St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-07-15
SEEMS TO BE DEFEATED.

A hopeful fatality seems to be getting
its clutch on the efforts of the Louisiana
lottery to secure new lease of life. In
North Dakota the slate was made up
with two-thirdS majority in each house
to override the governor, but prema-
ture publicity left shortage of one or
two in the house. The failure was an
unexpected mischance The Louisiana
legislature has adjourned, and it seems
now that the lottery has failed. Its slip
was much closer than III the Dakota
state. and perhaps the deyout may see
in it a special providence. The exact
two-thirds was bagged in each house.
The bill passed by that vote with no
margin. 1t was held by the governor
to the last day allowed by law and re-
turned with his veto. This was ex-
pected, and the details were all provided
for to bring in on couch one senator
who was sick and whose vote was indis-
pensable to the passage of the bill. For
only one thing was there no pro-
vision. The doctors had all the re-
sources of their art or skill in service.
but the man was too sick to be carried
to the legislative halls to consummate
the lgnoble work. In the waning hours
of the session his spirit futtered in ex-
piring weakness. In the desperation of
the lottery people it was seriously con-
templated to convene the senate in his
dying chamber. What picture it would
have afforded for the advertising lltera-
ture of the great iniqulty,t the last breath
of the dying man being caught by ach-
ing and shameless ears to complete the
diShonor of the state. But he died in
the midst of this turbulent demand for
his vote. The last cog in the wheel had
slipped, and the evil that one man would
have done may not live after him as a
steady thing unless it finds new home.
1t was blunder, if it could have been
obviated, in the lottery managers, in
not securing legislators who could
stand the siXty-days racket, Or
providing margin for casual
ties. 1t must have fallen like
leaden weight on their ears when the
senator gasped his way out of the world
without leaving his vote. The pretense
was at once adopted that the governor
could not veto an amendment to the
constitution, and had no control over it.
This was the last refuge of defeat, and
turned into absurdity ali the action they
had taken. The language of the consti-
tuition is explicit, that all joint measures
of the two houses shall be subject to
his concurrence or passed by two-thirds
over his veto. The case goes to the SUI
preme court, and it is not believed that
corrupt influences can pervert that
body. 1t would be an inconceivable in
fanny if the highest court of the state
were to become an appendage of the lot
terry. There is no apprehension of this
with the men who have made the gal
liant fight in opposition. Still, they will
wait for their great jubilation till the
case has been acted On by the court and
their faith vindicated. Its defeat
now, if consummated, is expected
to drive the lottery from the state.
There will be no other chance'to get it
before the people in time to prevent the
lapse. The present situation seems to
insure the throwing of the question into
the political pool in North Dakota.
The struggle will come up in the Re-
publican convention to be held July %.
The followers of the hostile governor
will insist that express condemnation
shall be visited upon the scheme and all
who have attempted to introduce it into
that state. 1t will not be sufficient to
denounce the lottery. Its champions
must be cremated with it. They COM
prised majority of the party in the
legislature and much larger proper.
ton of the active leaders and promi-
nent newspapers. Those who attempt
to treat it as an obsolete and defunct
fact, not to be disturbed. will be taken
as its real or possible servants when the
exigency arises. 1t cannot be ig-
nored or pushed under the table.