Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1897-01-15

Mr.. Loncks appropriated the pen which
Governor Lee had used. Then congrat-
uiations followed and the ceremony was
over. There were. few happier men in
the room than Private Secretary Tom
Ayres of Vermilllon. He had witnessed
the crowning triumph of the peoples
struggle so earnestly begun in Clay coun'
ty last summer The Governor remained
in his office until late IN the afternoon at
tending to business.
One of the political features of the hour
was the introduction of resolution by
Representative Kidd Of Aberdeen. on
Friday, presenting Ex-Governor Sheldon
with the chair used by him while gov
ernor of the state. Representative Kidd
and the governor had a legal political.
libel suit over year ago, in which the
governor got the best of the struggle,
and now comes the fiery, untamed Kidd
with resolution presenting Gov. Shell
don with his much prized office chair.
1t was gracious act on the part of Mr..
Kidd, and proves that Pop editor and
legislator can bury the hatchet when the
battle is oyer.
Judge Bouck performed a like duty in
the senate, and the retiring governor
takes with him to private life his official
chair which he desires to present to his
son as a heirloom. The joint resolution
passed both branches unanimously.
A bill was introduced in the house by
Mr.. Olson of Lawrence, to increase the
supreme court judges to five and define
the districts. Mr.. Olson of Lawrence, is
going to make one of the most active
members in the house and has a good
voice, but when it comes to voice, our
old friend Major Dollard OF BonHomme,
easily leads. The Major is veteran in
legislative halls and you never have
much trouble IN finding him or where he
stands.
Hon. P. A.. Overseth and Hon. AL.
Kuhns of Lincoln, arrived Thursday
night and were sworn in Friday morning.
They were snow-bound at Woolsey.
They have been assigned to important
committees.
Charlie Deane of Union, is model
Populist. He returned three railroad
passes sent him. Charlie says he don't
propose to have it charged to him that
he accepted passes and is opposed TO the
pass system in general. He is not an
anti-railroad crank. He simply believes
that law maker should be free from
| any influence that could in any manner
be called Influential" He is against
the pass system because it is undoubted-
ly used as legislative ''soap." Members
receive mileage sufficient to cover their
travelling expenses and that is all that
any man should expect.
Jonas Lien, 1.-The boy orator of the
Sioux" is chief clerk of the house, and
he began his duties in fine form, and
read the governors message IN good voice.
His assistants are all competent gentle
men and the speaker has fine staff.
Among the early.day pioneers on the
house staff IS our old friend Jones of
Charles Mix, who, from territorial days
at Bismarck, was known as the "Char1es
Mix Volcano" He IS a fighter from
away back and fears nothing on EARTH
Jones says the Indian vote carried
Charles Mix county for the Republicans.
Speaker Colvin is going to meet the
expectations of his friends in the highest
degree. The LEADER had selected him,
among the many able gentlemen in the
party, as the safest man for speaker
that could be selected. He is free from
faction or senatorial combination, and
his chief aim is to preside over the de-
liberations of the house in manner that
shall earn him the respect of every men,
Der of the body.
The house as a whole is very fine
body of men, and will prove both con-
servative and judicious in their deliber-
ations. Representatives Weeks, Kirk,
Daily, Denton, Olson, Wright, Kidd,
Deane and McManus, of the Populists
are already showing signs of leadership,
and many others will doubtless develop
as business opens up. Messrs. Dollard,
Glass, Burke and Donahue, will be
recognized as the leaders on the Repub-
lican side.
1t might be stated, in order to avoid
discrimination, that it takes some time
to discover the Daniel Websters in such
body, but justice to all is a Populist
motto, and we shall follow it.
Walter H. Wilkinson of Lincoln coun-
ty. in the senate, is going to prove one of
the best workers in that body. He is all
business, and is chairman of the COM
mittee on ways and means an important
committee, and will be on the railroad
and temperance committees, and the
work required on these three committees
will keep any man busy. Senator Will
kinson is already general favorite and
deserves the high consideration accorded
him.
Major Fairbanks. the war veteran and
accomplished senator from Lawrence