The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-03-01
WILL HOLD TWO OFFICES
ASSEMBLYMAN DIX DECIDES NOT
TO TENDER HIS RESIGNA-
TION
HIS CANDIDATE TURNED DOWN
Deadlock Ensues at the Special Ses-
sion, and All Offers of Com
promise Are Re-
jected.

II Oih CHe 0lXUn ward, and Is likely to
remain such until the end Of his term.
1t had been supposed all along that he
would tender his resignation yesterday.
but when, at the special meeting he had
called to elect his successor, he saw
that his choice for the place, Mr. r. T.
Robbins, could not be elected, his in
tentions underwent a change, and he
decided to hold on to the office himself.
Asked about the matter later Mr. Dix
said he would not resign.
This decision of Mr. Dix to hold both
the office of assemblyman and that of
clerk of the municipal court is likely
To make trouble. 1t is understood in
TACT, that committee from the Repub
lIcan organization has already held sew
eral meetings relative to the commence
ment of a test case which would, If de-
cided adversely to Mr.. Dix, prevent
him from holding the position of clerk
OF the municipal court.
City Attorney Markham has rendered
an opinion that the Office of clerk of the
municipal court is not an office within
the meaning of chapter 131 of the Laws Of
1897, and of the city charter, which ex-
pressly provide that it shall be unlaw-
fu! for any assemblyman, ETC., to hold
any other office during the term for
which he was elected or appointed" and
the corporation attorney cites the case of
the State of Minnesota ex rel, Hagestad
VS.. Sullivan, 81 Minnesota reports, page
379. This case, however was decided
before the passage Of the law above re-
ferred to, and, it Is claimed, was decided
or other grounds than the present case
would involve, as that case related to
the establishment of municipal courts in
cities, and not to the office of the clerk
Of the court, and various lawyers who
have been consulted give different opin-
ions on the subject. Mr.. Dix has had
bill introduced into the present legisla-
ture to remedy this law, but that, it is
claimed, would not help the matter
now.
PRUDEN BROUGHT OUT.
Up to yesterday no signs of a deadlock
were apparent, but when the time for
the meeting came around a strong candi-
date in the person of A. X. Pruden was
brought out by his friends, and it did
not take long for Mr.. Dix to realize that
his candidate, Mr.. Robbins, could not be
elected. The vote at that time stood 4
to 4, and the next hour was consumed
by the Robbins forces in trying to effect
some kind of a combination whereby
they could elect their man, but to no
avail. After all other things had failed,
and it became more certain that the
deadlock was there to stay, the Robbins
forces offered to compromise by electing
idency, but this offer was also declined.
Finally, at 3 o'clock, President Dix called
the meeting to order, but there were no
signs of any resignation from that gen.
tleman, and it did not take the opposing
side long to see what Mr.. Dix intended
to do.
Wednesday noon five of the assembly
men met in the back room of the Office
of Assemblynan Warner and fixed up the
slate, which included the election of r.
L. Robbins to succeed Dix and F. G.
Warner to. succeed President Dix, but
this star chamber combination was nip
ped in the bud and Mr.. Pruden brought
out as candidate with the above result
There appeared to mo opposition to
Mr.. Robbins personally, but his oppon-
ents contend that he has never taken
any part in politics or been associated
with the workers OF the party, and Mr.
Dix did not consult the wishes of the
precinct committeeman and party lead
ers of the ward. but turned down all
the candidates and insisted upon foiSting
a new man for his successor The bone
of contention was exceedingly strong
also relative to the presidency of the
assembly, as One-half the members de-
sired to elevate Vice President Nelson
but the slate was to put in Mr.. Warner
" Mr.. Pruden does not reside in the
Sixth ward but his supporters agree
is identified with the manufacturing in
terests of the ward, has long been q
prominent resident of the city and an
active Republican, has served two terms
as president of the Commercial club, is
eminently qualified for the position and
takes an active interest in the develop
ment of the city and the west side in
particular.
Ex-Alderman Bell and many support
ers were present at the meeting as in
terested spectators.
The assembly has passed a preliminary
order for the paving of West Seventh
street, from Ramsey to Tuscorora
streets. 1t was accompanied with a re-
solution appropriating $500 from the
general fund, to be used for the paving
of the intersections
Mr.. Dix took the oath Of Office with
the city clerk yesterday and will today
enter upon his duties as clerk of the
municipal court, vice Thomas Conroy
resigned. Mr.. Conroy turned the Office
over to Mr.. Dix late yesterday after
noon, and will from this on pursue the
insurance business.