The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-07-29
Tempest of Feeling Aroused
In Minnesota Democratic
Convention
COUNTY OPTION PLANK
IS FLATLY REJECTED
Convention Divides Itself Into TIVE
Factions Owing to the Repeated
Refusal of Lind to Accept
the Nomination

Minneapolis, July 2s.-Democratic storm
signals which We're flying when the state
democratic convention met here today
were torn to shreds by the tempest of
| feeling which was let loose late this af-
ternoon over the nomination of John
Lind for governor and the attempt to
Introduce a direct resolution in the party
platform favorng county option
| For more than three hours there was
no let up to the scene of disorder except
| for a few moments when Chairman
Michael DAILY managed to mike himself
heard after terrific pounding with piece
of 2x4 scantlin which he used as
| gavel
The ticket named follows:
Governor-John Lind.
Lieutenant Governor-M. C. Tiff OF
Long Prairie.
secretary-Frederick w. johnson OF
| New Ulm.
Attorney General-J. M. Freeman Of
Olive.
State Auditor-L J. Meaghan of Al
berta Lea.
| Clerk of the Supreme Court-Frederick
E. Wheaton, Minneapolis.
State Treasurer-Charles F. Larner of
| St. Cloud.
| Railroad and Worehouse Commissioner
James c. Tracy of Rochester.
| Justices of the Supreme Court. j.
OBrien of st. Paul. A H. Snow Of
winona, Phillip e. Brown of I.uverne,
I zH.
Mutterings of Trouble
Mutterings of trouble were heard early
in the day and an unusual condition ex-
listed.
The entire convention was unit in
declaring that John Lind was one of
| the best democrats in Minnesota. They
we're all his friends. They divided into
factions early. one declaring that Lind
must be nominated despite his repeated
refusal to be a candidate for the nomin-
alton and his final flat declination in a
| telegram from Portland, Ore. The other
| faction declared that John Lind had been
governor of Minnesota and had nothing
| to gain by the nomination and that he
was of sufficient Importance to have his
wishes needed by the convention. The
| latter factions leaders argued the sub
ject vigorously with the other side.
Hows arose and completely blocked the
proceedings until by sheer force of noise
and enthusiasm dying out the tumult
ceased.
| The nomination of prime Importance
once out of the way the minor nomina-
tions were quickly disposed of by votes
of acclamation.
| On the matter of resolutions there was
no contention except for a plank on
county option. The committee on reso-
| lutions heard the resolution offered by
the county optionists and then voted
them down. plank declaring for tho
initiative and referendum which the
committee declared would answer tho
| same purpose was inserted.
On national issues the platform says:
I'VE deplore the weakness and timidity
of President Taft. who with his own
| campaign promises still fresh but domi-
mated by the predatory interests, weakly
refused to use the tremendous forces OF
his high office to force a recreant con-
gressional majority to do its duty In Sc
curing tariff reform
mo subsequent effort to fulfill party
promises can atone for all of these mis-
demeanors. We condemn the retention
of Richard A. Ballinger as Secretary of
the Interior after his methods OF con-
Quoting the affairs of that office relating
to conservation, and departmental work
has proven q flat failure"
Hammond's Address
Congressman W. S. Hammond, Tempo
rary chairman of the convention, deliv-
cred the keynote speech.
Ia daDOnppad
Aldrich tariff BILL mentioning specifically
the lead and wool schedules and pro-
nounced the tariff commission a mock
political subterfuge, body purposely
created without power of action. He also
devoted considerable attention to a defi-
milton of Cannonism.
County option and other local issues
were not mentioned.
He said in part: =
THE people of this country have time
and time again decided by substantial
majorities that the present method of
protecting the domestic manufacturer and
producer shall be maintained and, while
many question the wisdom of this kind
of indirect taxation and righteousness ot
imposing burdens upon the many for the
benefit of lesser number, the questions
have become rather academic, and they
abolishment of the system is not seriously
contemplated.
There is a widespread opposition to
excessive rates. making the burdens upon
the consumer greater than they should be.
Because of excessive rates and in
equality of rates the demand for
vision and Encouragement of the sched-
ules must come from the entire country.
and In the last election both prominent
political parties in their platforms prom
ised the people that following the elec-
ton there should be genuine revision
of them. Fearing the Indignation of a
people aroused by the reputation of its
promises to them. the republican organ
ization sought to allay the arising storm
| by providing for the so-called tariff COM
mission. The so-called commission has
| the power to investigate but not the
power to act 1t has the power to study
rates, but not to change them it has the
power to discover defects. but not to rem
| edy them. But 1t Is said to be a step in
| the right direction. 1t is not even that.
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