Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1913-06-27
EBERHART is IN
FIGHT TO STAY
Says Ne Will Demand Passage
of Statewide Utilities Law.
TO TAKE The STUMP SOON
Intends to Deliver Number of Speeches
Outlining What He Thinks the
Legislature Should Do.
TO TAKE THE STUMP SOON
Especial Correspondence

ministration. His excellency always
has been along conciliatory lines, more
often giving than taking, but it is to
be fight from now on. Governor Eber-
hart has got the state utility control
bug and he is going to back up his
position with good stiff scrap if
necessary. At Austin, on the occasion
of the midsummer meeting of the
Southern Minnesota Better Develop
ment association, his eXcellency an
nOunced where he stood and what he
was going to do in the matter of state
wide control of utilities and he left
no room for doubt as to his position.
He was going to call a session of the
legislature, he said; he would demand
the passage of bill providing for a
state utilities commission and he
would insist that it be made appoin'
tive. with the executive doing the ap-
pointing. He did not say so in as
MANY words, but he inferred that
there would be trouble if his wishes
were not respected and further that
there would be more trouble if any at
tempt was made to take the appoint
ment of the desired commission out
OF his hands. His talk was the OPEN
ing gun in his announced campaign for
state control of utilities and he fol-
lowed it later with the statement that
"a soon as he returned from the Get
fysburg centennial he would take up
the fight in earnest and deliver num-
Der of speeches outlining what ne
wanted. For a number of weeks there
have been rumors to the effect that
Governor Eberhart was getting cold
feet in the matter of the special SEES
sion promised by him and that he had
about agreed to pass up the utility
control scheme for this year, but his
Austin speech gave such the lie. 1t
spelled fight all down the line and
can see trouble from now on for those
who oppose him For a peace loving
official and from one who has been
branded everything but fighter his
utterances and the definite stand taken
by him has astonished even his clos
est friends. The whole thing has
sent his stock up several points.
>frg@
Mention was made last week by
yours truly of how the passing of the
political convention had affected those
gatherings and affairs which in the
old days were the mecca of all per-
sons politically ambitious. This was
never better illustrated than at Aus
tin last week at the meeting OF the
Southern Minnesota Development as.
sociation. The big fellows we're con.
spicuous by their absence and had ii
not been for Governor Eberhart's Sc
lection of the occasion for the firing
of the opening gun in his public ut1li
ties fight and row started by one OF
two officers of the Northern Develop
ment association, who took exceptions
to remarks made by one of the speak
ers, the gathering would have received
scarcely any mention from the bis
city dailies. The attendance was hard
1y worth the efforts of those in charge
Three years ago when the Northern
Development association was Launched
Invitations to it's Initial meeting were
at a premium. Politicians throngeC
the meeting place and the association
was voted a huge success. The same
was the case when the West Contra
and Southern Minnesota association
were launched. All three have beer
dwindling in point of attraction, how
ever, since the first meetings and j
looks pretty much as if they woulC
continue to do so.
J. !. :.
The Great Northern and other road
which were concerned in the recen
rate litigation and which resulted in
sweeping victory for the state have de
Cided to take their medicine and vii
out the disputed rates into effect with
out delay and pay any claims for e1
cess charges presented to them. Thi
includes the acceptance of the 2-cen
passenger fare law. President Gray c
Ahe Great Northern and his6 official
of number of the other roads opera
ing in the state met with members c
the railroad commission and Attorne
General Smith and it is said assn
nnces were given by the railroad of
cials that they would submit to tn
courts findings without further litig;
ton.
X j. !.
The state board of control las
week invited bids for about $275,0O
in state certificates and though tn
lot represented good purchase fC
any one desiring to invest some col
of the realm no offers were receives
T1ghtness in the money market wa
assigned as the reason for the a
sence of bidders. Part of the certi1
Gates offered for sale were to aid
the construction of the new stat
prison at Saltwater and the a
parent indifference on the part of til