The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1908-06-19
Jacobson.

contest, the winner of which will
be decided at the state convention
to be held in 81. Paul July 1, is ia
cobson Of Madison. Twice he has
attempted the place on the state
ticket and each time with success
almost in his garsp has seen it lit
orally snatched from him. Once
more he is seeking to be the stand
ard bearer Of his party, and with
the coveted plum again almost in
his reach, to those now watching
the game the question naturally
prompts itself: will the old COM
moner make it. Have the prejudi-
ces Of the past been buried? AL
ways looked upon as a radical
whose every energy was directed at
burdening the statute books with
laws along extreme lines, a will
full distortion of this accepted fact
prejudiced him IN the minds Of
many and it is this prejudice, to-
gether with the maniDulatlons OF
those whom these same laws at
fected, that has been responsible
for his state wide defeats in the past.
Today his enemies are hoping
that this prejudice will again bring
q
sionately viewed, however, Jacob
son S radicalism OF the past is the
conservatism OF today. Like others
of his type he WAS simply ahead Of
his time. What his colleagues in
the legislature of which he was
long memb Der, feared he dared to
do and they and those affected by
the laws which be advocated called
him radical because of the fact.
He was looked upon as rank So
cialist.
AS the chief b>ckor Of the four
per cent gross earnings law, a
measure hich has enriched the
sta e's strong box to the extent of
millions, be was loaded down
with abuse and out Of it grew the
title alarm Clock Jacobson.
He was reg arded as the very per-
sonlhcaton Of populism. The term
radical then was too tame for use in
his case. To advocate the repeal
of the gross earnings tax today
would be to invite examination by
a lunacy cOmission. Two legislat-
ures under pressure Of public senti-
ment have attempted to raise the
figure fixed by the Lac qui Parle
man and only failed by narrow
margin.
In the local board Of control of
the state institutionseewith it's OK
travagance of supplies and waste
OF appropriations the Viking from
Lac qui Parle early saw the neces-
sity of radical change, and out of
his fertile brain grew the present
efficient state board of control. It
meant the divorcing Of the institu-
tons from politics and the dethrone-
ment OF a horde Of pap feeders,
and loud was the cry that went up
in conquence. In the cities and
towns favored with institutions
the growing enmity to Jacobson
kept pace with his popularity in
the country, and the term radical
as applied to him grew in favor.
Today the state board of cotnrol is
an accetped institution, it's worth is
recognized by every tax payer.
F or his share in the great work Mr.
Jacobson was made a member Of
the board, and the so called radical
features of his make up gave place
to the conduct of the states buiness
that was conservatism itself His
city cousins and business men who
had business with him had to admit
that Jake was not as black as he
was painted.
Speaking further Of this so called
radical feature which is now accep
ted conservatism, there is the prlm'
AIRY election law. Jacobson was
one of it's hackers, and as his friends
point out, it had the opposition OF
every machine politician in..the
state. It stands as one Of the best
laws on the statute books today,
and thousands are advocating its
furter extension. The "Y' law
was another of the Lac qui Parle
mans pet measures. The cry that
went uD fir ON the railroads and