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


tics, and asks: Are they extraya-
true"
The democratic candidate for gov
ernor processes not to know that there
is a brewery organization in Mime
sofa or that it has been exerting a
> most powerful influence in politics for
many years; that it has intruded it.
self into every village and city in the
state and has maintained a lobby in
the state capitol during every legisla-
ture; that it is, and has been, a most
potent factor in Minnesota politics.
II he is ignorant Of all this,
it is evident that his stay in the
city of Washington for the past
eight years has put him entire
ly out of touch with what has
been going on in Minnesota.
He is as innocent concerning mat
ters political as he Ia of the number
Of acres Of waste land that there is In
our state or with the kind Of timber
that should be used In reforesting
these lands to secure q rapid growth
and quick return of Investment.
Record On Brewery Control.
II he will read the little booklets
published by Lynn Haines and G. J.
Buell. on the sessions Of the legisla-
ture for the years OF 1909, 1911 and
1913, he will get an idea Of this pow
erful brewery organization and what 1t
stands for and against in legislation,
and something OF notion OF who has
been serving it. The history written
by these men, so far as it refers to the
influence OF the brewery organization
on legislation, has never been ques-
tened; in fact, it circulates as accept
ed history. Mr.. Haines says:
THE brewers exert an i'm
measurably evil influence in
Minnesota politics. Their prof
legacy and unscrupulous prac-
tees in campaigns make the
better class Of citizens hesitate
to become candidates for the
legislature, and results directly
In the election OF lawmakers
lacking both in patriotic con-
ception Of their duties and in I"
the character which should &C.
company such responsibility. ."
He recities cases OF trade and log
rolling for the advancement of defeat,
as the brewery combination may wish,
Of important legislation throughout
both of the sessions concerning which
he writes
Responsibility For Brewery influence.
The effort Of the democratic candi-
date to shoulder the responsibility for
the brewery influence In our legisla-
ture onto the republicans will not
stand Investigation. No doubt his
source of information in this case is
the same as which gave him the in
formation that the state tax levy for
1915 would be increased and that C..
P. Staples is now member Of tho
Railroad and Warehouse commission.
The fact is that there have
been no party lines in legisla-
ton affecting the liquor bust
ness. and the brewers have
never inquired into q legisla-
tors party afiliation,-that he
is with them Is sufficient.
might say for the gentleman's in
formation that in every session the
per cent Of Democratic members who
have shown symptoms of brewery in
nuence has been much greater than
has been the case among the Republi-
can members.
In the house in 1909 there were Fl
Democrats. In 1911 there were 20
Democrats. In both sessions the roll
call shows that not one voted for
County Option. In 1913 there were 20
Democrats in the House, and only one
voted for County Option. In 1909 and
1913 County Option was not voted on
in the Senate, but in 1911 the Senate
roll call shows only two Democratic
votes in favor Of County Option.
Republicans Favor Moral Regulations.
Whenever the question of County
Option has come up In either house q
majority Oh the hepuDllcan members
have voted for it, and all temperance
and moral legislation has received its
chief support from Republicans. Has
the Democratic candidate really been
ignorant OF all this?
- . .
am but repeating what every
well-informed citizen of Mime
sofa knows when I say that the
brewery organization in the leg
lslature of Minnesota has q
large number Of votes in each