Morris tribune., 1912-08-30
CONGDON DEFIEs THE BREWERS.

Agitators politicians, newspaper editors and candi
dates governor have told the people of the state Of
Minnesota that the most pericnious political influence in
the today the political machine maintained by the
brewers and yet the people have only half listened, but
when business of wide experience not seeker for
office, and repued to be very close to of the
interests declares his defiance to the brewery political
trust and publishes that he would rather rest his
with people of the state than to have any alliance
with this political adjunct of the beer business isn't it
about time that the voters took notice
This is not a question which Mr.. Congdon, Mr..
Gordon the of editors who writing about
it 'cranks. but it may appear somewhat cra nky
the average voter because the brewery politicians do
their work in St. Paul and by underhand methods and
so are from the observation of the voter
If the people could only understand what the brew
politicians doing they would make short shift of the
candidates for and members of the legislature
who traffic with them.
But we want to commend every sentence of this let
of Mr. Congdons to readers The letter writ
ten Pioneer Press correct report that Mr. Cong
don and and the brewery interests had formed alliance
Otherwise the letter explains itself and is printed in
full
son my return to Minnesota shown your state
ment based close to the brewery headquart
brewery
interests have reached agreement by which Gordon
support for the gubernatora nomination is to be with
drawn, Representative Knapp is to be defeated
pontionmen to sacrificed and all this is to be done
to prevent a tonnage tax.
'.Never did see so many misstaements packed into
one sentence even when emanating from the brewery
headquarters For two have sat in the Minnesota
Legislature and while accomplished but little learned
much. discovered that, notwithstanding all the camor
about the rule of the interests in Minnesota there is
cfof yUhia oloc
politics one of it's business departments and Minnesota
statutes by-product. There is only commercial
agnzaton which dares to governors and select
Legislators. need not name it. 1t is known to all
''The brewers have the right. as does everyone leg
Ultimately to influence the voters to select officials wht
will regard their business with kindly There is
nothing unlawful in the operation of political machine
for that purpose though is, believe, great mis-
take.
DENOUNCES "MACHINE.'
''Be that as it may the machine exists It's owner
have frequently testified to its efficiency by trutEfu
Boosting that it has elected majority of the legislature
Dominating it does legislative halls it is feare
by all who may be affected by legislation The only fea
it has is the reduction of its profits In order that tn
volume of beer sold may not be reduced it will not
nit laws minimizing roadhouses and prostitution. If it
manipulation of legislation is indicative of its desires,
would make progates of and prostitutes of
daughters in order to enlarge the consumption OF its
1t sCaCe senate
the ownership of saloons, lest if known, there be
diminution of brewers income.
''It will permit the people of Minnesota to seec
their lawmakers according to the constitution, becaus
any reapporonment of the state according to population
will reduce the socaed brewery vote in the Legislature
The result that majority of onethrd the people
the state less than II per cent make the laws fo
all.
''There many. of whom am one, who do nj
believe in determining by statute what shall ea
drink or believe. But the question in Minnesota hi
passed far beyond one of sumptlary legislation. 1t
simply this shall the people or the brewers make tt
laws and rule the state?
APPEAL TO PEOPLE.
''Those who believe that the people. speaking wi
the voice of majority of Them shall alone be ruler
must unite for the destruction of this odous and sham
less political power. When the majority COVER
mental control it permit the brewing of beer by tho
who are willing that should govern ourselves in
cordance with the constitution which have framed.
whether the people of Minnesota exist chiefly f
the purpose of furnishing market for beer, wheth
they shall govern themselves, is to issue viii
overshadows the question: the tariff question,
which makes ridiculous such political issues the adve
Using of the of state economic
operation Of its machinery.
Among the other things learned during my TO
wears in the legislature that the brewers the
stigators of the tonnage bills. Not that the ntr
ducers of these bills always elected by the brewer
1t better brewery politics if they not Oftentin
legislator unconscousy and uninentonally thu
purpose.