The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1908-08-28
He Is the Man Who Succeeded in
Getting Though the Legisla-
ture the Gross Earnings
Tax Law.
His Earnest Efforts in Behalf Of
the Farmers of the North
Star State; FightAgainst
Elevator Concerns.


He came to Minnesota and located
presumption claim in Cerro Gordo
township, Lac qui Parle county, in
1871, and after residing ON the same
the requisite time to prove up he
moved into the village of Lac qui
Parle, and engaged in the business of
selling farm implements, which he has
continued there and at Madison ever
since
In 1872 he was elected auditor of
Lac qni Parle county, and held the
office for three terms, declining re-
election.
He was first elected to the ,legisla-
ture in 1888, declining denomination
in 1890. He became candidate for
the house in 1892, serving for five
continuous terms.
In 1905, responding to a popular de-
mand, he became candidate for gov
ernor and led all other candidates on
the first, second and third ballots as
the Duluth convention, but was defeat
ed by q combination of the field
against him on the fourth.
In 1908, at the earnest request of
his friends, in every part of the state,
he again became candidate for gov
emor, and without effort on his part,
establishing any headquarters, perfect
ing any organization or the expendi-
ture Of money, purely on his own
merits and the strength of his official
record, his candidacy assumed such a
commanding supremacy, that when the
convention assembled all the other can
didates withdrew and he was nomi-
mated by reclamation.
Mr.. Jacobson has been engaged in
the business of selling farm nipple
ments in Lac qui Parle county for
thirty seven years. He possesses and
enjoys the entire confidence of his
customers, his reputation for business
integrity is unquestioned and his rat
ling by the commercial houses and the
public is of the highest character.
His home life is ideal. He delights
in the society of his friends and neigh
bors. He is simple in his tastes,
strictly temperate in his habits, pos
sesses a keen sense of humor, and is
noted for his kind and courteous treat
ment of all he comes in contact with,
regardless of their station in life. He
is very fond of outdoor life and all
athletic sports and is an expert hunt
er and fisherman. He attributes his
perfect physical health to his constant
indulgence in these pastimes.
During a long public career Mr.. Jac-
OLSON has always stood as the recog
nized champion of the peoples rights;
n pioneer advocate of advanced legis-
lation, bitter opponent of every
form of corruption and fearless and
aggressive leader in all legislation
tending toward Justice and morality.
From his first entrance into the leg
islature he forcibly impressed upon his
colleagues his capacity for public af-
fairs and his qualifications for lead
ership, but it was during his second
term that he achieved the greatest tri-
Hnph of his legislative career in the
introduction and PASSAGE in spite of
the most bitter and determined OPP
position, of what is. known as the
open market law.
Prior to the passage of this law the
railroad companies leased the elevator
privileges, along their rights of way,
to one or more of the large elevator
companies, and it was impossible for
other parties to obtain permits, to erect
elevators or warehouses thereon. Con-
sequently the grain buying business
passed almost entirely into the hands
of monopoly, and stupendous fortunes
were accumulated at the expense of
the grain producers. This bill permits
any one to go in upon the right of
way and erect an elevator or ware
house, and if the railroad company re-
fuses to grant site for such purpose
the same can be secured by process of
condemnation. 1t also makes all insti-
tutions buying grain "public ware
houses" and subject to state inspection
Prior to the passage of this law The
margin upon which grain was bought
layeraged from to 8 cents upon oats
and barley, I to 10 cents upon wheat
and ,eorn, and from II to 20 cents
upon fax, but as result of the in
dependent competition brought about
by its passage this margin dropped to
an average of two cents per bushel
and an annual saving of from 3d.
! 100000 to 100000 was secured to
1.-THE farmers and consumers Of this