The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1908-10-23


"Shall the people ruler" 1t had been
answered from that platform by re-
publicans who said ''The people have
always, do now, and always will rule"
Evidence of the truth of this reply was
given at the last republican state con-
vention when the voice of the people
had been heard. 1t was Il voice so
strong and determined that Jacob f.
jacobson has been nominated the re-
publican candidate for governor OF Min
nesota by accamation. Other aspir-
ants withdrew before the opening of
the convention This man so highly
honored by the people would now ad-
dress the audience.
Mr. jacobson apologized for the con-
dition of his voice after the strenuous
campaign he had been making He said
he made eight speeches yesterday and
it was becoming difficult for him to
speak in large hall or in the open air
He would therefore be compelled to be
I brief and to confine his remarks to a
frank discussion of his past record
that they might Judge the kind of a
man he is.
His Fight for the Farmer
In the beginning, Mr.. jacobson refer
red to the fights for the interests
and welfare of the farmer, and these
against the railroads which he led. He
first mentioned the free market bill
which he introduced in the legisla-
| ture in the session of 1893 and which
was one of the first reforms accom-
| plished in the state. This measure
abolished the monopoly in grain deal
ing and provided for competition IN
elevators. 1t has reduced the margin
! against the farmers in grain sales from
| five to ten cents down to two and three
cents, whereas before its passage, the
grain business was in the hands of a
few elevator companies favored by the
railroads and the farmer had to sell
| to them or not at ALL The bill
! gave any citizens the right to condemn
! railroad track frontage for the purpose
of erecting an elevator, and now the
business is open to anyone. CompS-
tition has sprung up and brought the
MARGIN down to a reasonable and fair
basis. At that time were few If any
elevators controlled by farmers or IN
dependents, but now there are in Min
nesota more than seven hundred eleva-
tors owned and operated by the farmers
! themselves.
The "Y" Bill Discussed.
The ''Y'' bill, compelling railroads to
handle business in common, trans
shipping loaded cars without break
ing bulk and to give through rate
instead of two high local rates, was
next taken up. Mr. Jacobson was the
author and champion of the bill
and fought for it through legislature
i and courts to victory in the United
I States supreme court.
The bill accomplishing the rebate
in the form known as the midnight
tariff" whereby, railroads to favor a
Big shipper, made and published in an
, obscure manner lower rate, and over
nisht, as it were, after the big ship
, pen had his stuff loaded, jumped the
rate back to the original price, thus
discriminating against the small ship
9 pers, was the next law Mr.. jacobson
discussed Minnesota was the tirs,
| state in the union to establish the
l principals contained in the "Y' ane
S midnight tariff" anti-rebate bill, ano
Q both ale now incorporated bodily il
a the Unhed States laws and the statutes
e of nearly every state. Minnesota lee
S the entiie nation in this advanced leg
e islation, which was brought about
g chiefly through Jacob F. Jacobson.
e The Timber Thief.
The next topic Mr.. Jacobson took III
It was the timber trespass law, framed
J. by commission of which he was ;
n member and providing not only TO
Y trebel damages upon conviction but als'
Il for the criminal prosecution and i'm
d prisonment of the offender. He declared
in ringing terms that the only trouble
with this law was that it has neve
/ been properly enforced, especially as t.
s. the criminal prosecution part. He declare,
lie that if le is elected governor he woul'