Morris tribune., 1914-10-30

house which 1t can use to defeat
or advance any measure, and
that these votes are used for
that purpose without any re-
gard to the merits of the meas
ures voted upon whenever such
action will be helpful in the
brewery business.
,
The fact of the existence of such a
makes it impossible t
nave measures in the legislature COZ
,idered and passed upon on their me-
It's, and to which all Of the bad and e.
travagant legislation can be traced
so, also, can the defeat of large nun
Der of meritorious measures. RI
peat, am surprised, if it is true, tha
the democratic candidate does nc
know this.
The congdon Letter.
A member of the legislature of 100
and 1911, Hon. Chester A. Congdol
Of Duluth, in letter published in tn
Duluth Herald of August 26, 191.
said:
"a discovered that, notwith-
standing all the cIamor about
the rule of the interest in Min
nesota, that there is only one
business enterprise in the state
which makes politics one of it's
business departments and Min
nesota statutes a by-product.
"There is only one Industry
whose political machine works
every day in the year. There Is
only one commercial organiza-
ton which dares to name our
governors and select our Iegis-
Iators. need not name it. 1t
is known to all men.
at is business which has
chiefly to do with the police
power and the criminal laws OF
the state. BY reason of its char
acter 1t is of the highest impor-
lance to its profits that willing
lawmakers and obedient exc
cutors are elected. At present
its test of legislator Is his at
titude on County Option.
"Be that as it may, the ma
chine exists. Its owners have fire.
quentIy testified to its efficiency
by truthfully Boosting that it
has elected a majority of the
legislature. The self-nominated
candidates of the present day
dread to meet it. 1t is power
which must be reckoned with.
Dominating as 1t does our leg
Is Iative halls, it is feared by all
who may be affected by IegisIa-
ton. The only fear it has is the
reduction of its profits. In or.
der that the volume of beer sold
may not be reduced 1t will not
permit laws minimizing road
houses and prostitution. If it's
manipulation of legislation is in
dicative of its desires, it would
make profIigates of our sons and
prostitutes of our daughters in
order to enlarge the consump-
ton of its product. If the Ieeis-
Iative work of their headquar-
tiers reflects their desire, then,
on the scales of their conscience
the beer key outweighs the vir-
tue of woman, the honor of
man, the welfare of all. 1t re-
sists the efforts of our state SEN
ate to ascertain the ownership
of saloons and their natural
product, houses of iIlfame, lest,
If known, there be a diminution
of brewers income.
whether the people of Min
nesota exist chiefly for the pur-
pose of furnishing a market for
beer, or whether they shall gov
ern themselves is to me an is
sue which overshadows the
trust question or the tariff ques-
ton, and which makes ridicu-
Ious such political Issues as the
advertising of the resources of
our state or a more economical
operation of It's machinery"
The report Of the senate commit
two years ago on its investigation
the Brewery owned saloon" and
effect upon our cities and villag
showed that out of 814 saloons in t
Twin Cities, 712 were owned by bre
ers; that 41S buildings occupied by
looms in these cities were also owI
by brewers; that from so to Is ]
cent Of the liquor licenses in st. p;
and 40 per cent in Minneapolis /;
paid for by brewers; that 'sblind piI
and evil resorts are encouraged q
their existence made possible by tn,
same brewers; that their agents 9
officers shave sought to control ell
tions and have successfully dicta
affairs of duty with reference to nql
traffic" -
What the Issues Are.
The Democratic candidate wants
know who it is that this brewers
ganization Influences. He calls vi
me to name the men; he charges t
some Of them who in the past hi