The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1911-01-06
We SALUTE the GOVERNOR.

Therefore, we salute Governor
Eberhart and say hurrah to his mes
sage to the legislature.
If ever northern Minnesota need
ed chief executive to champion her
needs, it is now.
That he is behind US in our just
demands is indicated by the plain
words which he pounded into the not
altogether willing ears of the solons
now doing business at the state cap
itol.
Said the governor:
"Of all the important questions to
be decided by the present Legislature
that of reapportionment will . be
watched with the greatest interest
by the people of the state. Our
government was founded upon the
principle that taxation without re-
presentation is unjust and every step
forward since has been in the defense
of that great principle. Since the
organization of our great state there
never existed greater inequalities as
to representation In some sections
of Minnesota $4,000 people elect a
senator, and in other sections it re-
quires $4,000; in some sections 5000
people elect a representative and in
other sections it requires $4,000.
Section 2, Article w, of our constitu-
ton guarantees to the people fair re-
presentation in the lawmaking bodies
and that guarantee should be suffici-
ent authority for legislative action
at this section. In addition thereto
both political parties have pledged
themselves in the strongest terms
possible to carry the will of the
people into effect as expressed by
their representatives in both conven-
tions and to give the people of the
state fair reapportionment law at
this session. With these conditions
confronting us there cannot possibly
be valid excuse for any member to
oppse the enactment of a law sup
ported by every principle of right
and justice, secured to the people by
the constitution, and definitely
promised by both political parties
through their representatives in con-
vention. Nothing but purely per-
sonal and selfish excuses can be as
signed as reasons for opposition to
this measure. No increase should
be made in the Senate or House OF
representatives, especially the
former.
Preference should be made at this
time to the effects of the forest fire
disaster in Northern Minnesota ant
the necessities for relief of the set
tiers who lost their homes and per
sonal effects in that disaster.
"Theprompt and. generous respons,
of the people of Minnesota to my cal
for relief has so far provided mean
for meeting the temporary needs o
this situation, but I am advised b,
the Red Cross relief committee tina
something in the way of further al,
must be extended to these people.
would therefore urge upon the Legis
lature to consider this matter at a.
early date and extend such relief a
shall be adequate and equitable.
ut is not difficult to anticipat
that there will be considerable op
position to many of the reforms here
in advocated. Be that as it may,
wish to impress on the members Q
the Legislature that my only groun
for urging this reorganization is t
secure greater efficiency in the ad
ministration of state affairs and t
enable the people of the state to bel
ter safeguard their heritage of nat
ural resources -
It strikes us that Governor Ebel
hart is entitled to rousing roun
of applause for that sort of me,
sage 1t is an easy thing for cal
didate for Office to say such thing
on the stump during a political can
paign, but to get up before 12O ha1
headed Legislators sitting in fro,
Of you and United States senator's