The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1910-03-31
LEE IS NO. ERZlEMER

LEE IS NO 1RIlEl1LER.
In letter from Hot Springs, Ark,
to the Minneapolis Journal, Hon.
VIM. E. Lee Of Long Prairie, comes
out squarely in favor of county
option. While we cannot agree with
all of Mr.. Lees conclusions, in the
main the allegations contained in his
letter are incontrovertible The
strong and unequivocal position Mr..
Lee has taken may result in the
county option element of the republic
can party centering upon him as their
candidate for governor in the republic
can state convention, and in that event
the support he would receive would
not be confined to the county option
lists, for he is clean and able man of
good business ability, with large ex-
perience in public affairs, and would
make an ideal chief executive.
Annexed hereto is Mr.. Lees letter
as it appeared in the Journal.
eliot Springs, Ark, March 81, 1910.
upon my arrival here from Cuba,
I received some newspaper clippings
Indicating that have been misunder-
stood on the county option question
by some and misrepresented by
others. I would have no uncertainty
as to my personal views on this or
any other public question, therefore
ask the use of your columns to make
this statement:
"F'or some years the large brewers
and the saloon organization of the
state have taken an active part in
politics, and things have reached that
pass where no public question can be
decided upon it's merits. Every
question coming up for solution must
reckon with this organization. Legis-
lation has become largely log-roll-
ing contest, and the making of laws
has been reduced to question of two
or three large interests combining
together, one of which is always the
saloon interests. -
"The large city brewers have
pushed their business into every nook
and corner of the state that gives
promise of profit above the cost of
bartender. The politics of the state is
part of it's business, and every man
who aspires to Office must figure with
this organization or have it's powerful
opposition.
ITO a great many this condition
has become intolerable and they de-
sire to know whether the saloons or
the people are running the govern
ment, and have decided upon the
county option question as test.
"Personally I do not believe any of
the several important public questions
can be settled, or needed legislation
OF any kind enacted, strictly on its
merits, until the saloon question is
disposed Of This organization was
the largest factor in determining the
results in the last three elections, and
has more strength in our legislature
than any other single interest. I
therefore regard the county option
question as the most important in the
coming campaign. Upon it's determi-
nation hangs the question of whether
the party can elect it's candidate for
governor and what laws the next and
succeeding legislatures will be
permitted to enact.
II helped enact the high-license
law, believing it would, with it's local
option feature, safeguard the public
interests. have been disappointed
and am now ready to try county
option.
II trust I have made it clear that I
favor county option and believe it to
be the paramount issue in this cam
palgn. Yours sincerely,
-"Wm. E. Lee.n