Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1910-10-05

t,
call from the people. His administra-
ton was able, conscientious and in
some ways fearless. His promotion to
the office of senator before he had
completed his work thrust the admin
istration back into the soggy condition
from which it had arisen Governor
Van SAINT was elected on no definite
theory Of reform. He had, by party
activity and party service, at least
earned the nomination and got it. But
Governor Van SAINT had an opportunity
and rose to it. He denounced the mer-
ger of the parallel lines of the Great
Northern and Northern Pacific and
by his stand smashed the Northern
Securities Company. 1t was flash OF
light upon the railroad problem but
1t was after all but flame caught from
the spark struck off by the previous
administration of John Lind, who put
stop to an attempted similar merger
of the ST. Paul & Duluth and East
ern Minnesota. With these exceptions,
| claim that bread, constructive work
for the people began with the admin
istration Of John Lind, who was elected
in 1898, and has been continued to this
day, nearly all Of the time under Dem
ocratic executives, and must continue
If Minnesota is to have place along
side of Wisconsin, Iowa, Kansas and
Nebraska, where the rights Of the peo-
pie have been restored rather than
to fall back in the class of New Hamp-
shire, Vermont and other states which
have never awakened to the problems
at their doors.
Six years ago, in pursuance of this
forward policy, the people of Mime.
sofa chose John A. Johnson governor
Two years later they reelected him
as an endorsement of his administers
ton. Two years later still, though
Governor Johnson protested against
the third term idea, they fairly drove
him into office to continue the work
which he had so we'll begun. No such
contingency as the death Of the
Governor in office was contemplated
by the people nor provided against in
their votes. 1t seldom happens that
the people do SO provide. In our
national politics there have been re-
peated efforts to obtain a symmet.
rical ticket, to name for vice-presidem
a man who could take the reins in
case of the presidents removal and
carry forward his work. They usually
have failed and some man has been
nominated for vice-president who could
carry his state. There have been ex-
ceptions of course The Democratic
standard bearers in 1888 were Cleye
land and Thurman, a ticket big at
both ends. The Republicans had in
1884, Blaine and Logan, balanced
ticket; in 1900, Mckinley and Roose,
welt, a remarkable conjunction of cool
sagacity and fiery impetuosity, tick,
ct, the election of which and the de.
mise of Mckinley was fraught with
the most momentous results. Without
disparagement of Mr.. Mckinley, it
must be said that the succession OF
Roosevelt was providential. 1t marked
the definite breaking away from the
old time politics of government of the
trusts, by the trusts, and for the
trusts, back to government of the peO-
pie. Roosevelt restored the rights of
the people. The revolution which he
began has gone so far that l am per
suaded that neither height nor depth
nor any other creature" shall ever
again separate the people of America
from those rights.
The line of bosses which threatened
to stretch out like Banquos descen.
dants Ito the crack Of DOOM has
been broken. The men who substitute.
ed the previous questions for the open