St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-03-09
The Craig Apportionment
Bill Meets With Scarcely
Any Opposition.
DemOralized Condition of Po-
litical Parties in the State
Legislature.
The Labor Federation Will
Introduce Anti-Child-
Labor Bills.
Theory of Money Discussed
by the st. Paul Labor
Lyceum.

dppOftl0nment bill VIII be passed by
the senate, at least, and the boundaries
of the congressional districts fixed. for
the next decade. This measure Will go
through as originally introduced by the
Waseca statesman, because it is one of
the taIrest measures of the kind ever
devised. No attempt has been made to
take advantage of the anti-RepubIican
majority IN the legislature and gerry
mander the state. In this respect the
action of the Democratic and Alliance
members affords a striking contrast to
the action of the Republican legislature
which appOrtioned the state ten
years ago. Contrary to every prin-
ciple OF justice and fair play the
districts that were created were
manipulated in every possible way
against the minority party. They diff
Tered as much as 10000 in population,
and one, the Third, was a veritable
shoe string, stretching from the Missis-
slppl river to the Dakota line. So
shameful, indeed. does the old appor-
tlonment appear to the Republican
members of the present legislature
when compared with the measure in
troduced by the majority party this
year, that they never feel like entering
a single objection. They are being
treated so much better than they eX-
pected in this regard that they feel
more like giving thanks and credit for
FAIRNESS to their opponents than max
ing any facetious opposition.
That neither of the political parties in
This state has any organization that
merits the name is painfully apparent
nhSnrUnCc of
lature. A bad measure, whether sprung
by one side or the other. is sure to count
Its supporters III about equal numbers
from all sides. In states like Indiana,
Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York,
Wnere party organization means some
thing things are quite different If a
pad Dill comes from one side the organ
lZatiOn on the other at once SeiZeS and
starts out to make political capital
out of it. To be sure this does not
apply to purely business measures,
but it is really quite surprising
how many of the so-called cuisines
measures" in those states are consid-
cred as involving questions OF politics.
At the present time it is safe to say that
neither of the three parties in the legis-
lature Is able to secure the attendance
OF half Its members at caucus. To a
large extent this may be said to be due
to the fact that in years gone by party
organization in Minnesota has been sim
ply a system Of bossism by which a few
sO-called leaders on each side have at
tempted to use their party's strength
to advance their own interests. The
new members are afraid of such leaders,
and the older members steer clear of
them because they know them.
70 Of s.
Democrat, i'll discussing party organiza-
ton in this state at the Merchants yes
terday, ''it has been great many years
since the rank and file of the voters of
either the Democratic or Republican
party have had any confidence in their
organization. In early days both
parties were led by men who bat
tied for their parties because
they believed them to be right. Self
interest and private schemes in those
days did not outweigh devotion to party.
This lack of confidence in the leaders,
it seems to me. explains the appear
ance of the independents or Farmers
Alliance men at the last election. These
voters were disguised clear through with
the Republicans, but they did not have
confidence enough in the Democracy to
turn to them in this state. In Wiscon-
sin it was different The dissatisfied
farmers in that state went to the Demo-
Gratis. The cause of this, to my mind,
is not difficult to cypher out. In Wis
consin the Democrats have a perfect
organization, at the head of which
are some of the best men in
the state, men in whom the peo-
pie have confidence. The same thing
is true in Iowa, Illinois and Michigan,
in all of which states wonderful vic
Fnli
elected number of congressman and
legislators in this state, l cannot
see that we made any great
gains nor lasting ones. We won solely
through the great vote polled by the
Alliance. and. unless leaders are forth
coming who can harmonic and unite
the low tariff men of the State-tor on
this, the great issue of the day, the
Democracy and the farmers agree-We
are certain to drop into the minority
again. The Democratic party in Mime
sofa needs little common sense lead
erShlp at the present time, and espe-
cially in the next campaign
The people sometimes form the idea
that halliday session of the senate or
house means that the members spend
the ether half of the day in loafing.
This is natural error to those who
have no means of observing the work
done in the various committee rooms.
In many cases it takes more time to
consider, discuss and hear both sides on
a measure III the committee to which it
has been referred than it does to pass it.
Then, too, there are hundreds of meas
ureS referred 10 committees and never
pushed afterwards in the senate or
house, but all of these are takeI over
and considered by the men who are I'M
fortunate enough to be on the leading
committees. Indeed, these men are
obliged to work late and early in order
to perform their work, and a half-hoIi-
day to them means just that much time
devoted to working over bills that have
been dumped upon their shoulders.
To use slang expression the Repub-
licanS in the senate are playing 1t low
down. on the opposition. Whenever a
radical measure comes up on which the
Democratic and Alliance senators disa-
gree. the Republicans invariably line up
on the side of the radicals, and do all in
their power to push through the meas
ure. There is method in their madness.
however, as they claim that the Demo
cratic and Alliance senators, being in
the majority, will be charged with the
responsibility for all that is done. re-
gardless of the question where the votes
come from to pass the various bills.
This is to certain extent true, but the
people of Minnesota may hesitate to re-
store a party to power that seeks to
make political capital in this way. If
the voters should decide to hold each
man responsible for his vote, regardless
of party. there will be fewer Repub-
licans i'll the next than III this Iegisla-
ture.
AN ANTI-CHTLD LABOR BILL