Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1932-08-11
The Legislature and
the Public Utilities

OnueT the dUONc CdptlOu thO
State News of Minneapolis. con-
tanned a most excellent editorial
in its last issue, which shows
plainly that the editor is stu
dent of politics, knows the inner
workings of legislatures-espe-
cially the Minnesota legislature,
and the reasons for slow advance
ment of legislation in behalf OF
the masses. The State News
shows how and why nepotism has
thrived in the Minnesota legis-
lature and how little the general
public may expect from that type
of legislators who are there to
feather their own nest-just so
much voting fodder in the ma
chine which controls.
The newspaper also brings out
that those who dare defy the
order of things have been marked
as cranks, fanatics or radicals"
Yes, the State News editor might
also have added that outstanding
men like Representative S. A.
Stockwell of Minneapolis and 9TH
ers of his type, have been called
Socialists and Reds because they
defied the order of things and
had the audacity to call ring
leaders and their hirelings on
their nefarious schemes. If the
legislature consisted of fifty per
cent or more of the high-minded
able, and honest type of men like
the veteran Stockwell it would
function in a different manner
than has prevailed in the past.
He accepts no jobs for any rela-
tives and asks no favors, is there
to serve and does serve. He sets
a splendid example as a legislator
and to know him is to regard him
as a statesman, to love and to
honor him. He is above reproach
and money cannot buy him. That
type of leadership is certainly to
be preferred and is badly needed
above the trickery, conniving sort
which only leads to more dark
ness. The State News editorial
follows:
On November 8th the voters of Min
lesota will elect the members VIII,
will sit in the Forty-Eighth session
If our state legislature. The Forty
eighth session is certain to go dow
n history as one of the most impOr
ant if not the most important in re
,ent years. Because of the condition
If the times, much will be expected
rom this session and the citizens an(
axpayers will look to it to solve many
If the problems which today vel
hem. 1t will be the Forty-Eightf
ession that will carry out the pro
-isions of the State Income Tal
in the event that thi:
is adopted by the voters
Upon the shoulders of this session
90, will rest the responsibility o.
achieving real economy in state gov
of hating the onward
march of monopoly and of safeguard
ng the rights of the individual citi
en. Past sessions of the legislature
lave accepted these responsibilities:
lightly. Why? Chiefly because the
men who controlled and directed the
policies of this body were more con.
,erned in the preservation of the
interests of special privilege thar
hey were in the interest of the com
non man. The public utilities, the
,hain banks, the chain stores and biz
business in general have in past SEES
ions pooled their influence and hell
irmly the control throttle in thu
over body of our legislature.
The lower house of our state legis
AZURE has, as far back as we cal
'ecollect, been under the domination
# the big business block which ha'
ode rough shod over the wishes o
hose members of the legislature wht
lave honestly tried to serve the bes
interests of the people. For man!
Tears Willis l. Norton, so-called czal
If the House and alleged spokesman
or the public utilities, the chair
stores and the chain banks, has ruled
,ver our lower house with an iroI
hand. He has dictated the election
" the speaker, named the personne
" the important committees and LEI
he majority of the House like JUS
10 many sheep. OF course, Morton
could not do this If the voters tool
IS keen an interest in the election
" the members to the state legisla
ure as Norton's clients do.