The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1889-10-18

of the friends of the bills said:
1--WE admit that we used money; we
do not care who knows it; the Sen
ate shows itself capable of being
bought, and we knew that our oppo-
nents were spending money in large
sums; therefore we felt justified in
using money. The only trouble was
that we were outbid.
''They were bought at the senatorial
election, and I know they have been
bought by both sides on this Duluth
4 Winnipeg bill. 1t is time the peo-
pie OF the state rose and demanded
purity in the legislative halls. Aman
is elected to represent the people, but
he seems to think he is there to line
his pockets. This is one of the reas-
ons why would not dabble in politics.
should have to associate with men
whom l consider beneath me in honor
and every other respect.
"a prominent lawyer asked why the
Senate was always the body which
was approached. Another very
prominent lawyer, who is also con-
siderable OF a politician, said: Why,
1T does not matter about the House,
any measure has topass both bodies;
and there are fewer to buy in the Sen
ate, and they are more easily
The general opinion seemed to be-
and nothing else was talked of-that
the whole affair was a disgrace to the
state, and ought to be investigated.
No embarrassing ought to be allow
ed, but thorough and radical in
vestigation should be held, and not
only the bribee but the briber shown
up to the public.
The man who has not visited the
last Legislature can form no concep-
ton OF the reeking atmosphere OF
corruption which surrounded it. 1t
was shocking it was shameful.
Members who are naturally honest
were carried away in the maelstrom
OF iniquity. 1t seemed to them that to
refuse the thousands which were flying
around them in all directions, was to
play the fool. The tone of the St.
Paul press added to the demoraliza-
ton. One newspaper, the st. Paul
Dispatch, in it's issue of Jan. "a, justi-
fed the Generalization ofsociety and
declared it to be the permanent future
condition of our country. 1t said:
'"The era of public speech-making
and other literary and intellectual
performances is fast passing away,
and the political contests of the fu-
ture will be more and more under the
control of brilliant strategists and
tacticians like Gen. New, Col. Dudley
and Major Quay.
A gentleman who was much around
the Legislature last winter wrote me
the other day:
"While you throw the burden of
the blame on the Senate it must not
be forgotten that the last House was
not one iota it's superior. Every
thing done by the gang" was for
effect and Doodle. When a bill or re-
solution antagonistic to monopoly
was introduced it was done only to
make 'em whack up. \ y
And into such crowd Mr.. - was
ushered to make his debut as legis-
lator. Filled with high and noble ideas
of the solemn duties of a legislator he
was surprised, when he fairly became
initiated into the mysteries that per-
vaded such an honorable (?) body;
and that guide and determine honest
CD legislation. No wonder Mr.
did not show himself very much; any
honest man would be ashamed of
such surroundings"
No intelligent man can doubt that
thelast Legislature, from it's first day
oits close, gave an awful impetus to
evil in this state of Minnesota; an
impetus which will be felt for genera
tions to come; an impetus which is
only to be overcome, if it is overcome
at all, by concerted and determined
action among the producing classes.
There are only two classes in So
ciety:-those who create and those
who appropriate. Wecannot look to
appropriations for good government.
They have no interest in anything
good, their work, their ways, their
results, are altogether evil. 1t is the
honest men, the producers, the crea-
tors of wealth, whom bad govern
ment Expresses; and who alone can
be depended upon to defend popular
rights, because they are their rights.
The horrible antics of such a Legis-
ture as our last, would be amusing if
they were not ominous. The utter
indifference to the cause ofthe people;
the open, shameless servility to the
cOrDOratiOnS. the blatant; humiliat-