Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1908-09-30
state oncials who have served the public.
aaos o..a. ..s n..,.

Good Roads and Drainage.
:. Another great avenue Of Democratic
"extravaganee" during the past four
roads and state drainage. For the cause
OF good roads, the legislature Of 1905 cre-
ated state highway commission, ap-
po iat;s 6y the o governor, with an appro-
expenses Of the engineer and assistants,
and authorized O. tax levy of one-twen-
tieth of mill on the total state valua-
fund. The session of 1907 made a direct
appropriation of 100000 for roads and
bridges in the eighty-fiv counties, besides
providing for more effective co-opera-
tion between the counties and the state
highway commission for the development
of state system of good roads. II this
Is extravagance, then say let US have
the finest highway systems In America.
There is no more effective means OF de-
velopment of the industries and trade OF
a., community than by building good roads.
The greatest beneficiary of all is the
farmer If it costs the farmer six cents
to eight cents per bushel as estimated,
to haul his grain from the farm to the
elevator, good road system which would
reduce this cost merely two cents on
Minnesota's grain and potato crop of $780,
100000 bushels, would be worth to Min
nesota farmers 100000 year In the
lace OF such proposition it will take
more than a partisan cry Of "extrava-
gance." to block the liberal support of
system OF 1irst-class public highways in
Minnesota.
An even greater channel Of public devel-
opment, or democratic extravaganza"
as you may please to term it, during the
past four years, is that Of drainage. The
state drainage engineer estimates that
during the two years. 1907'and 1908, alone.
the aggregate expenditure for drainage
will reach $450,G57.G3. But this does not
all come out of the state treasury. BY
the amendments in the state drainage
laws of the last session, private parties
and railroad companies pay as benefits
upon abutting property, as estimated by
total, or s265, 425, leaving $1s5,2s2 as tho
expenditure of the state. The total ditch
construction of the two years will reach
the vast aggregate of nearly $500. 900
miles Of bitches. compared with 269 miles
in all former years. As result Of the
two years. work, $4,000 acres Of land
poses. Over half Of this, Or III 400 acres,
Is owned by the state. At an average
benefit of only $500 per acre, the aggre-
gate benefit to the state of Minnesota on
suit of an expenditure of 1856, OO0 The
drainage expenditure of the two years
therefore yields the state a net profit Of
table channel Of public "extravagance"
nay. rather, sound public investment.
than this, for state owning millions Of
acres of swamp lands in its great north
ern counties?
The state drainage commission consists
of the governor auditor and secretary Of
state; 1t is therefore, as at present COM
posed, non-partisan, or, as my worthy
opponent would term it. made up on the
basis of "divided responsibility" Does
this account for the largely increased
drainage expenditures of the: past two
years? Prior to 1907 the total drainage
expenditures under the commission were
only $16O.0OO, and added to $751;. 900 by tho
original Red River Valley drainage com.
drainage improvements in the previous
history Of Minnesota, as compared will,
the $450,000 of drainage Improvements Of
the past two years. At the same time
reclaimed, compared with 177.00O in the
past two years. 1t is now up to you. the
taxpayers and beneticiaries of this great
whether or not this stewardship of ''di-
vided responsibility" which brings to tho
state $751;, 200 benefit at an expenditure OF
$1S5,Oc0, is good and should be perpetuated
without interruption during the next two
years.
In concluding this important summary
of my stewardship, let me touch upon
ereign directors and stockholders in this
great institution, one Of the greatest on
earth-the state Of Minnesota: Are you
ntoe IN IL as e no
good. or as q political institution for the
benefit OF a party organization? Certain
y. your foremost and exclusive thought
is the general public good. At the Same
time, it is true, the party organizations
may serve good purpose. But what is
that purpose? That purpose is publicity,
Political competition and rivalry gives the
publicity which you require as directors
h nta abaas snd il s sE an Insight hs
checks upon abuses. Thus in 1904 you
called a check upon the dominant control
by placing a Democratic governor in tho
r l!1i and yn9 %1of <,vy ~,
You followed the experiment first tried
with such marked success in 1898 when
YOU interrupted the dominant political
Lind. now president Of the board OF re-
gents of your state university. The sue
cess and wisdom Of these three expert
ments Is the principal question now be-
Have the results been satisfactory to
you as sovereign directors Of your great
corporation?
When has the state made greater prog
ress enjoyed greater general prosperity,
achieved greater public reform. protected
more securely it's great timber, mineral
invested funds more wisely and pro-
ductiyely for the general development.
and done more to build up its great edu-
cational and charitable institutions, as
we'll as win honor and credit at home and
throughout the nation in greater degree,
than during the three biennial periods in
responsibility" and a check upon party
domination? Even the gross earnings
tax, measure ne which my worthy opponent
with success at the time. was introduced
when there was a Democratic governor.
John Lind. who recommended and de-
nandeq this reform with all the power
of his logic and wisdom as embodied in
his message to a Republican legislature.
Every reform in the direction of railroad
rate reduction and regulation. that has
been achieved through legislation and tho
state railroad and warehouse commits
sion, has come when there was a
official in the capitol. every Republican
department. even the Republican lesisla-
ture. have done better work, produced
the ground to hear the voice Of public
sentiment, when there was Democratic
governor to call them to account or sound
such condition to continue, or do you
choose, to throw the government back
upon the old regime of domination by
party interest. without the executive
the past four years? You are the owners
and stockholders in this great Democratic
institution--the State. 1t is up to you.
Observation-Disclosures.
the Stewardship which you have
established during the past four
years? Do you regard it as bet
t Sv thar 1sxs wsst S you key to get
!. you want the present administra-
tive policies, protection Of the pub
lie timber and mineral resources,
support of public institutions, de-
veiopment of public highways and
drainaqe, extension Of Irvine and
Of railroad rates, strict examira-
ton Of public and corporation
accounts, efficient regulation of In
surance and banking, protection
Of labor and health, promotion OF
the states great agricultural indus
try, production of revenue bv Justly