The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1914-05-23

pray. The Governors reply to those
criticisms was one Of invariable op-
timism. ''The idea is right" he would
say, "and accordingly I shall not be
deferred because there are those who
do not understand the Importance of
this movement" AS a result of the
activity of the Minnesota Governor
today there are in Minnesota one hun
dred consolidated schools, and 1873 vo.
cational schools, and agricultural high
schools, and following his agitation
for development and conservation
there has been distinct quickening
along lines Of agricultural develop
ment and training throughout the en-
tire state. ALI of the geographical
sections of the state have their de-
velopment associations. The county
agent is at work disseminating newer
agricultural ideas and methods among
the farmers. Bankers and business
men have become interested; farmers
are increasing their high grade dairy
stock; and today Minnesota is a bet
ter and richer state because its exec,1.
tive had the courage of his convictions
and was willing to face ridicule be-
cause he knew he was right. BY no
means is the Governor entitled to sole
credit for what has been done. His
has been the role of agitator. The
Office which he has held has given
him a hearing and he has according.
ly been able to awaken a sentiment
With which others have been able to
accomplish much.
Advertising the State.
1t is not only in Minnesota that the
Governor has been the advance agent
OF development for his home state.
tie has felt it his duty to sing the
praises Of Minnesota outside of the
state as we'll as within it. 1t was only
few days ago that an advertising
man of national reputation, Mr.. Frank
lin Hobbs, of Chicago, Illinois, stated
In the public press that, as an
advertiser of the State of Minnesota.
Governor Eberhart was worth 500, 900
year to the people of the North Star
State. This program has also subject
ed him to criticism from some who ap-
parently entertain the idea that the
Governor Of the state should check
In and out of his office by the time
clock, and who have protested to be-
heve that the efforts which the Cover
nor has made to advertise the state
were pleasurable outings for him. Dur
Ing his administration, Governor Eber-
hart has addressed something like 200
important gatherings outside of the
state. He has reached practically
every newspaper reader in the United
States. This has been the hardest
work which the Governor has done,
and any one who thinks this duty has
been pleasant one has little realiza-
ton of the physical fatigue and in
convenience involved. He has had in
vltatlons to go on the Chautauqua
platform but has declined them, feel
Ing that his duty for the time being
was to the state. In every one of
these addresses he has taken occasion
to recite the splendid resources of
Minnesota and the wonderful oppor-
tunities that obtain here.
During the past few years there has
been a general trend of sentiment
along the line of human welfare legis-
lation. The Governor on this subject.
as on others, has been genuinely pro-
gressive. He has interested himself
In stamping out disease; he has waged
war against the scourge of tubercu-
losis and other forms of preventable
disease; he has urged and supported
legislation of interest to the men who
toll, and today Minnesota has one of
the best and most effective labor de-
partments OF any state government in
the United States. A minimum wage
commission is engaged in the work of
fixing a minimum wage, whose special
object is to see to it that women who
toll will not be compelled to suffer be-
cause OF the meagre living wage Of
Tered. He has urged the fight against
child labor with special enthusiasm.
The mothers pension law was signed
by him, and the Governor has been
found favorable to every human well
fare law that would stand the test of
wise and friendly criticism.
Believes in Direct Primary.
Governor Eberhart believes in the
direct primary. He believes in the
principle of direct nominations and it
is characteristic of him that when the
opportunity was given him to secure
a statewide primary for the State of
Minnesota, he acted promptly and
with sureness. In this connection it
might be we'll to recite a little bit OF
political history, which will explain a
good many things in the present cam
paign. The office of governor is one
to which men naturally aspire and
is to allow disappointment to cloud
their judgment and to destroy their
proper perspective on things. From
the. time Governor Eberhart became
chief executive there has been a dis
position on the part Of some to secure
his office and ito put him in hole"
This has been so apparent that put
ting the governor in the hole" has
become popular and almost humor-
GUS pastime. But in each instance
that this has been tried those who
dug the pit for him have fallen into it
themselves. In the last campaign,
men opposed to the Governor secured
control of a convention which gath
cred in Minneapolis and it was deter
mined by men at the head of the CON-
mittee on resolutions to make one
last effort to dig a pit in which the