The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1913-07-18
Claim That Governor Has Sc
Iected Commission; Lotus,
Day and Gray

From Thursdays Daily.
Political dopesters have got the
state public utilities commission all
picked Out-at least they credit Gov
ernor Eberhart with having it all
ready to announce if the legislature
ever authorizes him to name such a
body, says The st. Paul Daily News.
Here are the names which the
dope sheet shows: George S. Loft
us, Minneapolis; Frank A. Day, Fair
mont; Professor John Gray, Mime
apolis.
In order, these appointments
would be supposed to conciliate, re-
spectively, the progressive, element.
the democrats and those who would
like to see the commission include
scientific economist.
Mr.. Lotus has been gadfy to
transportation interests in the way
of forcing reforms upon them.
He was one of the original La
Toilette men in Minnesota, and more
than any other man had been re-
sponsible for the political success of
Congressman James Manahan.
Though much of his work has
been in strenuous opposition to in
terests favored by Eberhart, the gov
ernor is quoted in biographical
brochure issued by Mr. Lotus as
saying of him:
"The people no longer question
his sincerity of purpose as they
did when he first took UP the fight
five years ago. They now express
great confidence in him."
Mr.. Day was private secretary to
Governor John A. Johnson and the
Richelieu of Minnesota democrats.
Professor Gray is an economist, a
member of the University of Mime
sofa faculty, and is now serving on
the civic federation commission
which is preparing a general scheme
for the regulation of public utilities.
The st. Paul Dispatch of last even
ing contained this political gossip:
James Larson, assistant secretary of
state, is the latest in the limelight
as possible candidate for congress
against w. S. Hammond in the sec
ond district. Mr.. Larson's home is
at Walnut Grove, which under the
new reapportionment is moved into
the second district. Mr. Larson to-
day declared that he is not a candi-
date for anything, but did not deny
That tho mo hod haa
to him and that it is under consid--
Grafton.
"Other possible candidates are
Senator Frank Clague of Redwood
Falls; Senator j. E. Haycraft of Ma.
della; Senator F. E. Putnam of Blue
Earth and Frank Ellsworth of Man
kato. Clague was moved into the
district by the new reapportionment
, bill, and there were some intimations
, that the district was changed thai
way to suit his convenience At any
7 rate, Clague has been looked on as {
strong candidate, and there are some
| who suspect that those who are urg
ing Larson to get into the race are
t doing so to keep Clague out or Gu
t down his vote, as the two come from
, the same county.
Larson no doubt would be {
/ strong candidate and get a large
, vote. He was a good runner wheI
: he went to the legislature, and ha:
strengthened himself politically since
/ then. He was active in supporting
; Roosevelt for the nomination las
5 year."
/ Senator Frank Clague of Redwood
Falls was in Mankato today. He an
5 nounced that he was in no way {
) candidate for congress and did no
5 expect to be. He will not again b.
! a candidate for the state senate.
Another conference was held be
tween Attorney General Lyndon A
Smith and the members of the stat
board of railroad and warehouse com
missioners in regard to the paymen
of refunds by railroads, as resul
+ of the supreme court decision in tn
' Minnesota rate case. The state will
3 stand pat on its original contention
that the refund must be the differ
ence between the rate established al
ter the Sanborn Injunction and on,
existing previous to that time, ever
;, though that rate be lower than tn
| maximum state rate.
= The railroads are contending tina
the refund should be only the dit
] ference between the rate after tn
S Sanborn decree and this maximum
+ state charge, despite any reduction
i that may have been made by then
from the latter tariffs in order t
: meet competitive conditions.
The question promises to be
difficult one to solve. Attorney Gen
r eral Smith refuses to comment OF
D the matter and would say nothing O
V the result of the conference. A Unit
e ed States supreme court decision in
Pennsylvania case was brought u
: and discussed. This, it is said. is an
. tagonistic to the theory advanced b.
: the state that carriers cannot dis
criminate against shippers of th
: same commodity for the same dis
7 lance.
ri Nav Be DELAYED Thirty DAYS.