The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1927-03-30
THE JOB OF BEING GOVERNOR


frequent and extended visitations
The plan to reorganize the government of the
state of his most cherished ideals and he
bent every energy to that end that this ideal might
become reality.
He promised the people in his campaign that
he would do his utmost to keep down expenses and
especially to cut out such expenditures he thought
could be dispensed with, without impairing
vice.
His struggle to keep his promises and to keep
faith with the people is well known. The way of
the man who attempts to keep down and curtail
governmental expenditures is not path of roses.
Figuratively, it is fstic encounter, with someone
to dispute every inch of the way. Such has been
the case with the governor He has encountered
opposition from many quarters and his efforts to
keep down the peoples tax bill have presented a
strenuous problem. But the governor seems to
thrive on opposition and he has gone on his way
and done his work and has hewn to the line. Most
of the time the governor has had to stand with his
back to the wall and fight.
His fight is the peoples fight. He is bend
ing every energy to adjust the affairs of govern
ment that savings may be effected and tax bills
reduced.
1t is often that the efforts of public officials
are not appreciated. However, in Governor Chris
tansons case we believe that the people, generally
are very appreciative There several reasons
for this. He has made every possible effort to keep
his campaign promises, regarding them, not as mere
aids to election, but obligations to be fulfilled
He has shown results and he is carrying the fight
on with relentless energy.
The governor recognizes the fact, so often
looked, that tax burdens as the result of ex-
pendures and that in order to Tighten the tax load
there must be curtailment of expenditures. That
is the reason why the governor has from time to
time found it necessary, in order to carry out his
promises, to make effective objection to various
schemes for spending public funds.
The governors attitude in this, while provok-
ing vigorous protests in certain quarters, has met
with the warmest approval among the people.
There is much independent thinking on sub
jects relating to government and politics and
and more there is tendency to view such mat
ters in the light of the facts that surround them
rather than in the light of party affiliations. This
is very noticeable in the case of Governor Chris
Hanson. People who embrace other political faiths
than that held by the governor are some of the
most enthusiastic supporters of his policies in the
conduct OF his administration. His efforts have
struck responsive chord with the rank and file
Of citizens. - T
1t is not an easy job to be governor and try to
do something consequential in the matter OF tax
reduction. Every such effort ramifes in many
directions that opposition to spring up at
every step. There is doubt that those who want
expenses kept down and expenses curtailed far out
number those who want more money spent regard
less of consequences. But the fact remains that
the fellows who want to spend are, rule, much
better organized than the fellows who want to
and have a much more effective way of reaching
executive and administrative officials
The average taxpayer "kicks" in a general way
about the tax burden, but the fellow who is finan-
cally interested in appropriation or who wants
Certain expenditures made makes his objections very
specific.
The public does not fully realize the import
ance of "hoding up the hands" of the official who
struggles for lower levies and less expenditures.
Of course we recognize the fact that there are
expenditures that are in themselves economy and
that there is such a thing wastefuly withhold
ing expenditures. We must not overlook the
"happy mean in this any than in other
things
The people must realize that expenditures and
taxes go hand in hand and that the extent of the
former measures the amount of the latter.
Governor Christensen has always been an ad-
vocate of reduced expenditures He has always
advocated economy in the administration of public
funds. He did this throughout the whole of his
career legislator and he is now but carrying a
policy that has ever held foremost position in
any political platform that he has endorsed or pro-
mulgated
1t is but natural that should not agree
on the expenditure of public funds That which
looms large in the eyes of does not appeal with
much force to another One may think GER
tain public work the most important of all while
another will have entirely different ideas. These
different opinions must battle for their in ev-
cry form of organized society and of the most
important things to be accomplished by any gov
eminent is to cooperate and correlate the various
activities in manner that will give each its proper
position, its proper attention, and more
Governor Christianson has been trying to main
tain this proper relationship between the various
l.
ing to keep expenditures within due metes an,
bounds. For all of which he is today deserved.
pronounced zone of Minnesota's outstanding cover
nors'-the man to whom campaign promise is