The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1910-10-07

of studied concealment The ambigu.
ity in the Democratic platform is ex
planned by the attitude of the Demo
cratic members of the state senate. At
the last session. Senator Clague. as
chairman of the committee on reap
portionment. on March 26. 1909, intro
duced S. F. ia. for new apportion-
ment. On a roll call every Democratic
senator present, eighteen, voted
against reapportionment. Had they
voted in favor of the bill, it would
have passed and the state would now
have fair legislative apportionment.
l find no fault with these senators for
voting their convictions on this or any
bill. but the fact is that they were op-
posed to the bill and presumably had
something to do with the framing of
the Democratic platform. My oppo.
nent intimates that the failure of re-
apportionment at the last session is
chargeable to the Republicans. The
record shows the contrary to be true.
Primary Law.
under the present primary law many
the Republican state platform:
at has become notorious that the
great expense attendant upon primary
election practically precludes men of
moderate means from becoming can
didates for important offices, and it
has become a common thing for vot-
ers to vote for and help to secure the
nomination of men of opposite pollti-
cal faith, for whom they do not intend
to vote at the election, and we de-
clare that legislation is imperatively
needed that will reduce the expeLse
of conducting a primary campaign and
to prevent voters from aiding in the
nomination of candidates that they
are seeking to defeat"
l am strongly in favor of amending
the primary system of nomination in
accordance with the platform. and
also heartily favor the election Of
United States senators by popular
vote.
The Problem of Transportation.
One of the most important prob
lens before the people of the state is
that of transportation. The Demo
cratic platform is absolutely silent on
that vital question. On the other
hal the Republican party has placed
itself on record with reference to the
regulation and control of railway, tel
egraph and telephone companies in
the clearest and strongest terms. I
quote from the platform:
1--WE assert the right of national and
state regulation and control over all
| transportation companies, whether of
| the people, commodities or messages;
| declare that all such companies are
entitled to charge rates that will yield
a fair profit on actual investment,
meeting all actual expenses, including
liberal wages for all employees, provide
| for deterioration, lay by a reasonable
sinking fund and no more, and that
the nation and state, each within its
| respective jurisdiction, should see that
| such rates are maintained and that no
discrimination Is allowed to be prac-
| ticed between individuals and locali-
ties"
Upon that plank of the platform l
stand without reservation and through
| the legal department of the state
shall exert every effort to guard the
| interests of the people in all the so
| called Minnesota rate cases now pend.
| ing before the courts.
Legislative Record.
Referring to the recent legislatures
the Democratic platform accuses them
of being:
"Debauched by aggressions of mo-
nopolistic and lawless wealth"
concerning those same legislatures
| Governor Johnson made this signifi-
cant statement in his keynote speech
| at Montevideo two years ago; and /
quote it here, because want to add
my hearty endorsement to it:
mo legislature in the history Of
! Minnesota has enacted into law as
many vital reforms or placed upon the
statute books as many important
| measures of constructive statesman
ship as the legislatures Of 1905 and
1907"
Knowing the work of the last legis-
lature it is safe to conclude that had
Governor Johnson spoken today he
would have included the legislature OF
1909.
Good Roads.
One of the most important problems
to which it has been my privilege to
| devote considerable time and atten-
| ton is that of good roads. After Sc
curing the passage of the Highway
| Commission Act" in 1905, immedi.
ately set out to interest the people Of
the state in the appropriation of nee
essary funds. Through the efforts of
the press generally, good roads asso-
Citations, leading men, such as Hon.
R. G. Dunn, and others, together with
the commission itself, there has arisen
such an interest all over the state
| that will recommend, in accordance
with the Republican platform, that
| the next legislature authorize the sub
mission to the people Of 1-mill state
road tax. 1t should also raise the pres
| ent levy to the authorized limit of one
| fourth mill and amply increase the au
| thority of the commission so that road
construction throughout the state
could be properly supervised and i'm
proved. The state can make no better
| investment than the extension of aid
| in the supervision and construction
of good public highways, not merely
| from a purely economic standpoint,
but because it is essential in the
proper development of rural schools
Labor.