Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1913-02-21
OBSERVATIONS ON STATE 70
.=,s LITICAL. DOINGS

Progressive Republicans: The banquet |
to the senior senator was the political
event Of the week and it served well j!
to indicate the interests which have
a string upon the Republican machine|
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. If Gov
ernor Eberhart was looking for fewI
bouquets, he looked ir vain.
The happiest little toast was deliver.
ed by Albert Pfaender, leader Of the
democratic minority. He paid just
tribute to Senator Nelson 3 services to
the state. In fact, he was about the''
only speaker who was not struggling
against political prejudice 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 arrange,
ments. T. T. Oftshun, the least OBJ
jectionable to the Smith Eberhart ma
chine, was elected to represent the ma
jority. His voice failed him, however,
and w. I. Nolan took his place. The
Eberhart organization is not featuring|
either Rines or Burnquist. 1919.
Democrats who attended the affair
saw the present disorganized state OF
the republican party. When Governor
surgents left the hall rather than &C.
cord him the greeting due a chief ex'
ecutive. The retreat was noticeable toI
Indifferent reception and delivered an
legislation Of the progressive party
upon which point his message was as
silent as the tomb and then took occas-
ion to explain that the punch bowl at
| the inaugural reception did not con-
| tain anything stronger than water.
Some alleged humor aimed at the Bull
| Moosers fell flat as pancake upon a
frosty morning. Governor Eberhart
was plainly laboring under the cool re-
ception which the members Of the low
| er house gave him. The Rines organiza.
| ton had been ignored in the arrange.
| ments and they showed their temper
| when the chief executive rose to pre-
| sent 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 we'll that the
Rines-Burnquist organization will not
| pass the bill. At any rate whatever his
| motives, the legalizing of the pro-
gressives will help him at the primaries.
He knows it and Ed. Smith knows it.
This, however, does not alter the just
ness Of the progressive claim to rec
| ignition. They are entitled to par
ticipate in the primaries and they will
be backed up by the democrats were
the first to come out publicly and in
! dorse the move to legalize the pro-
gressives. ...>. E. +.
! It is hardly that democrats will be
misled by the republican organization
| in the house or the senate when the
bill for the creation Of a public utilities
commission comes up. As affecting tel
ephones, the bill prepared by Frank
Minnettee, democratic representative,
is, a good puplic utilities commission
bill. It merely places the jurisdiction of
telephone companies under the railroad
and warehouse commission and further
compels physical connection between
the companies which is an excellent
!; provision. The public utilities COM
mission bill proposed by the repub-
! licans is vicious and would take away
from the towns and villages the right
to regulate their service corporations.
Public utilities owned by municipali-
ty would also come under the authority
Of state commission appointed by
Governor Eberhart at the behest Of
the interests.
So far as we have been able to learn
the principal supporters Of the public
utilities commission are the public
service corporations which have been
regulated to some extent in years past
not only by tn three big cities of the
state, but by the smaller municipalities
where they have holdings. These cor
porations obviously feel that an ap-
pointed commission would be regula-
ton at such long range as to be en-
tirely inocuous. Every town and vii
lage with public services corporation
should protest against the apparent
scheme Of the Eberhart machine to de-
liver the state over bag and baggage
to tn public service corporations.
The farmers of the state are learning
about the kind Of a grain. inspection
which republican administration is
giving them through an elective com.
mission. Does the present situation in
the grain inspection argue effectively
for the creation of an "appointive''
commission to regulate our public SER
vice corporation3 80.
If the distance tariff is going to in
jure the state, the Minnesota railroad
!! and warehouse should speak UP and
tell us. Page advertisements are ap-
pearing in the city dailies opposing
the eastman bill. They refer the read
ers to the commission. Why pound the
republican commission upon the back.
The commissioners were elected to pro-
tect the interests Of the state. II tho
law is bad law why does not the rate
making body of the state tell uss
-. .zsgrs+. Jason.