The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1910-03-03
THE OPIIONISIS
Public Is watching the Coaven-
ton in st. Paul
WILL BE INTERESTING
Bemidji Convention Made Demand
for Coed Roads and Bob Dunn
Got Some Advertising
st. Paul Special to The Herald. Mar

Got Some Advertising
st. Paul Special to The Herald. Mar. 1
Public interest, as far as the politi-
cal situation is concerned is centered
this week on the county option con-
yention. Whatever action it takes,
or whatever attitude it assumes, the
prospects of the Republican success
are in some measure bound up in it.
Essentially it is movement within
the Republican party. In the absence
of any other oyershadowing issue
voters are sure to be influenced more
or less by the attitude of candidates
towards county option.
A suggestion is made this week by
Il. A. Nelson of Hallock. Mr.. Nelson
is an organization Republican, and
may have been inspired to hold out
this small olive branch. He would
eliminate county option as disturb
ing element within the party by put
ting the question up to the people in
the form of constitutional amend
ment, and his suggestion appears to
be that the Republican convention
take the initiative.
:, This question. will keep on coming
up until it is settled decisiyely one
one way or the other" said Mr..
Nelson. ..If the next legislature
should pass a county option bill, the
session after might repeal it and the
next one again pass it. AT any rate,
it would always be a trouble maker
for the politicians. But if the Re-
publican state convention should
adopt plank so that it would be
thoroughly understood that the
county option matter would be sub
mitted to the voters in the form of
constitutional amendment at the next
election, the question would be taken
out of politics and would not be con-
fused with other issues. The county
optionists have always claimed that
if the question came to straight
vote without being obscured with
other matters they would win. If it
is true that a majority of the people
of the state want county option, they
ought to have it. On the other hand,
if the vote should 60 against them,
they could not say that they had not
had show. / think the majority
should rule in all matters, and this
plan would give the people a chance
to say whether they want county OPP
ton"
i anticipate that the friends of
county option will regard this as a de-
vice to sidetrack the movement. 1t
will be nearly three years before the
people can be given chance to vote
on constitutional amendment. The
friends of temperance are impatient
of delay. They believe that they can
control the next legislature. With a
man in the governors chair in SYM
patlly with the movement or one who
on behalf of the Republican party
would make county option appear an
issue at the polls, they have no doubt
they could. That is what they are
aiming at, and it is doubtful if they
will be satisfied with anything else.
At all events all candidates recog-
nize that the county option move
ment must be reckoned with in the
coming campaign. 1t is giving the
candidates for lieutenant governor as
much concern as anybody. People
are beginning to appreciate that the
control of the senate is essential to
constructive legislation, and that to
secure that control its presiding
officer must be in sympathy with the
the change desired. Nine times out
of ten minority in the senate with
the presiding officer ON their side
makes majority. The obstacles he
can put in the way of legislation are
without end. By manipulating COM
mittee assignments he can give his
friends and the interests he favors an
undue influence. Unless the measure
introduced have the support and SYM
pathy of the chairman of the commit
tees to whom they are referred, their
road is always rocky. Whatever they
may ultimately decide to do about the
candidate for governor the friends Of
county option win make make de-
termined effort to secure the non1ina-
ton of candidate for lieutenant