PROGRESSIVISM IN MINNESOTA
Nash, James Linn
Progressivism in Minnesota By JAMES LINN NASH (What are the progressives doing in Minnesota? Are the champions of popular government accomplishing anything in this Big Business-controlled state of...
...BUT it was when the time came to nominate a Lieutenant Governor that the real temper of the convention made itself felt...
...The next installment will tell about the work of organized bodies of citizens in this movement.—Editor's Note...
...The efforts of the Anti-Saloon League, which had conducted a vigorous campaign throughout the State previous to the convention, to secure the insertion of a mild county option plank in the platform, though unsuccessful, were productive of a surprisingly large vote, which the politically wise regarded as indicative rather of decided opposition to brewery domination than endorsement of the temperance movement...
...They are...
...Evidence of this appeared first at the Republican State Convention held last June in St...
...It was found that the important committees were all headed, and for the most part composed of, "radicals," in other words, members of the progressive wing of the republican party...
...At a Republican banquet held on Lincoln's Birthday, he delivered a speech which was distinctively progressive in tone...
...In making up his committees he took no one into his confidence...
...Paul the progressives decided that Hugh T. Halbert, who had been active in several political reform organizations and had introduced a resolution in the Republican state convention condemning the Payne-Aldrich Tariff as a violation of the pledge of the Republican party, and commending the "insurgent" Congressman who opposed it, was the man to make the race against Stevens...
...These tendencies have been markedly demonstrated since he assumed office...
...Moreover, the organiztion of the Progressives in Minneapolis had a stimulating effect throughout the state...
...The intense sertiment against Cannonism prevalent in Minnesota as elsewhere throughout the Northwest, gave the Progressive movement tremendous impetus...
...The opposition crystallized first in Minneapolis and resulted in the formation of the Hennepin County Progressive Republican League, the chief purpose of which was to defeat Wm...
...The fourth Minnesota Congressional District, wherein are located the home offices of the Great Northern, Northern Pacific and Omaha Railroads, is the center of big railroad, brewing and jobbing interests, and Halbert was obliged to battle against their opposition as well as that of the local republican machine...
...he is a man of strong and independent character, and while he had not then actively identified himself with the progressive movement, he was known to have decided progressive tendencies...
...The "Old Guard" muttered and grumbled, and threatened insurrection, but finally submitted...
...PROGRESSIVE REPUBLICANISM has made remarkable headway in Minnesota during the past year...
...When he announced his committee appointments the "Old Guard" suffered a severe shock...
...But the machine had not reckoned with the strong sentiment against corporation influence which was manifested by a large number of the delegates when the convention assembled...
...The new Lieutenant Governor has made an admirable presiding officer and seems destined for further political preferment...
...Not a little of the credit for this progressive triumph is due Thomas L. Fraser of Rochester, who was a tower of strength for the anti-Tawney forces...
...His vote against the Payne-Aldrich Tariff Bill also helped him materially, many believing that this indicated he was a good progressive...
...Nye for renomination at the primaries...
...Strong pressure was brought to bear upon him from influential sources close to the big corporations, but he refused to yield to it or make any promises...
...Gordon is a country newspaper editor...
...According to schedule, W. A. Nolan of Grand Meadow, who had been one of the most conspicuous champions of the corporation interests in the 1909 legislature, was to be given the second place on the ticket...
...Are the champions of popular government accomplishing anything in this Big Business-controlled state of the Middle West...
...The fact that both Congressman Nye of Minneapolis and Congressman Stevens of St...
...How much has been done already, and what must be done as the next step forward, is set forth by Mr...
...In performing his most important function as presiding officer of the State Senate,—that of appointing committees,—he displayed his independent spirit...
...Despite these tremendous obstacles, he made a remarkable whirlwind campaign of fourteen days against a man who had been in office fourteen years...
...In consequence strong sentiment was aroused against him...
...He succeeded in carrying the two country counties in his district, but lost the city of St...
...Gifford Pin-chot scored him in a stirring speech and Anderson defeated him at the polls by a substantial majority...
...However, the League's candidate, Albert H. Hall, an attorney, made a good run, losing only by a narrow margin...
...After the organization of the Hennepin County Progressive Republican League, the progressives of his district gained courage and Sidney M. Anderson seized the inviting opportunity to run in opposition...
...Nash in the following article...
...His constituents were determined to punish him for his utter disregard of their views...
...In St...
...Tawney's Defeat BUT the most notable achievement of the progressives in Minnesota in 1910 was the defeat of Congressman James A. Tawney, Cannon's right hand man, by an obscure country lawyer, not thirty years old...
...In this it was not successful for Nye had too strong an organization behind him and was too well intrenched...
...Tawney was the only Minnesota Congressman who ventured to vote for the Payne-Aldrich Tariff Bill against the overwhelmingly adverse opinion of his constituents...
...Primaries Reveal Progressive Strength AT THE primary elections, in September, progressivism again played a militant and partially victorious role...
...The leaven of political reform, which for many years appeared to have little effect on what is one of the worst corporation-ridden states in the west, is now working steadily and bringing important results...
...Though poorly organized this sentiment was sufficiently powerful to puncture several holes in the carefully prepared slate of the interest representing politicians...
...Halbert had a most difficult task before him...
...The Old Guard had carefully prepared a slate in advance of this event and confidently expected to put it through as usual...
...Nolan...
...The Taft administration did all it could to help him, some of the Twin City papers defended him and Senator Knute Nelson of Minnesota issued a statement endorsing him, but all in vain...
...Paul and was defeated...
...The Ramsey County Progressive Republican League was organized to back him...
...Nothing could save him...
...Paul...
...Because of Tawney's prominence, the contest attracted national attention...
...But the interests lost control of convention at this juncture and after the dust and smoke of battle had subsided, the old leaders rubbed their eyes in bewilderment on discovering that S. Y. Gordon of Browns Valley had been substituted for Mr...
...Paul had voted to sustain Cannon's arbitrary power, when the Speaker was attacked last spring by the confined forces of the progressive Republicans and Democrats, roused resentment in the hearts of many of their constituents...
Vol. 3 • April 1911 • No. 13
