The Irish standard., 1909-01-09
THE GOVERNORS MESSAGE.

| "A. Johnson, OF Minnesota, was indicted
into office last Wednesday. Chief JUS
tice Start administered the oath to
him, and during the ceremony the
members of the legislature and spec
tators arose to their feet and remained
standing until the solemn formality
was over. Immediately thereafter,
Governor johnson read his biennial
message to the assembled solons Of the
state, and though quite lengthy, the
document was listened to with rapt
attention by the members of both
houses. The governor spoke for two
hours in clear, resonant voice, and
was heard distinctly all over the
chamber.
The governor began his message
with a review of the progress made
by Minnesota in half century OF
statehood and produced facts and fig.
ures to show what productive state
Minnesota already is in agriculture.
On this point he said:
Although only one.half of our agri-
cultural land is under cultivation, we
already rank fourth among the states
i'll agricultural production, and our
100000 farmers till nearly $4,000, 900
acres, valued with structures, live
stock and machinery, at 81, OO0, 900, 900,
which yielded the year just closed a
produce worth $250.0O0, 900, or over
500 for each man, woman and child
within our domain. AS the first bread
and butter state in the world, Mime
sofa produces barrel of high-srade
flour and a five.pound jar of gilt-edgod
creamery butter for every American
family and a surplus for export. Our
wheat crop and flour output have led
the world for years, and our farmers
cooperative creamery, today over 800
iii number, with 100000, 000-pound
product, has won more national and
international prize banners and medals
during the past twenty years, than
those of any other state or nation"
The governor next showed how
Minnesota stands as a manufacturing
state, and then referred to it's mineral
resources, saying that the annual ship.
nent of iron ore from the state is
more than half the total output of the
whole world. Now the ore product
is to be manufactured within the Dor.
ders of the state. He gave a glowing
Picture Of the future possibilities of
the state and declared it the duty of
it's legislators to leave no stone I'M
turned to give free scope and we'll
considered aid 10 their development.
He suggested generous aid to the de.
yelopment of Northern Minnesota.
it's public lands, it's timber and mineral
resources and water powers, and con-
cluded as follows:
Finally, gentlemen of the legisla.
ture, we live in and owe allegiance
to one of the greatest commemorative
in the American union, and we ap.
P'odSu Jul lCSpCCLISC uullCS az IuS
period of the states highest develop
inent and prosperity, and therefore
at the period of the states greatest
legislative and executive responsible
ity and opportunity. Whatever may
be our respective personal and politi.
cal affiliations and ideas, our duties
and our purposes, am sure, are one;
namely, the protection and advance
nlent of the highest public interests
of our commonwealth. Elected to our
respective positions by the same peo-
l,le and to serve the one common
cause, our mission here is one and
the same, to give the best service
there is in us to the state as a whole,
as we have sworn to do under the
guidance of our constitution. What.
ever may appear to be our respective
obligations, these obligations are swal.
lowed up and periodically and relig.
iously redeemed in the one duty of
public service to the state of Mime
sofa. There is surely no obligation
to party, class or section, paramount
t" our sworn obligation to the state
as whole. which includes all parties,
classes and sections. When we have
fulfilled our highest duty to the whole.
we have met our obligations to each
part; and, therefore, in our great CO.
operative mission, legislative on your
part and executive on mine, there
should be, and have faith to believe
there are no differences or allure
ments of party, class or section 10
divert us from the great highway Of
public duty-the moral, educational,
financial and industrial development
of our commonwealth. To your every
effort to bring progress and efficiency
to the government of Minnesota,
pledge you my most earnest and hearty
cooperation, just as rely with CONT
dence upon your cooperation with my
department to promote the highest
public interest and welfare"