Morris tribune., 1907-04-27
CONSPICUOUS ON The SIDE OF THE PEOPLE
Thus LYNN Hanes the Work of Representative
Bcknel--Has Fought Needless and Unreasonable
EXPENSE and as Fought for Every Kind of
Property Paying Its Just Taxes
TBy LYNN HAINEs. st. Paul Correspondent

light several statesman upon Whom
the people can depend in the future
Among this class no member Of either
House or Senate has rendered more
consistent and conscientious service
to.the state than Mr.. Bicknel of 57th
district. Mr.. Bicknell is quiet and un-
assuming in all his work and there
has been no sign of the spectacular in
his conduct on any occasion, yet he
has labored as intelligently and as
faithfully for the best interests of his
constituents and the entire state as
any man at the capitol.
The history of the session reveals
much that cannot be commended.
This legislature has been characterize
ed by tendency to extravagant and
profgal expenditure of the peoples
money on one hand and verv care
full regard for all those forms of pro-
perty which have heretofore and do
now escape their just share of the
burden of taxation on the other. The
session has provided for increased
taxation and has at the same time
studiously avoided all of the several
attempts to obtain tax revenue in in-
direct ways from the special interests
and corporations. Mr.. Bicknell has
been conspicuous on the side of the
people thruout these fights. He is
ranked as one of the great economists
of the session, not opposing app1o-
priations promiscuously, but whenever
and wherever bills of that kind would
incur needless and unreasonable ex-
pense upon the public. And he has
been, one of the foremost fighters for
the opposite policy, that of compelling
every kind of property to pay it's just
share of taxes, both directly and in
directly.
Mr.. Bicknell has the unusual dis
tinction Of not having missed a single
morning session. He has never dodg-
ed or ducked an issue and his record
on every question is the record of a
man who has been openly independ-
ent of every influence save that of
right and Justice, as he understood
those qualities. No man has more
'thoroly and completely earned the
respect of all his colleagues than Mr..
BickneN.
The session just closing has been
characterized thruout by conflict
between the representatives of the
people and the servants of the vested
interests. The greatest obstacle which
the corporations have had to over
come in their fight for control of the
legislature has been the fact that
many members had given written
pledges to do certain things which the
people wanted done. Any ordinary
man will stand by pre- election pro
mise made in black and white. That
/. is why the corporations set about tc
secure the passage of law which
would prevent the people from secur'
ing pledges from candidates on any
question likely to be considered by the
law making body.
The corporation effort in this direc-
ton was aimed directly at two reform
influences: CD The Minnesota Ship
pers and Receivers Association, which
has been very active in placing legis'
Alative candidates on record ON railroad
reform measures; and (2> the temper.
ance forces which labored along the
same lines. The results of the session
go to prove that this system of secur'
ing pledges on legislative issues is 8
1aost effective way of obtaining what
the people want. A majority of mem
bers of both bodies were on record al
favoring reciprocal demurrage and
two-cent fare and the railroads were
unable to prevent these reforms
whereas they had practically no diff
Guilty in defeating more important
measures, simply because Legislators
had not given promise in black and
white.
The attempt TO- make unlawful any
and all reform efforts along this line
was made in the senate thru the Hin.
ton bin. In order that tthe public may
: understand just what was contemplat.
ed by this pernicious measure it il
herewith reproduced in full.
A bill for an act to prevent candi-
dates for elective offices pledging
themselves, without the knowledge
of the electors, to favor or oppose
measures and bills and to prevent the