The Twin City star. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1910-19??, 1914-10-02

ZatlOn 10 WHICH LHey relOHS! II IneSo
statements are true how could Mr.. Lee
In his same speech speak Of The af-
lection and high regard which one and
all bear in common with great ma
jority of the people Of the entire state
for the one organization which through
more than half a century of its history
as a state, with but two brief inter
ruptions, has guided its affairs and
shaped its policies to the present nat
hral development of the state and the
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-
mittsd 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
Nov are these charges made sim
ply to present . dark and terrible
background that the wilderness and
purity Of the present candidate may
be all the more respondent 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 the
laws. These advantages are often
called special privileges
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 IL
the duty of every public oficer to
stand like a rock in opposition-un-
yielding and firm. 1t is not always
the easiest thing to do; a powerful
adversary may be overcome but not
without leaving scars upon the victor;
but they are scars Of honor. Sneers
and Islander 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 the nonpartisan 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-
eeutive 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 the
legislature, he declared, but should
give special attention to those ques-
lions that have to do with the man
agement Of state affairs, its institu.
tons 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 its laws.
On County Option.
Mr.. Hammond discussed the quss.
ton Of county option at length, max
ing 1t 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. ., in
which he said:
"'At present there 10 local op-
tIon, and much sentiment In favor
Of substituting county option In
Ito place. The legislative cam
palon this year 10 being made
largely upon this Issue. No men,
Der OF the next legislature elected
by . county option constituency
and standing AZ q county option
candidate will vote against II, nor
will ono representing a commu-
nifty opposed to county option and
standing az a local option candi-
date vote for Il. Whether there
will DO . change In the unit or q
continuance Of the present sys-
tenn will be determined by the
character Of the next legislature,
and II will be, In effect, decided
~ soon az the election returns
are known. No recommendation
- nnna.nN. will L. 800.