Morris tribune., 1912-06-14

pen will not figure next year. They
represent an abuse of the public funds |
and this is the first session of the
legislature to find them absent from
the list Of supplies.
j. j. \
Space will not permit review of
the statewide primary bills as intro
duced in the"two houses-they are too
lengthy for even a brief intelligent
description-but will say that after
seeing one Of the ballots proposed, if
one can mark it properly and have
his vote recorded then he has got
yours truly beat. The offerings so far
have first and second choice features
and they are so involved that it will
take, as they say, a Philadelphia law
yer to interpret them. The tallying Of
the ballots is just as difficult If a
school for marking ballots is not need
ed after some Of the bills presented
are passed then miss my guess. l
tried hard to figure out one the other
day and fell down on the job. The
bill turned out by the senate elections
committee is problem and would
house has bill that is trifle more
simple, but both will require consider,
able pruning before they are suited
to the average voter.
!. !. X
The principal thing for which the
present extra session of the legisla.
ture was called was the passage of a
statewide primary law, with an accom-.
panying corrupt practices act, and
you can be sure the state is going to
get both. The members of both houses
do not dare do otherwise. But as /
pointed out in the case of the primary
law, which as so far planned is far
above the heads Of the average voter,
the corrupt practice act is going to be
just as bad. Senator Murray has one
and the house committee on elections
has another and if there is anything
that both fail to cover in the way of
representatives. then you will have to
show me. Under both the best thing
for candidate for a public Office to
do is to shut himself up, throw the
key out the window and remain until
his certificate of election is issued,
that is if he has one coming. The
trouble is that the bills proposed COW
er so many 'don'ts" that they are, in
effect, prohibitive. Minnesota now has
corrupt practices act, but if any one
ever heard of a conviction being Sc
cured under it he has a gold medal
coming.
= = j.
Perhaps one of the best features of
the "don'ts" list as proposed is the
elimination of the brewery, the brew
cry agent and the saloon keeper from
politics. Hand in hand with the pro-
hibition made in this case is the lid
for church collections where the same
| are to be used for candidates pledged
| for this or that cause. It is here
where the Anti-Saloon league -four
| ishes and with the elimination of one
the state will probably be rid Of the
other. AS regarded by men not
swayed by passion or prejudice the
two are menace to sane legislation
and the sooner both are eliminated
from the political field the better for
the state and the morals of the people
A conservative estimate places the
expenditures Of the brewers in the
election of men calculated to protect
their interests and that of those or.
CARNATIONS pledged to minimize the
activities of the saloon during the
past five years at close to $1,5oo, 900
This is in the case of Minnesota alone
Statistics show that the consumption
of liquor during that period has in.
creased. Could anything more be
needed in support of these particular
"don'ts?"
j. \ :.
Two possible candidates for state
offices have sprung into prominence
since the opening of the extra session
of the legislature and it is generally
expected that they will file when the
two bodies have completed their work
l refer to George Mattson of Roseau
county, who is talked of for secretary
of state, and ]. A. A. Burnquist of St
Paul, who is being mentioned in con.
nection with the office of lieutenant
governor on the Republican ticket
Both are members of the house, are
of the prevailing nationality and are
pronounced progressives Burnquist
was picked to make trouble for Speak
er H. H. Dunn at the opening of the
special session, but wisely withdrew
from the contest. Mr.. Mattson has
been a member of the house for the
past four years and has shown
marked legislative ability.
]. !. !.
Unless something unexpected pre-
vents Judge Oscar Hallam of the Ram
sey county district court will be a
candidate for one of the places on the
supreme court. Friends were busy
with his name last week and there
was every indication that he would
~ Il . ~