The Grange advance., 1874-01-14
EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENTS.
Sr. PAUL, Jan. 7th, 1874.

The Legislature convened yesterday at
twelve o'clock, promptly. the Senate being
called to order by Lieut.. Gov. Yale, and
! the House of Representatives by the Hon.
, $. ?. Jennson, Secretary OF State The
| all absorbing question was that Of the Or
| ganzing Of the House. The officers OF the
Senate had been determined by the repub
lcan caucus the preceding evening, Il nonl
inatiou by that caucus being equivalent TO
an election But not SO Of the House, for
notwith hstanding the Press claimed repub-
iican ma jority Of about fifteen, and the Dis
pu;ch asserted that the opposition had Il
majority Of FIVE at least, every reasonable,
impartial observer. saw plainly that the
contes, would be very close, with the
chances in favor OF the republicans. What
object is expected to be gained by these
wllfu perversions and misrepresentation
of facts do no, know, unless il be to suck
in a few Of the weak -kneeu, ha!f-cookel.
miserable brainless gulls, who always go
with the winning side if they only know
which that is.
After the members had been sworn in the
Chair announced that the next thing would
be the election Of speaker. Mr.. David Tuy
lor, of Houston Co.. nominated on the part Of
. the anti -llonopoisls, the Hon. john y. D;-
part Of the republicans, nominated tie Hon
\. r. Ha!. 81 iIenuep;n Go. As the roll
was b:ing called, the most intense interes,
was manifested. The voice Of the clerk IT'S
he called the names. and the response of
ulrN.i,e:>. Hall: Dr :. Davidson were
the only sounds in tuc chamber. \ great
many attempted to keep tally some Of
whom grow excited as the vote proceeded
that :hcy were SOON left in hopeless co,-
fusion. and then betooA themselves 10
watching others who had been more sue
cessiu? III keeping track OF ihe vote. Mem
bers Frequently re-T,u1e.1 the name Of the
mar they I;l',t want to vote for, and then
cosi>cuas Of tllc mistake instantly Stan-
;!'''i:': yul The correct name For Il long
t::;ir t.te count sfpn,, ::,.nost even finally
Davidson sac: ,il-u: some eight or ten
votes, aud rs yiic clerk was now down in
the Rs it seemed as if he was going to w in
the day, but Hail :, e:l,Iily gained on him on
t;!e iionlc stretch, A!l when the clerk )
voice :;al ceased every one who hal kept
a correct count SAW that Hall had 5 10
Davidson 80. AIr. Lord then stated that
he hal respnn'le twice having mistaken
the name o: a man WHO was not present for
his own. Thi, reduced Mr.. Davidson )
vote to 49.
1t has been a long time since the Leyis}a
ture OF Minnesota has seen so close CON
test if it has ever occurred in that BODY be
fore. Ut course it is generally claimeI
that the progressive movement Of the far
mers has been the cause Of the great in
crease Of strength in the ranks of the oppo-
sition; but whether this be so or not, the
people have certainly nothing to lose but
everything to gain IN keeping the part;es
pretty nearly evenly divided When any
party becomes overwhelmingly strong it
will invariably use that strength to its own
pecunlary aggrandizement. and the preiu-
dice Of the people. But when the pal ties
are of nearly equal strength the people will
be courted by both, their rights will be re-
spected, and their will ooeyed by whichev-
er party is in power.
The rest Of the Republican nominees
were elected by larger ma ajoritieS than vas
the Speaker. The following is the list -
Chief Clerk. 5. H. Nichols, of Otter Tail :;
First Assistant, J Y. Brewer: Second AS
sistant, N. 3. Chadwick. of Steele Enroll
ing Clerk, S. D. Hillman, Of Olmsted :;
Engrossing Clerk, L. L. Wilson, Of Dodge :;
Assistant, James Hunter, Of Rice, who is
also Postmaster; Sergeant alarms, Bail
ley Mattison, Of Farbault: Assistant, J ohm
G. Greening, Of Waseca
Mr.. Hall, the Speaker, is quite young
man, about thirtytwo, and his appearance
would not indicate the reputation he has
earned for ability as a presiding officer
tie now enters upon the duties Of that Of
flee for the third term in succession. He is
said to be courteous and atfable gentleman.
good parliamentarian, and an impartial
officer He is engaged IN the mercantile
business at Dayton, Hennerin county. l
should have mentioned that the Rev Dr..
Brown, of St. Paul, was chosen Chaplain
He returned his thanks, and stated that
the office had boen unsought.