The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1910-03-10
fBfRHART'S IDEAS
What MinneSOta'S Governor Thinks
of County Option
A NON-PARTIZAN MOVE
Statement Read by the States Exc
Cutiye Before the Convention
In St. Paul

In St. Paul
Following is the statement which
| Governor A. o. Eberhart read before
the county option convention, held in
| ST. Paul March:
The county option movement is a
non-partisan movement and every
delegate to this convention is COM
missioned as a non-partisan delegate
have been requested to state to
| this convention what shall be my
position as to county option and
| consequently what in my opinion
should be the position OF the Republi-
can party with reference thereto.
Every fair-minded person will ad-
NIT that my declaration at this time
as to whether shall or shall not ia
vor county option in this state, will
force me to make that declaration
good in the Republican state conven-
tiCn or be eliminated from it's con-
sideration.
1T means that | must use the Of
flee of the chief executive CT this
state to force the republican state
| convention to adopt my view, irres-
pective Of what the majority might
desire. In other words, it would COM
pei me to use the executive depart
ment of this state to attempt to die
tate to the Republican party its posi-
ton on this question, which is Meth
er right nor in keeping with our ideas
Of popular or party government
The forcing of the executive de-
partment of this state into the county
option contest, means even more than
that. Under our constitution, the leg
islative and executive departments are
entirely distinct and Independent, and
any undue interference on the part
Of the chief executive in matters of
legislation, is not only wrong in
principle, but disastrous in results.
~ am well aware that where a po-
litical party has pledged itself to the
enactment of certain reforms, it is
not only permissible, but proper for
the chief executive representing that
party to urge legislative action to
carry out such reforms, but in adj
ance Of any such declaration by a
political party CT by the people at
large, the chief executive has no
right to use the influence of his Of
flee for the purpose of debating leg
islation.
eff my declaration at this time for
OF against county option, does not
mean what | have stated, then it
means merely play to the galleries
for the purpose CT satisfying one side
or the other, position altogether un-
worthy of any one occupying the
highest office in the gift of the peo-
pie.
There is only one consequence
which my entry into the county OPP
ton fight would make certain, and
that is such division within the
ranks of the republican party, as
would rebound solely to the advan-
tage of the opposition. No one has
been able to suggest any benefits to
the county option movement which
my declaration at this -time would
bring about. but, on the other hand,
judging from past experience, it is
safe to assume that it would result
in the division and possible defeat of
a party which has given us all the
temperance legislation now on our
statute books.
Il have given this matter very care
full consideration and sincerely and
earnestly believe that it is my duty
to await and support the platform of
the Republican party, and in case a
county option law is passed by the
legislature while l am governor, it
will receive my approval and togeth-
err with all other laws of the state,
be enforced"