The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1912-04-05

| strengthened III many particulars
The appropriations were materially
! increased and constitutional amend
ment proposed which if adopted
will produce a million dollars year
! to be expended upon the roads in
this state. This amendment is only
proposed. The legislature could no,
do more. 1t is now incumbent upon
the votcrs-upon you men to whom
] am now speaking to see that this
amendment is adopted.
Can Not Shirk Your Duty
Here is where you cannot shirk
your duty. If this amendment fails
of adoption, the blame will be upon
you and not upon the legislature
! If you do not vote for another
amendment, vote for this one. II
is not an easy matter to pass a
constitutional amendment for under
the law it requires a majority of all
/ the votes cast at the election to
carry the amendment A majority
of the votes cast upon the amend
ment is not sufficient. This society
| can engage in no better, more profit
able work than to conduct a series
of meetings or in some manner ex-
plain tho manner of obtaining state
aid for highway purposes. 1t seems
TO be generally understood.
| According to the report of the
state highway commission for the
year 1910, the last available there
was appropriated for Waseca county,
| the sum Of $3.50 for the four years
of 1907, 1908, 1909, and 1910, but
| $4S6.79 of that money was expended
upon the roads in the county, leav-
! ing $2,063.21 appropriated for this
county unused. There was apprO-
priated for Watonwan county for the
same period $1,000 and but $1O3.3O
was used; for Martin county $4,000
and not dollar used; for Brown
county, $1,000 and but $710.50 used !;
! for Nicollet county $1,000 and not
cent used.
drawbacks, hardships and blights up
on this section of the state and in
fact upon all rural Minnesota is the
unjust, fragrant, indefensible, dis
elimination in railroad rates. Particu-
larry freight rates. Just SO long as
certain sections of this state are
favored in this matter as they arc
and this section is Disseminated
against as it is, our thrift enterprise
and industry will be stified. | am
not here to engage in an extended
discussion of freight rates. To advo-
cate any specific plan or measure OF
relief. To champion any bill which
has been before our law making
body or which may hereafter be
introduced, but | do believe and be-
| lieve sincerely that railroad rate
discrimination against this section
has done more than any other one
thing to produce the causes which
gave birth to this association. AS
long as these conditions con
tinue your work will never at
tain full fruition. Our small towns
are generally without the manufac-
turing plants, factories and estab-
lishments which are justly theirs
under proper conditions.
"They cannot be maintained in
these towns for the discrimination
| in freight rates alone quite often
offset more than a fair margin OF
profit. The matter is one not easy
| &c, hi Nv
or fer thought and serious consider
alton. This part of my remarks
might be listed under the head OF
What the Legislature Failed to Do.
! If we disregard pending railroad
suits in the highest court i'll the
land | believe this association is
hudable. | believe it is praiseworthy
II believe it is entitled to and will
receive the support of all good citi-
zens of this part of the state, but
want to say to you now in all SIN
cerity and in all earnestness that
if you ever surrender for once, your
legislative representation to the con-
gested centers of this state and
allow this railroad rate discrimlna-
ton to continue, you can organize,
development associations in every
county and in every town and have
them meet ffty-two times year and
you will not accomplish that which
was intended by this association.
You will be but little better off. 1t
will be case of we care not who
drafts your resolutions so long as
we fix your freight rates and make
your laws.
"It will be much like playing a
+, game where your opponents nave
marked cards and loaded dice ii
railroad rates are to be remedled III
this state it must be done at once
for whenever our large and ever
growing metropolitan centers secure
a firmer hold and better control oil
our lawmaking body, appeals and
attempts will be in vain. Those
people who are the chief beneficlar
/ les of this rate discrimination are
not apt to vote against themselves
The days of miracles have past
Our relief then will be through fed
eral regulation and this while not
desirable, will be better than nc
regulation at all, which is true III
this state at the present time