Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1914-06-03
SPEAKER OF HOUSE
FOR STATE AUDITOR
Remarkable Record Clearly Entities
Him to the Nomination at Re-
publican Primaries.


and has since been engaged in the
newspaper business.
In 1906 he was elected to the House
of the Minnesota legislature from the
district comprising the counties Of
Chisago, Pine and Kanabec. He was
reelected three times without opposi-
ton. He took up his wider duties in
the same spirit of earnest investiga-
ton, applying his studious attention
to the problems of state government,
and before the close of his first ses-
sion he was recognized as a clear
thinking, valuable member. Each sue
ceeding session found him looked
upon with higher regard. He was con-
suited as leader and an authority
whose advice could be relied upon,
both because of it's honesty and be-
cause of its soundness. During his
legislative career he not only cham
pioned many important bills which are
now laws, but took leading part in
the passage of all important reform
legislation enacted by the legislature
during the past eight years. He was
recognized as one of the best informed
men in the legislature, good parlia-
mentarian and hard and earnest
worker He always was independent
NO MACHINE OR CLIQUE CON-
TRoLLED HIS VOTE. He stood for
what he believed to be for the best
interests of the people, always favor
ing economy and laws improving moral
and social conditions. His record is
one of opposition to domination in
the legislature and of politics by the
liquor interests and other demoraliz-
ing influences.
When the progressive movement for
popular government reached the
stage at which, after long, hard
struggle, success seemed assured, Mr.
Rines was looked to as the sanest and
the best expression of that modern
movement in Minnesota and he was
made Speaker of the House, where his
leadership proved the magnet that
held men together in a great fight for
civic righteousness and governmental
efficiency.
Quietly, unostentatiously, naturally,
Henry Rines has come up out of pow
erty and struggle to become leader
of men because he was honest, patient,
studious, human, kindly, and because
he was not afraid to face the battles
of life and subdue the obstacles there
Of He represents the best type Of
citizenship and his candidacy means
not only progressive politics, but it
also means clean personal living and
it appeals to those who feel that the
hope of the nation and state lies in
men like him, who place citizenship
and morality above selfshness and
greed.
His Legislative Record.
While space will not permit us to
give detailed account of all the i'm
portant legislation with which Mr..
Rines has been identified during his
legislative career we wish to call at
tention to some of the more important
features of his record.
Session of 1907.
A member of several important
committees, including taxes and re-
apportionment Introduced and Sc
cured the passage in the House under
suspension of the rules of a law re-
pealing the mineral lease law, which
permitted the leasing Of the states
mineral properties for Is cents per
ton royalty. Several attempts had
been made in previous sessions to in
crease the royalty without success,
so Mr.. Rines concluded that the only
way to protect the states interest
was to repeal the law and trust to
future legislatures to increase the roy
atty to a sum nearer it's true value,
Governor Johnson in the 1908 cam
paign made the statement in his OPEN
ing campaign speech that this piece
of legislation had saved the states
school fund millions of dollars Flu
ture legislatures have refused to pass
a new lease law, prefering to let the
state retain it's mineral wealth for the
present. Mr.. Rines also was active
in securing the passage of the law
u Sdt1IS Luc LdA COuUulSSlOu, the re-
suit of which was the increase of as
sessments on iron ore properties
amounting to $125,000000 in one year.
He had incorporated into the act an
amendment providing a method for
reassessing undervalued properties.
The tax commission proceeded under
this amendment in making the reas-
sessment in 1907. He also assisted in
the passage of the two-cent passen-
ger fare law, an act reducing freight
rates and the law abolishing railroad
and other passes.
Session Of 1909.
Mr.. Rines occupied prominent
part In the House organization, dur.
ing this session, being chairman of
the Rules committee. Besides taking
an active part in the passage of all
important legislation enacted, Mr.
Rines secured the passage of a law
reserving to the state all water pow.
ers on unsold state lands in the same