professional polite
ian asR RI. Wells of Breckenridge was
a man of commanding consequence
and influential in the interest OF the
people. "Reciprocal Demurrage"
Nolan is also enormously estimated
bv some. as the result of this daily
paper "education." Many other SINH
lar instances might be mentioned. In
pursuance of this policy, the best
friends of the people are often stamped
with the trust brand, in order to kill
them off. The natural consequence
of this corporation course is to enable
them to fool the public into the selec-
ton of the very class of officials who
will be found wanting, in their loyalty
to the people.
Another serious obstacle to clearer
public understanding of legislative
condition is the unwritten law OF
courtesy to colleagues. Members uni
versally protect each other from ex-
posure, not with any intention of
confounding corruption or the lesser
evils associated with lawmaking, but
because senatorial courtesy seems to
demand A. general exchange of kindly
consideration. Let a member make
some move which all his colleagues
know is prompted by some selfish
motive, even by graft, and no repre-
sentative, no matter how honest and
patriotic he may be, feels that he has
any right to say plainly on the floor
-.s IIo.,So z,rhat ha kna1x1s t1, hc