New Ulm review., 1913-02-12
Gov. Eberhart Gets Cool Reception
. st. Paul. MINI,

I .
Senator Nelson's encomium upon
James Jerome Hill did not sit well
upon the stomachs OF the progress
sive republicans. The banquet to
the senior senator was the political
event of the week and it served well
to indicate the interests which have
a string upon the republican ma
chine in this state Senator Nelson
entered the banquet hall arm in arm
with the empire builder. The main
part of his address lauded Mr.. Hill
liz Governor Eberhart was looking
for few bouquets. he looked in vain
The happiest little toast was de.
livered by Albert Pfaender, leader OF
the democratic minority. He paid q
Just tribute to Senator Nelson's serv.
ice to the state. In fact, he was
about the only speaker who was not
struggling against political preju.
dice or bias.
| There was general comment over
the manner in which Henry Rines,
speaker Of the house and Lieutenant
Governor Burnquist were ignored in
the arrangements. T. +. Oftshun,
the least objec tionable to the Smith.
Eberhart machine, was selected to
represent the majority. His voice
failed him, however. and w. I. Nolan
took his place. The Eberhart or.
ganization is not featuring either
Rires or Burnquist.
Democrats who attended the af.
fair saw the present disorganized
state of the republican party. When
Governor Eberhart rose to speak
several insurgents left the hall rath-
er than accord wv, the greeting due
chief executive. The retreat was
! noticeable to all. The chief execu.
tive received an Indifferent recep-
ton and delivered an Indifferent
speech. He came out for the legali-
cation of the progressive party upon
which point his message Vas as
silent as the tomb and then took oc-
casion to explain that the punch bowl
at the inaugural reception did not
contain anything stronger than
water. Some alleged humor aimed at
the Bull Moosers fell hat as a pam
cake upon a frosty morning. Gov.
ernor Eberhart was plainly laboring
under the cool reception which the
members Of the lower house gave
him. The Rines organization had
been ignored in the ARRANGEMENTS
and they showed their, temper when
the chief executive rose 20 present
the loving cup.
Governor Eberhart's Endorsement
Of the bill legalizing the progressive
party is some more of his political
clap trap. He knows full well that
1 IN lot
not pass the bill. At any rate what
ever his motives, the legalizing Of
the progressives will help him at
the primaries. He knows it and
Ed Smith knows it. This, however,
does not alter the business of the
progressives' claim to recognition.
They are entitled to participate in
the primaries and they will be back
ed up by the democrats were the
first to come out publicly and in
dorse the move to legalize the pro-
gressives. ."-a
Eli s. Warner, political scavenger
for more than one state central COM
mittee and one Of the bulWarks of
the Eberhart administration, will be
called before the committee on pub
lie accounts to tell what he knows
about combines among state printers
in bidding for the state work. Mr..
Warner should be able to give the
committee valuable information rela-
tive to the practices of the state
printing commission He has been
the ring-leader for years Of the fra.
ternity of printers appearing perfume
tory at stated periods to present
their bids for state work.
Politicians are recalling the time
several years ago when the bids
were all nicely framed and Joe P.
Heatwole broke into the ring with
a bid. Mr.. Warner rushed out of
the Office of the secretary of state
crying, "low bid" The Ramsey
county grand jury probed the bid.
ding that year, but could not find
sufficient evidence to secure q con-
viction.
Whether illegally or not the fact is,
the state printing has been let to
the same coterie Of printers for
years. The ring Of printing corpor-
atoms which Mr.. Warner controls
directly or indirectly have been the
most successful bidders.
It is hardly that the democrats will
be misled by the republican organiza.
ton in the house or the senate when
the bill for the creation of pub
lie utilities commission comes up.
As affecting telephones. the bill pre-
pared by Frank Minnettee, demo-
cratic representative, is good pub
lie utilities commission bill. It mere
ly places the jurisdiction of tele
phone companies under the railroad
and warehouse commission and fur.
ther compels physical connection be-
tween the companies which is an
excellent provision. The public utili.
ties commission bill proposed by the
republicans is vicious and would
take away from the towns and vii
lagos the right to regulate their pub
lie service corporations Public utili-
ties owned by a municipality would
also come under the authority of a
state commission appointed by Gov
~ Of tho hohoot 0f tho