Morris tribune., 1914-10-30

urge the election of William E. Lee
to the goVernorship, said the man
behind the plow," it is not because
have any party interest in his candi-
dacy. / am not Republican. It is
nothing to me from party point of
view whether we have a Republican
or Democratic administration in St.
Paul.
/ come to speak to you as citizen,
not as partisan. l 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 mere scramble for
positions, when real issues are in
volVed affecting the lives of our citi-
Zens, 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
partisanship.
There are two distinct and .
important issues involved-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. =
= y
Equipped For the Office.
In the history of the state few men
have sought the Office of governor
better equipped for it's 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 a successful man
of affairs with a practical knowledge
of men and methods that would be
almost invaluable to a governor at
this time.
The Democratic candidate, on the
other hand, is practically a stranger
to the state, and he proves it when
he makes speech about state condi,
tions 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 infu
ence, of which we have heard so much
he has never made fight for economy
as a member of congress. 1t was
needed then.
4 s.
Indeed, if 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- I
ence in an effort to shut the :
f1oodgates of extravaganza in
federal appropriations.
Mr.. Hammond, as prominent mem
Der of the powerful house organiza
ton, will have to wash his hand.
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 joE
of enforcing economy in our state
government.
Brewery Influence the Issue.
I have often wondered why :
it has been impossible to move :
the state of Minnesota forward :
even ore inch on this issue dur
ing the last 25 years. Since the
enactment of the local option
law we have been standing
practically still in the matter
Of legislation. 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 primar,
campaign, nor is there now, any ques
ton where William e. Lee stands OIL
the issue of county option.
There has been no equiVocation o
evasion there. That language eS
presses conviction and does no
conceal one. That is what the In
teIIigent, progressive voters of toda,
expect of candidate for a high pub
lie office-WiI!ingness to take the pub
lie fully into his confidence an
courage to stand up and be counte
on the big, vital issues which divid
public opinion.
When we examine the position @
the Democratic candidate for goveI
nor there is a different story to tel
During the primary campaign not
word came from Washington indicat
Ing his position on this question. F
nally the announcement came. VIVA
was it? A non-committal dodge.
statement from which neither friend
nor foes can determine where tn
Democratic candidate really stand