The Princeton union., 1897-04-29
MEN Men And MEASURES
The Men Who Guarded the Peoples
Interests in the Legislature
During the Session.
Is Brief Resume Of the Work Done by
*s Our Lawmakers Some Mer=
itorious Treasures.
ST. PAUL. Tuesday Eve

#gSS Fg Nj. IAOL,SIu0SOdy 5LVeuluS. fS
All is quiet around the capitol since
the legislature adjourned. In a few
days more the laws enacted will be
published in the newspapers, and then
the general public will be able to pass
upon the work of the lawmakers.
But it should be remem bered that
many unnecessary and harmful meas
ures, proposed by well-meaning gentle
men, fell by the wayside, and the
legislature is deserving of praise for
the laws it might have but did not en-
act
It is fashionable to speak harsh]y of
the late legislature, and many Of. the
city ana country papers have severely
criticized the members individually
and collectively, and, I am sorry to
say, the criticisms are not altogether
|undeserved, but on the whole the leg
Iislature Of 1897 will compare favorably
with previous legislatures. To be sure
there were some venal and unscrupu-
| lous men in both branches and they
were not confined to any one party
there were probably more venal Re
publicans than there were venal Demo
Icrats and Populists, simply because
there were more Republicans twice
over than ali the other parties COM
bined. But there were many good
honest men in both branches-men
who worked earnestly and deYotedly
for the best interests of the State.
| !. i. !. ..
Hon. J. f. jacobson has been termed
a crank and a Populist. One day last
week prominent Scandinavian editor
was in the auditors Office and he pro-
pounded to me this interrogatory:
ssWho do you consider were the ablest
and best men in the house?" The first
man I named was Mr.. Jacobson.
sSsWhY,o he said, jacobson is id
|crahky PopulistO Granted = 7 re-
marked, but will you be kind enough
to point to me one single measure for
the best interests of the State that was
opposed by Mr.. Jacobson? Will you
point to a single leg-pulling or rotten
bill that he favored? Was not his
voice raised and his vote recorded in
behalf of every really meritorious
bill?'' The editor admitted that Mr..
jacobson was honest and conscientious,
but he (the editor) had no love for the
rugged Norwegian from Lac qui Parle.
i. !. .-...
Then there is Hon. G.. F. Staples, of
Dakota county. I conceived a violent
dislike for him two years ago, but I
misjudged the man. He is of some
what domineering disposition, but he
is a thoroughly conscientious gentle
man and useful legislator, as able
as he is honest. ,a
i. i. i. En T.
Hon. A. N. Dare is another gentle
man who has earned for himself a
splendid reputation as a legislator.
Our home member, Hon. II. G. Head,
has nothing to feel ashamed of in his
maiden term. He did not take as
active part as some of the older mem
bers, but he was a hard worker. and no
one ever thought of questioning his
honesty of purpose. Hon. S. A. Stock
well, of Hennepin, was also a useful
member; he was generally on the right
side of every question. Brusque Judge
Hicks, of Minneapolis, kicked up sew
eral rows, but the State would not have
been the loser if there had been more
men of his stamp in the house. And
Ignatius Donnelly. There is only one
Donnelly. Say what you please about
him his eloquent voice is always raised
in behalf of the people. Donnelly was
by all odds the ablest man in either
branch. might mention a dozen other
honest and sincere house memb bers like
Hartshorn, Sederberg, Hill, Mcdonald,
Dunn, Snyder and Lay bourn, but space
forbids.
In hesenate, Hon. J. z. Wyman was
the most influential member. I have
mentioned Mr.. Wyman's name before
in these columns. He is all right.
Other leaders in the senate were Barr,
Of Blue Earth, Thompson, Of Fillmore,
Knatvold, of Free born, Miller, of Rock,
and Ringdal of Polk. Senator Miller,
the Luverne editor, labored diligently
in behalf of the people and fathered
several important measures; he made
an especially gallant fight for the bill
that provided for an increase of so per.
cent. in the taxes paid by insurance
companies. Senator Ringdal is an ex-
|ceedingly able and conscientious gem
tleman, and he was highly esteemed
and respected by his colleagues. Il the
Populists would send such men as Mr..