The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1913-08-28
Eberhart to Urge State Control
Of Utilities at County Fairs.
SENATE COMMITTEE MEETS
Hearing at St. Paul Attended by Many
Persons Hostile to the Gov
errors Plans.

81. peclal)-GOVernOr Eb-
ernart's campaign for statewide con-
troll of public utilities is now on and
by Sept. 10 at the latest the issue
Will be the subject of addresses which
his excellency has arranged to deliver
at a score or more of county fairs
throughout the state. The PROPOSE
ton was launched at St. Paul in a
speech delivered by the governor be-
fore the Office Mems association and
the whole thing in "plate' matter is
now running serially in half the coun-
try papers of the state. For your
benefit, Mr.. Publisher, the address can
be had for the asking. There is no
charge. Following the governors ad-
dress the subject was aired by the
senate committee named to inquire
into state control and it will hold an
other meeting next month when the
proposition will be further gone into.
While the address of the governor,
which gave his reasons why the utili-
ties operating in the state should be
changed from local to state control,
was favorably received and brought
to him much editorial backing and let
ters of congratulatory kind from
all over the state, it was a hostile
gathering that confronted the senate
committee which met two days later
to hear from the public on the sub
ject. Frank N. Stacy, who though he
disclaimed any such connection, really
represented his excellency, was the
only one to offer support in behalf OF
the issue. Frank was there with fig.
ures and arguments and he left no
stone unturned in an effort to get into
the record the beauties and advantages
of the new order of things as advocat-
ed by Governor Eberhart. The other
side was there too with figures and
it's slogan was home rule from start to
finish. And so the day was taken up.
It looked to me as a day pretty much
wasted. The next day asked a pron.i-
nent "cit" what he thought of state
control of public utilities and he asked
me to explain. This would indicate
that Governor Eberhart has some job
before him in interesting the people
before the special session of the legis-
lature which he has promised to call
is convened.
!. + !.
In the opinion of yours truly the
passage of a statewide control act and
the necessary commission, whether it
be an addition to the present state
railway board or separate depart
ment, is almost certain. AS Dooley
says, to be a real reformer you must
be a pest, all of which probably does
not appeal to the leaders of the sew
eral Twin City civic uplift Organiza-
tons who are now bucking his excel
lency and endeavoring to show that
in backing the state control issue he
is playing in with the utilities and the
moneyed side of the question who
want to be divorced from local con-
troll This is the stand they are TAX
ing and to any one who has followed
the governor and his way of getting
by with anything he tackles the knowl-
edge is apparent that they are only
helping the proposition along. l
watched the bunch at the meeting of
the senate committee and while it's
leaders offered excellent arguments in
behalf of the retention of the present
system of utility control the knock
was ever to the front and it wearied.
ho
insinuations.
!. !. !.
Knowing how Governor Eberhart
stands with the voters of the state,
preparing for third elevation, if
those who are honestly opposed to
state control of utilities would devote
their efforts to modification instead
they would probably succeed. The
people cannot be made to see that his
excellency is not on the square in this
matter, for they have trusted him be-
fore and found him right. They will
insist on the principle of the thing as
he advocates it, though they may diff
fer with him as to details, and it is
these details that the other side, If
they want to make any showing what
ever, will have to concern themselves
with. 1 doubt if the municipalities
will stand for the REIMBURSEMENT Of
entire control, but there is half way
to everything, and, as they say, 4
half loaf is better than none at all.
Get wise, you chumps; get wise.
!. !. 4
Speaker Rines of the house, while
in st. Paul the other day announced
that if a special session of the leg
1slature was held it would be the last
time he would preside or even sit
as a member of the body. He is 60
Ing to retire with the close of his
term. This is taken by many of his
friends to mean that Mr.. Rines has
decided to try for the state auditor
ship, but Mr.. Rines was too foxy to
admit the fact. He does not know
whether S. G.. Iverson, the present
incumbent, who is being talked of as