Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1912-03-20
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4. L. 1Iarkvs ana 4. q. Larson, Two q.
Law Students Debate Political
Issues.
Minneapolis, Minn., March IA
debate between Prohibitionist and q
progressive Republican was pulled of
here last night. A. L. Markve, a law
student at the University Of Minnesota
and a member of the state central COM
mittee of the Prohibition party defend
ed the Prohibition side Of the question
and f. G. Larson, also law student
at the same institution, spoke from the
view point of q progressive in the Re-
publican party. The debate was given
in the club rooms Of the Sixth Ward
Equality Club Of Minneapolis, Of which
organization, both speakers are men,
bers.
Mr.. Markve opened the debate by de-
f1ning Prohibition and Progressivism!
Prohibition meant enforced prohibition
with the Prohibition party to enforce
1t, not unenforced prohibition as the
brand of prohibition that we have had
at the hands of progressive Republic
cans. If the word Progressive was TAX
en- In its dictionary meaning, it would
be included in the Prohibition move
ment, but there were so many stripes
of PrOgressives claiming that name at
present, some leading men even say
ing that Taft was the greatest Pro-
gressive in the world today. But the
speaker would give his opponent the
benefit of his definition Of the word and
therefore declared that he would class
stand for advanced democratic princi-
pies Of government like the initiative,
referendum, recall, direct primary, d.
rect election of U. S. Senators, etc.
This would include such men as LaFol-
lette, VIM. E. Lee, Progressive candi-
date for governor, and men Of that type.
Mr.. Markve would not support the Pro-
gressive Republican movement, because
it was a part of the Republican party
and kept the old party in power. The
so-called .Progressives hollered their
threats sore before the primaries de-
the stand patters Of their par
ty and just as soon as the primaries are
over and the stand patters nominated
these same so-called Progressives go
out and tell the people to vote the old
party ticket straight. He gave some
very striking examples Of this practise,
the fact that Hall support
ed his stand-pat opponent, Nye, for
congress two years ago, that VIM e. Lee
has promised to support the Republic
can candidate for governor this year,
whoever wins out at the convention, so
that if Eberhart gets the nomination,
he will have the support Of Progressive
Lee; that "Jake' Jacobson, ultra pro-
gressive supported Bob Dunn and made
a speaking campaign for Dunn after he
had been defeated by Dunn in the con-
vention. The Progressives were anti
Taft and anti-Eberhart now, but after
these men have been nominated, they all
work and vote for them and we make no
progress. E. E. Smith is the head of the
Republican party in Minnesota and af-
ter the conventions and primaries, the
so-called Progressives will continue to
take their orders from him.
Another reason why Mr.. Markve is op-
posed to the so-called Progressive
is that it developes lot of
weak kneed politicians. The so-called
have picked out from the
Prohibition and Socialist platforms a
number of issues like the initiative, ref
erendum, recall, direct primary, direct
election Of senators and such other
things that all people are in favor Of and
which it takes very little courage to
~+o <1 %1a sce,, nh, &c
the prohibition of the liquor traffic and
the abolition of public vice, they dare
not tackle as the interest back Of these
are powerful in politics. LaFollette was
strongly in favor of the prohibition of
the liquor traffic in his early career,
but since he entered politics, he has
never dared to mention the liquor traf-
fic at all.
And the so-called Progressive move
ment misguides public sentiment. There
is great unrest amongst the people.
The high cost of living and the arrogant
trust rule of today have aroused the
people and they are looking for rem
edy of present day evils. We have a
great many Prohibitionists and Social
lists and besides these others, church
people, good people, reformers, who
wish for better conditions. Then comes
this so-called Progressive movement,
takes up some Of the progressive issues
Of the Socialists and Prohibitionists in
order to fool us to go along, and then
when they have fooled us along with
them, they lead us to the polling place
and ask us to vote for Taft. But just
RI
Dunn for governor even when progress
sive Jake went speaking for him, the
people of Minnesota are likely to take a
hand in things next fall and elect Hon
E. E. Lobeck of Alexandria, to the gov.
ernor's chair.
The Prohibition party stands for ev.
cry progressive issue that the so-called
Progressives stand for and they go then
one better even on their own ground
They do not only stand for direct
primary, besides being the first politica
party in the United States to advocate
direct election Of senators, but also
stand for direct election Of president
and vice president. And besides stand
ing for the whole progressive program
they also stand firmly and unalterablt
against the greatest curse of the age
tn liquor trust, that monster which tn,
Progressive Republicans dare not mo
lest. The Progressive Rebuplican STATE
convention held at Minneapolis even re
fused to pass a resolution favoring tn
prohibiting of liquor shipments int
prohibition states. And still the liquol
problem is the greatest financial, socia
and political problem of our time.
E. G. Larson said that he was no
against prohibition. But the peopl
should have right to rule and wher
| they didn't want prohibition, they ough
not have it. He said that Hall diu no