The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1891-02-05
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Senator Davis Gallant Fight for
an Additional Congressman
in MinnesOta-Buclxm
Enemies after His Scalp
No Extra Session
Probable.

/
Enemies after His Scalp
No Extra Session
| Probable.
Union Special Correspondence. =
w WASHINGTON, Jan. 81, 1891.
Senator Davis made a magnif-
cent fight to secure for Minnesota
an additional member in the next
house of representatives. He was
ably seconded by Senator Wash
burn, and Senator Casey, of North
Dakota, also came to his support,
but the Republicans of the senate
opposed his amendment because it
offered an extra member to two
Democratic states and one doubt
full state. It was a matter of par
tisanship, instead of justice; and
consequently Minnesota, with al
most enough population to entitle
her to number the same as other
states, was defeated.
The arguments made by Senator
Davis in behalf of the amendment
he offered were unanswerable, were
according to precedent, and just
understanding of the terms of the
constitution providing for the re-
apportionment of members among
the several states of the Union.
But, owing to the desire to retain
the grip, or the control, of national
affairs, the little. New England
states, aided by some of the states
lately admitted, stood firmly to-
gether and insisted upon having
the bill put through as it, came
from the house.
It is quite probable, in fact alto
gether possible; that if Chairman
Dunnen of the census committee in
the house had had the nerve to
propose to put through a bill OF
his own instead of accepting the
one prepared, and which finally
passed, introduced by Frank, Of
Missouri, that Minnesota would
have got the extra member to which
she is clearly entitled, if her mem
bers in congress, with the exception
Of Mr.. Lind, who made vigorous
flight for minnesota, had not al
lowed things to 60 along. Com
! stock and Hall stood ready to vote
with Mr.. Lind in the house, but it
is evidently apparent that their
votes would have cut no figure, as
the followers of Mr.. Dunnell were
too strong to be overpowered. The
fact is that Dunnell had very little
to do with the bill, and had to
make his wishes conform with the
wishes of the majority Of the COM
mittee. i
But to the Minnesota senators
credit should be given for the fact
that they have opposed the party
position, made a strenuous fight
for the extra member, and would
have secured it had it not been for
a fear that the bill might fail if II
went back to the house and was
laid over to another congress, when
the house would be Democratic.
A great deal of talk has been oc.
casioned here over the proposition
that engenders against Hon. G. B.
Buchanan for the position of sur
veyor- general of the State of Min
nesota. All the old fights in which
Buchanan was engaged have been
revived, and everybody who has
been his political enemy jumped in
and made a fight against him.
There has been great deal OF
trouble over Minnesota appoint
ments in nearly every instance, and
in no State has there been the
amount of bad blood exhibited, as
in Minnesota. The senators have
hardly ever agreed on an appoint
ment' and when they have agreed
some objection has been raised by
the administration, or the admins
tration's friends, against them.
Patronage has not been success
under the present administration
SO far as the North Star State is
concerned.
It is a lucky thing that there arc
not many more appointments to be
made, as Minnesota would be all
torn up again every time a man is
an applicant for a place. It is
sometimes asserted that some In
diana man in Minnesota has more
influence in the White House than
all the Minnesota delegation put
together, and from the way things
work it would not be strange il
this was a fact.
Since the election bill is laid
aside it is quite probable now that
congress will go ahead and put