Little Falls herald., 1914-10-02

more thaU lalf g. century OF lLS history
as state, with but two brief inter-
ruptions, has guided its affairs and
shaped it's policies to the present nat
lral development of the state and tho
consequent welfare of its citizens
'He charges that while Republicans
have held all the executive Offices Of
the state and had majority in the
legislature, this dictator has been per-
mitted to control the affairs Of state,
to select it's officers, and to determine
it's laws, and then rejoices upon the
natural development of the state and
the consequent welfare of its citizens.
'Now are these charges made sim
ply to present a dark and terrible
background that the whiteness and
purity of the present candidate may
be all the more resplendent because
of the contrast: are they extravagant
fancies based upon little fact; or are
they true, to the disgrace of some Of
the persons I have named and the
party which has tolerated them, and
to the humiliation of the state?
Special Interests Active.
mo doubt there are special inter-
ests in this state which have in the
past, and will in the future, seek to
obtain advantages through favorable
legislation and lax execution of tho
laws. These advantages are often
called special privileges r =
Besides his high character, broad
intelligence, and intense patriotism,
it is his constant and successful war.
fare against special privilege in any
and every form that has made the
people of the United States, irrespec.
tive of party, stand for and with the
president of the United States-Wood-
row Wilson.
Special interests we have, and we
will continue to have them, but when
special interests attempt to secure
special privileges unfair or to the in
jury of the people of the state, 1t is
the duty of every public officer to
stand like rock in opposition-un-
yielding and firm. It is not always
the easiest thing to do; powerful
adversary may be overcome but not
without leaving scars upon the victor;
but they are scars Of honor. Sneers
and SANDER are not agreeable things
to confront, but the conscientious pub
lie servant will do his duty regardless
of them; he will not himself be DOM
mated by brewery interests or special
interests, and when convinced that
high state officers and whole legisla-
lures are so dominated he will not
hesitate to denounce them and point
out to the people of the state those
who have betrayed their trusts. =
Urges Nonpartisan Primary.
In his address Mr.. Hammond first
discussed tha nonDartisan primary,
now applied to judges, county officers
and legislators, and said there is no
reason why the governor Of the
state and the other elective state
officers should not be selected in the
same manner" Under the present
law, he said, legislators can no longer
answer criticism by pleading party
loyalty. In the past, he said, the gov
ernor has been not only the chief ex-
ecutive but the party leader. The
next governor will not be the party
leader for there will be no party to
lead. He should not therefore discuss
party policies in his messages to tho
legislature, he declared, but should
give special attention to those ques.
tions that have to do with the man
agement of state affairs, it's institu.
tions and its public domain, its en-
ployes, revenues and expenditures; its
relations to other states and to the
federal government, and the enforce
ment of it's laws. ::
On County Option. =
Mr.. Hammond discussed the ques-
ton of county option at length, max
ing it plain that he would sign such
a measure if one is passed by the leg
islature. He closed by reading the
county option paragraph of his letter
to State Chairman A. L. Sortor, read
at the meeting of the Democratic state
committee in St. Paul Sept. ? =
Some in Fight for Booty.
by some it is said This question
has no place in politics. The answer
Is that It Is in politics, and in some
sections of the state to the exclusion
Of nearly everything else. Among the
advocates and opponents of county
option may be found earnest, thought.
full, patriotic aud unselfish citizens,
and there may also be found self
serving, ambitious, adventurous per.
sons who seize upon popular sentt.
ment as convenient vehicle In
which to ride to Office. The first are
in the fight for principle, the others
In the fight for booty. Much good,
however, may come from temperance
agitation, whether the question be in
politics or out of it. So long as these
discussions continue the evil of in.
temperance will not be hidden, it will
stand out in all its hideous deformity
to the scrutiny of the public, it will
shrink and wither until finally 1t will
1 4 y