The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1912-11-02
THE HEIGHT OF AUDACITY.

The HEIGHT OF AUDACITY.
The Republican State Central committee in it's
campaign text book, brazenly boasts that the ad-
mlnsratlon OF Governor Eberhart is responsible for
the enactment of several progressive laws passed by
the last legislature and then it has the audacity to
enumerate them.
It takes the credit for placing upon the statute
books laws providing for the statewide primary
elections, nonpartisan election of judges and pre-
venting corrupt practices. Did any one ever hear
OF such nerve before? Let the facts be known by
every voter. Governor Eberhart and his machine
consistently opposed the passage of this kind of
Legislation the regular session Of the LEGISLATURE
and the laws above mentioned were only enacted
at the extra session after the Eber-
hart-Smith gang completely routed by the Pro-
gressve element of the part in the state convention
held IN June. These laws were not passed by Gov
ernor Eberharts political friends, but by his ene-
mics within and without his party
The party claims credit for passing the law pro-
vldng for the popular election of United States SEN
ators Ye gods, just think Of it! The bill was in
troduced in the legislature by Joseph Keefe Demo-
crat, and was passed in both houses by coalition
of the Democrats and the anti Eberhart Republicans
Every Eberhart supporter, from Senator George H.
Sullivan, the Eberhart floor leader down to the most
humble machine member Of the legislature, voted
against this measure.
The Duluth Evening Herald, Democratic news
paper, lead the fight in Minnesota for the amend
ment to increase the railroad gross earnings tax on
railroads. It crystallized public thought on this
subject 1t was opposed in it's campaign by every
Eberhart newspaper in the state. The Eberhart ma
chine lost no opportunity in attempting to side track
the issue, and after doing all Of this it now boldly
asserts that it is responsible for submitting the bill
to the people at next Tuesdays election.
Representative Robinson, Democrat in the leg
lsature introduced the resolution ratifyng the fed
eral income tax amendment. He made the fight
single handed and alone. Governor Eberhart kept
the official notice of the amendment which he re-
0Q1v Fro MASH ~
ing days Of the legislature and thus prevented the
members from acting upon it at the regular session.
Had the governor transmitted the official notice
from Washington to the legislature Immediately
upon its receipt by him the resolution ratyng the
amendment would have been passed at the repular
session. 1t was ratified at the special session. by
Governor Eberhart's friends in the legislature but
by his political opponents in both parties. He now
claims the credit for ratifying the amendment.
The above measures constitute the chief progress
slve achievements OF the last legislature. We have
clearly shown that they were attained, not with
Governor Eberhart's assistance, but in the face of
the opposition Of his machine Upon all of these
questions he maintained sphinx-ike silence until
driven to bay by the bipartisan militant members
of the legislature.
In this campaign the paramount issue in state
politics is the Initiative the Referendum and the
Recall 1t is the real progressive issue of the day.
Little it any, substantial progress in social or DO
ltical reform can be made until it is determined
And yet, Governor Eberhart, who claims to be
tried by all real progressive tests' upon the
question of direct legislation and the recall is as
mute as dummy.
It's not so, however, with Peter NJ Ringdal, the
Democratic nominee for governor. The people know
in advance where hit stands this and other meas
ures for which there is popular demand With the
slogan, The Will the People is the Highest Law
he is going up and down the state wagng fearless
and relentless conflict against the vested interests
that are robbing the people, and who hope to con-
tinue in their plumber with the Eberhart type of
men in control of the executive department of ou1
state government