The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1894-10-10

speaking, be special, as ST. Louis is the
only county i'm the state with more than
one municipal court. We have previously
shown what the effects of this law will be
when the municipal court at West Duluth
is no more owing to its incorporation in
Duluth. A laborer who cannot get his pay
from his boss brings suit against him in
the municipal court. The boss declares,
simply, that he does not think he can get
justice in this court, and demands change
of venue then tne case is transferred to
the nearest municipal court-to Tower 80
miles distant. How many of those poor la
orers are there who can follow the exc up
under such adverse circumstances and take
their witnesses up there? The witnesses
are in such cases mostly the laborers' own
companions, who are just as poor as him
self.
Now all this Mr.. Towne knew very well
me who Will now be one of our country s
highest lawmakers-if the laboring classes
can be induced to give him their votes.
But let us return to the case. 1t was, as
is we'll known, Cotton, Boggs and Merritt
intimate friends of Towne-who at that time
served as representatives from this dis
tr1ct TOwne was the one who drafted the
bill about a change of venue, and his friend
Boggs introduced it in the house or repre-
Sentatives In the meanwhile came the 18th
of February and the case against the rail-
road company was brought up for trial once
more. Again Towne said that he was not
ready to proceed with the case and asked
for further extension. 1t was then post
poned till the Goth of February Now Mr.
Towne was off for st. Paul on the first
train. He could foresee that if he failed to
get the case removed from the municipal
court at West Duluth the laborers stood the
best show of winning, and he lobbied SO
well in the legislature that he had the bill
passed through both houses Friday, the 18th
OF February; then he Immediately got the
rnor's-knute elson's-signature to it,
and Of the secretary of state a certified
copy OF the new law, with which he, on the
goth day of February, appeared in the mu-
nicipal court at West Duluth, and when the
case was called up he demanded that it be
taken over to another court. He laid be-
fore Judge Himebaugh the proper certified
copy of the law-but he forgot a small by
matter, smart jurist he is said to be-he
failed to leave the ordinary court fees, and
therefore Judge Himebaugh did not grant
his request.
In desperate wrath this railroad attorney
c. A. Towne, left the court, and the plaint-
ifs attorney, Mr.. Jensvold, proceeded with
the case and won it, he usually does
Half an hour later Mr.. Towne returned
quite tame, and offered to pay the court
fees, but too late.
Mr.. Towne then appealed to the supreme
court and this spring said court sustained
the decision of Judge Himebaugh.
All this we have gathered from the court
proceedings, and Towne's trip to st. Paul
and lobbying for the bill are facts so OBJ
vous that even he himself will not deny
them.
Mr. Towne has, for the purpose Of assist
ing the railroad company to win the case
against the Workmen-a case for only $40 10
forced upon the people a law which is a
standing menace against the laborers as
long as it remains on the statute books
Where was his sympathy for the poor labor
er then? Though it may be argued that he
as counsel did his best for his client the
railroad company, it yet remains clear that
an attorney who, in the existing law, can
not find sufficient backing for his corpora
ton clients but DOES all he can to evade the
law through the aid of a new and suspicious
law is not fit to guard the interests of the
common people against the encroachment
of corporations in the halls of congress
From this conclusion there is no escape.
Now compare this dishonorable conduct Of
Towne in order that some poor laborers
should lose 20 cents of their days wages
for every day from the beginning
of the season till its close. Compare
these proceedings with Kittel Halvorsons
faithful and conscientious work in congress.
Congressman John Davis from Kansas,
the faithful knight of labor representa-
ton, says of him:
'.Kittel Halvorson is the best representa-