The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1914-10-31

When come before the voters to
rgs the election OF William E. Lee
20 the governorship, said the man
behind the plow," 1t Is not because l
have any party interest In his candi-
dacy. I am not q Republican. 1t Is
nothing to me from party point of
view whether we have Republican
or q Democratic administration In St.
Paul.
l come to speak to you as citizen,
not as a partisan. | am as deeply in
terested In everything which makes
or mars the moral and material well
fare Of the state as my Republican
and Democratic friends are. Indeed,
when political campaigns rise above
the low level Of a mere scramble for
positions, when real Issues are in
volved affecting tho lives Of our citi-
Eens, the safety and security Of our
homes, or the economic welfare Of
society, they become essentially con-
tests which should be settled from the
viewpoint of citizenship rather than
craftsmanship.
There are two distinct and
important issues iHvolyed-the
state business and the booze
business-both Of which chal-
lenge the most deliberate con-
sideration and Judgment on the
part OF the voters Of the state. !"
.
Equipped For the Office.
In the history Of the state few men
have sought the Office OF governor
better equipped for its duties in this
respect than William e. Lee. He
knows Minnesota. He has lived here
81 years, the entire period of our
statehood. He Is successful man
of affairs with practical knowledge
OF men and methods that would be
almost Invaluable to governor at
this time.
The Democratic candidate, on the
other hand, Is practically stranger
to the state, and he proves it when
no makes q speech about state condi-
tlons and state problems. The one
thing, however, which the taxpay-
ers Of Minnesota will consider most
carefully in connection with Mr.. Ham
mond's candidacy for governor is
why, with all his ability and infiu-
ence OF which we have heard SO much,
he has never made fight for economy
as member Of congress. 1t was
needed then.
Indeed. II Mr.. Hammond Is
Of an economical turn of mind
at all, it is a pity he did not "
stick to his job in Washington
and use his ability and influ-
ence In ar effort to shut the
tloodgates Of extravaganza in
federal appropriations.
Mr.. Hammond. as prominent men,
Der Of the powerful house organza-
tlon, will have to wash his hands
pretty clean Of responsibility for this
state of affairs before he can make
the taxpayers Of Minnesota believe
that he Is the right man for the JOB
of enforcing economy In our state
government.
Brewery influence tho Issue.
.
have often wondered why
it has been impossible to move
the state OF Minnesota forward
even one inch on this Issue dur
ing the last Is years. Since the
enactment Of the local option
law we have been standing
practically still in the matter
of legislation I believe the
reason for this situation has
been that we have had to con-
tend with a tendency to dissi-
pate and divide the forces OF
sobriety on one hand, and on
the other an absolutely perfect
working alliance between whis-
ky and crooked politics.
There was not during the primary
campaign. nor Is there now, any ques-
ton where William E. Lee stands on
the issue Of county option.
There has been no equivocation or
evasion there. That language ex-
presses q conviction and does not
conceal one. That Is what tho in
telIigent. progressive voters of today
expect OF candidate for high pub
lie office-wilIingness to take the pub
lie fully into his confidence and
courage to stand up and be counted
on the big, vital issues which divide
public opinion.
When we examine the position Of
the Democratic candidate for COVER
nor there is a different story to tell.
During the primary campaign not a
word came from Washington indicat-
ing his position on this question. FL
nally the announcement came. What
was it? A non-committal dodge. A
statement from which neither friends
nor foes can determine where the
Democratic candidate really stands