The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1897-01-07

debating society. Yet here may also
be heard some decidedly effective legis-
lathe sparring, when such men
as j. F. jacobson, G. F. Staples,
Jens K. Grondahl, Henry Johns, Henry
Feig, G. p. Reeves and w. B. Douglas
take part in the discussion. There are
other good debaters, but all are not
drawn out on every discussion and
often surprisingly good speech will
come from member who has been
classed as one of the brothers of silence
Besides these who served in the last
house there will be the famous and
only Ignatius Donnelly in this house to
add interest to all the proceedings. Mr..
various capacities, his last official posi-
ton being as state senator in 1913,
and had announced his intention Of
keeping out of politics hereafter. But
it is hard for warhorse to keep silent
when the noise of conflict comes near
and he will be in the thick of the fight.
Mr.. Donnelly, being Populist and in
the minority, cannot expect to hold a
controlling place in the house, but he
has the twin gifts of quick wit and
ready speech and will make things in
teresting for the majority. He is cred
tied with desire to put them on
record on various public questions.
He will meet with worthy antagonists
and when the invective loving Don
nelly contests the field with the fiery
hammered, piercing voiced but cool
headed jacobson, with the hard hitting
Staples or with the heavy artillery Of
Henry Fe1g, the gallery will be de-
lighted, the house edited and the vote
will be cast just as if they had not
spoken. These contests will be looked
forward to with lively anticipation by
the frequenters of the gallery.
Little Actual Work This Week.
The first week usually has little act
ual work, the members simply getting
ready for action. This preliminary
routine began on Tuesday at noon,
when the secretary of state called the
roll and the new members were sworn
in by one of the justices Of the supreme
court. Monday nights caucus having
named the officers for the chief posi-
tions they were soon installed and the
house settled down for business, proper
notice to that effect being at once sent
to the governor and the senate. The
senators holding over and having been
sworn in two years ago did not need to
go over that ceremony again, except in
the case of the successor to Senator
Allen, who resigned last year. Imme-
diately after organizing the two houses
adjourned over till Wednesday, and on
that day at noon they will meet in joint
session to listen to the reading of the
governors message. ..
Then there will be little delay
while the new committees are being
arranged, and after that business is
well under way. One Of the interest
ing opening ceremonies is the selection
of seats by lot. old members and those
over 60 years of age being usually al
lowed to choose first, however. There
is always lively hustling to get the
first bill introduced. Last session house
file No. / was the famous Anderson
railroad land tax bill. one of the hard
est fought measures before that legisla-
ture.
The pages, those small boys whose
fathers or friends have sufficient influ-
ence to get them appointed as messen-
gers to the two houses, are necessary
and at times lively and interesting part
of the legislature. They are not ap-
pointed usually at first, few days ex-
ercise as volunteers assisting in the
selection. Each candidate spends
nearly as much time campaigning for
signatures of his petition for appoint
ment as he does in attending to the
duties of the place he hopes to secure.
This years crop .of candidates includes
one from the White Earth Indian reser-
walton, a full blooded Indian boy, whose
petition is decidedly unique document
It is signed by fifty Indians, headed by
their principal chief, and the members
of the house from that section of the
state are doing what they can to fur
ther the boys candidacy. He is a
rugged young son of the forest and it is
safe to predict that, if appointed, the
other pages will try to play few pranks
on him.
The attendance Of members at the
opening is usually full and this years
first session was no exception to the
rule. The renewal of old acquaintance
among former members cuts little fig
ure since the caucuses and preliminary
skirmishing for offices has brought to-
gether most, if not all, the old friends.
However, those who had been too busy
for gossip exchanged their newest
stories in the cloak rooms which soon
become clouded with smoke. The long
gallery of the house was fringed with
interested spectators of the opening day
routine, while somewhat smaller
number gave close attention to the
more interesting matters in the senate.
Tbs Dunn-Day senatorial contest
came up promptly in the upper house.
and for half an hour the dignified sen.
ators discussed methods of action, the
real merits of the case not being gone
into. Mr.. Dunn's credentials were
presented md there was much differ
ence of opinion as to the proper pro-
cedure. After many learned opinions
hon heen more or less elOOuentlv Dre.