Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1914-01-07
his HAl
IN Til RING [
GubeInatoTIal Candidates Lining
Up for = a |. Merry
Chase. &. {.
PETERSON WANTS NOMINATION

AB A1bOVUv ~ nv u UvVUvs10v0 WV
Scores Eberhart Administration, and
crlticises iverson's Conduct Of
State Auditors Office. Says That
He Will Make Statewide Campaign
and Demonstrate His Accusations.
The third gubernatorlal candidate
for the Republican nomination to
send his announcement to the Will,
mar Tribune is James A. Peterson Of
Minneapolis. Believing the people
like to see what they have to say
for themselves we give space for the
following:
I shall be candidate for Governor
at the next Republican State ,Prim-
airy. 1t is perhaps proper at this
time that should give some reasons
for my candidacy.
There has been considerable talk
thruout the State by we'll meaning
men that some sort Of q conference
should be held so that only one can
didate would be in the field against
the present Governor.
We cannot afford to sacrifice any
principle for mere victory at the polls.
There is greater question involved
in this fight than the mere elimination
of Mr.. Eberhart from politics. The
big question involved is the undoing
of the political machine backed by
certain predatory interests, which
have ruled this state for years. The
people of Minnesota have been given
direct primary so that they shall be
the ones to select the candidate. Any
abridgement of the Primary Election
Law would, in my opinion. be fraught
with danger and would be going back
to old methods. II we are to have an
elimination of machine politics in
Minnesota it must be done by the PEG.
pie.
Extravaganza Charged.
The administration of public affairs
in this state has not been carried on
with the view of benefting the PEG.
pie, but with the view of strengthen.
ing the political machine. 1t is as.
founding when we contemplate that
in the last ten years from 1902 to
1912, the cost Of running the govern
ment of the State of Minnesota has
increased from $3,734,000 per annum
to $1O,733,000 per annum-an in
crease of O00,0O0-and when you
come to examine this increase, you
will find that this money has gone in
a large part to the paying of salaries
to the members of the Minnesota pol
itical machine.
During the last session of the leg
islature bill was introduced known
| as the Minnette bill, to compel the
large telephone companies to make
| physical connections with the loca
telephone companies thruout thu
| state.
Gov. Eberhart vetoes.
1t was argued in behalf of the bill
in the Legislature that the large tele
phone companies were holding up tn,
local rural lines and exacting an un
due amount Of money from the PEG
pie. Notwithstanding the fact tha
this bill was passed by both Houses
of the Legislature, the Governor We
toed it, and by this veto, it is safe
| to say that he took several hundred
thousand dollars from the people O.
the State each year, and put it int
the treasury of the Northwestern
Telephone Company. The people O
the City of Minneapolis, thru thei1
City Council lacked the power to reg
ulate the rates of the General Electric
Company, which furnishes light K
the people of that city. A bill wa!
| passed by both Houses of the Legis
lature giving authority to Minneapolis
and all other cities under similar con
| ditions to regulate the rates of mum
cipal service corporations. This bill
was passed by both Houses and pre-
scented to the Governor for his sigma
ture. He vetoed it. BY the vetoinl
of this bill, the Governor took out o
the pockets of the people of Mime
apolis at least half million dollars
and put it into the treasury Of thu
General Electric Company.
Nolan and Minette Bills.
Then came the attempt on the par
! of the Governor to force thru the Leg
islature a public utilities commission
bill. The cities of st. Paul, Minneap
oils and Duluth had been compelling
the public franchise corporations t.
render to the people adequate service
for a reasonable compensation. These
corporations wanted to get away from
the City Councils, because the CITY
| Councils were elected by the people
they wanted to get under q Commits
sion appointed by the Governor of thu
State, who had helped them by veto
| ing the Nolan and Minnette bills; 81
the Governor threatened the Legisla
ture with calling a special session, un
less it should accede to his demands
1 Owl MOSS c,,o1, a y,r,h1io ,1fil{f3oo cor11