Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1912-08-30
CANDIDATES STATEMENTS
Claims Advanced by Gordon
and Spooner for G overnorship.

ernor Eberhart. Each statement was
prepared by the candidate himself and
all are of interest, but as lack of
space forbids the republication uf all
of them, we reprint the two of espe-
Cial local interest, the one made by
S. Y. Gordon, and the one made by
L. c. Spooner.
STATEMENT PREPARED BY SAM
Y. GORDON.
entered the gubernatorial contest
only after many public spirited citi-
zens had so urged me to do claiming
that my record as lieutenant governor
and my stand on public questions
would assure me of the support of the
progressives in this state. In my
campaign for lieutenant governor l
was bitterly fought by Ed. Smith and
the coterie of brewery politicians who
preferred any Of the candidates in
preference to myself. In spite of
their opposition end to the surprise
of many, was nominated and after
wards elected. | endeavored not to
deviate from my pre-campaign pro-
misses to the effect that l would reor-
ganize the senate in the interest of
the people and appoint such commit
tees as would prevent the smothering
of legislation as had notoriousIy been
the fact for some years previous.
How we'll l kept my promises can best
be judged by the favorable comment
of the press. The St. Paul Dispatch
of April 10, 1911. asys: 1.-THE pro-
, gressives had the upper-hand in the
senate for the first time in many
years partly due to the individual
members and partly due to the Or
ganization Of the committees by Lieu
tenant Governor Gordon. He gave
the old guard members little COM
fort in committee assignments and
gave the 'progressives' the important
chairmanships nd control Of the i'm
portant committees.
BREAKS SENATE AGREEME ENT.
At the special session Of the legis-
latuTe as in the regular session. en-
deavored to have passed direct pri-
mary bill and and corrupt practices
act. Just previous to the opening
of the extra -essioD. ffty-five of the
sitxy- three members of the sena.e had
signed an agreement to consider only
those two measures. which agreement
was no doubt hastily and thoughtless,
ly signed ty many. and on the first
day of the session adopted rule that
all other proposed legislation should
be referred to special committee of
nine, one from each congressional
district, which committee was directed
under the rule to report out nc mea-
sure for consideration Ly the senate
except by unanimous consent of the
committee. This agreement, had it
not been broken, would have undoubt-
edly prevented the passage of a gross
earnings bill and other important
legislation that was subsequently
passed. After several days of con-
ferences. / was able to appoint a
committee that reported out and re
commend for passage all important
progressive measures referred to it,
including the gross earnings increase
and the federal income tax amend
ment. the two measures that big bust
ness was endeavo~ing to block. The
gross earnings dill alone when ap
proved will mean approximately {
million dollars year additional taxes
from railway corporations.
FIGHT ON BREWERY DONNA
TION.
" Before ] announced my candidacy
| had many times stated and incUr
porated in my platform of principle
declaration against the brewery
ownership and control of saloons ant
brewery dominance in politics, whicl
/ said l regarded Gas the most crude
the most sinister and most mischiev
Gus fo ce in the public life of thi
commonwealth" In keeping wit
that issue raised by me in this state
the senate near the close of the spe
cial session passed resolution pro
viding for committee to inVestigat
as to brewery ownership and tn
charge that big brewery interest
were aiding and abetting blind pig
ging. l appointed to that committe
men of high character and ability
whose only interest was to gather tn
exact facts in the Interest of tn
people of the state whom they ha
been elected to serve. The characte
of that committee. like others ap
. pointed by me, will no doubt result j
the enactment of desired legislatio
and tend to the elimination CT brew
cry domin nee in the political force