Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1912-08-21

SSA"eO3 N0AoVOA APC VOtCN AOA ~
in company with nearly every sena-
who during the entire session was
found on the side of the interests and
against the people. Practically eve-
ry strong progressive senator was
on the other side. Men like Ole
Canestorp and Tom eastman, like
Ole Sageng and John Noonan, like
Sundberg and Peterson and Elwell,
were always for extending the pri-
mary principle instead Of destroying
it.
"Senator Noonan introduced bill
Is. F. No. 69) extending the primary
to all elective officers in the state,
and on the decisive vote on this bill
the line up was practically the same.
Senator Thorpe, with Dunn and
Smith and Putnam and Andy Stew
ems and others, were all against it,
while the Progressives, like Elwell,
Sundberg, Sageng, and eastman,
and other men like them, were for it.
"When the Mccall Bill, Is. F. No.
374), providing for the direct elec-
ton Of United States senators, came
to a vote on a motion to reconsider
its indefinite postponement, which Was
the only test vote taken on that ques-
ton. Senator Thorpe was in the same
general line up, that always support
ed the bosses and railroads, and vot-
ed against the direct election Of In
tied States senators by the people.
! "On Senator Cashman's distance
tariff bill, which provided that freight
rates should be charged on a mileage
basis and without favor to any local
ity, a bill which would give small
places all over the state a fair chance
to compete with the great centers,-
bill which would prevent the rail-
roads favoring one place over an
other,-a bill which the railroads and
big jobbers of the Twin Cities bitter
ly opposed,-the record shows that
Senator Thorpe voted with the rail-
road senators.
"Now I have verified from the rec
ords the vote on these four import
ant measures and know | have stat
ed the vote correctly. l have been
informed that Senator Thorpe voted
against the two cent passenger rate
bill, but l have not yet had time to
personally verify this from the rec
ords. As the campaign progresses
intend to give the votes which will
show whether or not in the senate he
served the people or the railroads,
and especially along the lines desired
by Jim Hill.
''It may be that these votes. on the
measures which l have given do not
show whether Mr.. Thorpe is Pro-
gressive or not, but l submit that
| they raise a question Of his fitness
which cannot be met by any prom
ises for the future.
''This legislative record throws
light only on Mr.. Thorpe's attitude
towards direct legislation and con-
tlol by the people. He is a banker
and should take the people into his
confidence regarding financial legis-
lation. Does he stand for the Wall
Street scheme known as the AID
rich LELAND Bill?. l think the peo-
pie Of Minnesota have the right to
know exactly whether or not Mr..
Thorpe is the candidate Of the big
banking interests Of this country,
who under the leadership of Aldrich
are trying to get control Of the credit
Of the nation by means Of a banking
law; and I respectfully ask Mr.:
Thorpe to state his position in the
matter so that the people may fairly
judge.
II have never held office. Although
| was born in this state | have never
before sought to represent the state
or any part Of it in public Office. But
I submit as a record Of public work
three out Of a number of important
public cases affecting the taxation of
the people.
"The merchandise class rate hear
ing before the State Commission was
conducted by me for the Minnesota
Shippers Association until we won
a reduction which saves the people
annually over two million dollars.
"The Pullman berth rate case
which | fought before the Interstate
Commerce Commission at Washing
ton was won after three years.
struggle, and it saves the travelling
public of the United States over
three million dollars annually.
"The express cases brought by
Senator Sundberg, which l tried for
him in Minneapolis, New York and
Washington before the Interstate
Commerce Commission, were recent
| ly decided in our favor, and the re-
duction ordered to take effect this
fall will save the people over twen-
| ty million dollars year.
"And l feel that with my expert
| apoo opI 1,por1o1 o.o ~