The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1897-01-20

election and the workingmen of Mime
apolis had been intimidated by having
their ballots numbered contrary to law,
so that they could be identified and the
manner in which they voted reported
to their employers.
READY TO MEET HIM.
"Now if my friend wants to rip up
the dark and ghastly record am ready
to meet him upon any point he may
mention. l sit in this house by as good
a right as the gentleman from Henne-
PIN I was nominated without my
knowledge and elected without any
campaign, as will be shown when my
total expenditures were only 1888. l
am sorry that there should be inter-
jected into this debate anything of a
personal nature, but if the gentleman
thinks he can rule this house he is very
much mistaken if he attempts this sort
of tactics. Now, I hold that the sole
business of the election committee is to
report upon a question of who is and
who is not entitled to seat in this
house. No man should be forced to
come before this committee in the light
of a rogue or rascal and it is this
uOuSc WulCl u1uSC AudllS uctCl lulAC VIII
is to be seated"
Then Mr. Donnelly took up just little
time to defend his checkered political
career. He said his actions might be
inspected with the closest security, and
he would be found voting right every
time.
There is nothing in my past record
! that am ashamed Of" said he, and his
words sounded as If he meant it all.
II have said what I did without re-
| gard to who is on the election commit
| tee l do not know who is on it. I
don't know but what the gentleman
| from Hennepin is on it, and is seeking
| to aggrandize himself with new powers
| never heard of before. But that is not
| the point in issue. l am sorry that any
| personal matter has been permitted to
| creep into this discussion. / have, as
every one in the house knows, not
sought this controversy. l have been
playing but modest part in the affairs
of this body. 1 have no ambition for
the future except it MAJ be in connec-
ton with literature. shall try to
| do what is best for the state and it's
people"
| JCDIE f1lChO w AS ANNh
Judge Hicks was mad clean through
when he arose. He was, fiery with sup
pressed feeling when he alluded to the
ancient history of the Washburn-
| Donnelly contest in 1879. He said il
was only fair to bring uir what the past
had shown, and turning to a remark
by Mr.. Donnelly that his whole life had
been open to the sunshine, Judge Hicks
said that his life needed all the sun
shine and air to cleanse it. Then he
turned to the incidents of the half-for-
| gotten econtest and reminded the house
that Mr.. Donnelly had only spoken Of
what the committee had found but the
fact was that the congress, which was
| in accord with his views, refused to
| give him seat, and he charged Don
nelly with appealing from decision of
majority of his party.
| DONNELLY'S CLOSING WORDS.
Il have no desire to prolong this
controversy" Mr.. Donnelly said, mo
one regrets the course of the debate
more than I. 1t was most unnecessary
and most unfortunate. But when the
gentleman made veiled but plainly
pointed attack upon me, l had no re-
course but to reply. I am getting to be
an old man, and shall not live great
while longer, but when the history of
the Northwest shall be written, think
the verdict of posterity will be that
have never failed to work for the people
of this state. No man can point his
finger upon a single thing and say that
l have ever sustained wrong Or put
dollar in my pocket at the expense of
the people of the state. But day before
yesterday, when the gigantic robbery
of the state was before the house in the
form of resolution to investigate the
Mountain Iron mine, the gentleman
from Hennepin was the only man who
tried to turn the house aside from the
direct course and have the matter re-
ferred, to the attorney general yet
when it came to vote did not have
the courage to vote against the resolu-
ton.
Thank God, while have had faults
of my own to answer for, l never did a
thing so mean as that"