Mower County transcript., 1908-03-04


themselves and set ready for their
choice 80 we can elect . Republican
governor this year, and not be humil-s
lated by having the head Of the ticket
cut OF again. The same is true as
to all the rest Of the state of1cers.
Hon. j. A. johnson has been a good
governor but there is no logical rea-
son why Minnesota, the stronghold
Of Republicanism, should elect
Democratic governor. Let the people
wake up now and see to it that their
will and choice is respected.
But the most important thing on
the political arena is, in my opinion,
the selection of a good, loyal and
capable representatives to the Leg
islature of our state. In the session
of 1907, good many important laws
were enacted, and the members
worked diligently. On the average,
i think the last Legislature was COM
posed Of as capable and intelligent
men as Minnesota has ever had in
its legislative halls. There was di-.
verse opinions on great many sub
jects, as there always is. Their work
was human. Nothing is perfect in
this world, and was not destined by
providence to be so, as man was made
to grow and develop in the field Of
human activity. But their work was
we'll done, and we should give credit
when credit is due But there are
many things to be done and amended
in legislation to meet the demand of
our time. AS a common citizen, I
want to lead the attention of the
people of Minnesota to certain vital
and paramount issues that need wise
and careful legislation: In the first
place I will give my views on the
primary election system. Direct
nominations by the people for officers
is reform movement that has come
to stay with the American people,
and is inevitable. 1t should include
all public officials, the state officers
and U. S. Senators not excluded.
This will have to come before very
long, because public sentiment now
demands it everywhere, and the soon
er we adjust ourselves to this system
the better. There are many obstacles
and difficulties to overcome in this
change, BUT WE MUST ADJUST
OURSELVES TO 1T. One of the diff
ficulties is the party lines at the pri-
maries, and the other is to keep up
party organization. The Saugstad
Bill introduced last session was a
very good measure, and I think it
should have been enacted into law,
as that is aboutwhat the people want.
1t provided for the nomination of
elective state officers by primary cleo
tion," and furthermore that the
nominees for state ohicers, for U.
S. Senator, for Congress and for the
Legislature shall meet and formulate
the state platform and select the
state central committee and it's Of
ticers.." AS an outline this would
make an IDEAL SYSTEM, and should
be enacted into law at the earliest
opportunity, but before we can get
it we must elect such men to the
Assembly who will work and vote
for this good and needful reform.
The next question want to lead
the attention of the voters of Minne-
sofa to, is the Agricultural Schools
or County Farm Schools And also
in connection with this the so-called
Rural School Merger" or Central
School Houses in the rural districts.
These questions were discussed quite
a good deal at the last Assembly. A
law was passed last session, known
as H. F. No. $40, granting the estab-
lishment of consolidated rural schools
not to exceed fifty in the state, which
was entitled to state aid under Ger
tain requirements, where the rudi-
mentary elements of agriculture and
domestic science should be taught
beside the other elementary branches
This is good beginning and worthy
of q thorough experiment. In order
to give our rural population an equal
chance and opportunity to obtain an
elementary education on the equality
with the town and city pupils, such
as our time demands, they must have
central schools and have them graded
and employ better teachers than
heretofore, where conditions make it
possible. The only real obstacle to
that system is the transportation of
the pupils; but that can be overcome
by proper adjustment, and it has
given general satisfaction wherever
it has been tried. "A higher and more
technical knowledge of agriculture
i hnrt}c,1 1f11ro animal huchan and