Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1932-08-11

Willis l. Norton is political mas
ter-mind. He is an opportunist too.
AS the paid attorney of the Anti
Saloon League he made associations
and contacts upon which he has built
a prestige that has made him valu-
able to the special interests. Upon
the wings of the prohibition move
ment, therefore, he rose to power In
the legislature. With the adoption
of the Eighteenth Amendment and
the passage of the Volstead Act. it
would seem that the main objective
of the Anti-Saloon League was
achieved and it probably was as far
'as the League itself was concerned.
But Willis l. Norton. master politi-
clan, had other things in mind. He
was determined that the position and
prestige of the powerful legislative
lobby created by the good men and
women in the interest of prohibition
must not die with the birth Of the
Eighteenth Amendment. In those
days there was real opportunity for a
man of Norton's cunning. The U. S.
Steel interests were aroused over the
agitation for tonnage tax and the
public utilities, the railroads. the big
bankers and other special interests
were alarmed about the activity and
the interest many citizens were be-
ginning to take in the conduct and
operation of their corporations.
Up to the time of the passage Of
the Eighteenth Amendment and the
Volstead Act. big business had been
able to center the public's attention
upon the brewers and prohibition.
Now that prohibition was realized,
millions of citizens and taxpayers be-
gan to pay some attention to the ac-
tivities of big business and its rela-
tion to the public. The big business
interests needed protection in the
legislature and the Norton Anti
Saloon League machine was ready
made for them. The Anti-SalOon
League lobby has become the Nor
ton public utility lobby and it is func-
tioning successfully in the lower
house to this day. Members of the
legislature have lent themselves to
NOrtOn's manipulatiOns in exchange
for clerkships, important committee
assignments and other considerations.
Under Norton rule, nepotism has
thrived and prospered as never be-
fore, and honest members of the leg
islature who have dared defy the
order of things have been marked as
cranks. fanatics or radicals.
In the 1881 session the power of
Norton began to wane primarily be-
cause the voice of the honest legisla-
tor was beginning to be heard in the
wilderness. In the recent primaries
many of Mr.. Norton's henchmen took
the count; many more will take it on
November Sth and the abolition of
Norton rule in the 1888 house at this
time is not inconceivable. The State
News has made a relentless fight on
Nortonism and the things it repre-
sents. We shall continue this fight.
The Norton-public-u utility controlled
legislature must become a thing of
the past in Minnesota. Until that
time the average citizen and tax
payer can hope for little genuine re-
lief from our law-making body.
ALL OF THE VOTERS IN MINNIE
sofa WILL TAKE PART IN THE
ELECTION OF THE 1888 LEGISLA-
TURE. This is the time to scrutinize
the records and the associations of
your candidates for the House. Not
after November 9Th. THAT is TOO
LATE Now is the time to rid the
state Of Norton rule in the legisla-
ture. Demand that your candidates
for representative in the state legis-
lature declare themselves on the issue
of Nortonism.
NORTON PUBLIC UTILITY
CONTROLLED RULE is THE BIG
GEST ISSUE IN THE LEGISLATIVE
1t is a more important
issue than who the next governor
shall be, because this body may null
lily the good intentions of any COVER
nor. The state Senate is today pretty
evenly balanced between the so-called
and the reactionaries and
the election of lower House opposed
to the domination of the special in
terest group will turn that balance
in favor of legislation today so vital
to the well-being of the average citi-
zen and taxpayer.