The Minneapolis journal., 1903-04-21
THE WORK OF THE SD MINNESOTA LEGISLATURE

uA uAU0u -
proyement grab, and as chairman Of that
committee disappointed many by oppos-
Ing the highway commission. He took
the initial step in gross earnings legls-
lation. Tho he had more influence than
In the previous session, he did not quite
measure up to what. was expected OF him
when he went down SO gallantly in the
speakership fight, He was a good, clean
hard working member. 5a%s
p C. Dernings is aobetter legislator or
business questions than when questions
of sentiment are involved. He initiated
the bill abolisi,ing days of grace, the
building line easement bill, and severa
others Of interest to financial and real es-
tate men, and he also did good work fol
the university on the appropriations com
mittee. He fully lived up to his previous
reputation as an upright, faithful law
maker. =" ,;,:n.- =
l., C. Stevenson blossomed out as q
leader, and kept right in the thick OF
events al during the session, in contras'
to his backward habit of two years be-
FORE His winning hand in the speaker
ship fight gave him the best committee
in the house, the judiciary, which he
handled on the whole successfully. He
was participant in several lively
scraps" both in committee and on the
floor which he seemed to thrive on ,ano
when he took the bit in his teeth some
thing had to let go. He showed his
strength in the house by getting thru his
osteopathy bill in the face of all the doc
stors. He also took an active part for the
wide open tax amendments. He proved
a safe man when principles were at stake
Several of the new men took equa
rank with the old ones right from the
start. They grasped the situation quick
ly and were not long In adapting them
selves to conditions. George M. Gillette
stood firm for principle and displayed q
native aptitude for debate that surprised
his friends. He devoted his time to the
work and took without shirking some
very disagreeable responsibilities In an
utter disregard for political effect. he
did his duty as he saw it. and did 1t we'll
He fought nanfully for the university In
the board Of control controversy. g..
George r. Smith also developed leader
ship qualities and proved a capable man
and an independent thinker. He stood
strong for tax commission and fran
chise taxation, and he had a mind of his
own on local matters. He also took his
full share of work.
James D. Shearer was one Of the prom
inent figures of the session in the house
He very early impressed his fellow mem
bers with his sound sense and judicial
turn of mind. and they came to heed what
he had to say with Unusual attention
AS a business lawyer he introduced q
number of important bills and took the
chief burden Of the local bond meas
ures. He was much in demand for com.
nlittee work and demonstrated great ef-
ficiency in that line. He drafted a gross
earnings bill that was very closely followed
in the one submitted to the people, and
spent considerable time in research or
that subject.
active in insurance matters and made
a good business record, though not q
spectacular sort of member.
The forty first district furnished foul
able men to the house. In addition tt
Stevenson, already mentioned, there were
Helliwell. Bardwell and Fryberger. The
last named was one of the most energetic
members on the floor of the house, an6
directed his work into number of chan.
nels. He was ready debater and watched
proceedings closely. He drafted a gros!
earnings bill in which he included the idea
of taxing the railroads for special assess
ments. He made a hard fight for thf!
feature, and though he failed, it was hi:
bill that the committee took, and aftel
amendments put it through both houses
He led an unsuccessful fight on the
state prison shoe plant with skill and per
SiStenCe. His enthusiasm sometimes car
ried him too far in discussion, but hi
was from every standpoint a valuable ant
important member of the house.
W.. w. Bardwell was a wide-awake
careful member: who kept his eye on pro
ceedfngs and in a quiet way had quite
little influence. d, He introduced his fai
committee which equalzed Hennepi
county salaries. His team mate, Arthu
L. Eelliwel established splendid repu
tation as a student Of legislation, and wa
fl constant demand to investigate and in
form his fellow members on knotty sub
jects. His word was taken for abou
everything he tackled. He introduced tn
inheritance tax bill which leads one t
hope that it will hold water this time.
Manley L. Fosseen got thru some impor
tant legislation to put a stop to wife deser
t1On and non-suppOrt. He took his fu
share Of work and made a record that wi
stand inspection. w. I. Nolan took NOR
serious view Of his duties than his previ
Gus public appearances had given cause
expect. and, while he did not shine efful
gently, he showed that he knew how
take care of himself on the floor or any
where else. His proudest achievement
the Juvenile court bill, but he fought lar
for his Soldiers Home pension bill and tn
bill to provide better protection for work
men on high buildings. .,s'
s ]. A. Shepard and Thomas H. Girlin
constituted the country representation
the house. altho both of them do the
business in the city, The Long Lake ma
was the senior member Of the delegation
but his actions belied his years. SheI
ard was always there, and always read
to work. He did splendid service ON til
state capitol investigation. was mos
faithful in his attendance at all times, an
never lost sight Of the ISSUE a-'
Tom Girling took an active hand !
things, especially in questions Of local ir
terest, and always had mind of his owl
It was apt to differ from the rest, and
stood alone or almost alone OH sever,
questions, but he was always a good lose
and voted his convictions without apolog
THE sPEAkERsHIP
Important Political Contest, Ending I
Victory for L. w. Babcock.
One Of the hottest speakership contest
In the history 5of the state ended Jan.
when the caucus Of republican member
ended in the selection of DR.. L. w. Bat
cock of Wadena. The struggle was re
markable in several ways. It was tn
first actual and open clash between til
two factions in the republican party
Minnesota that were created when Go,
ernor Van SAINT declared war on til
Northern Securities merger. The vic
d tory Of the i-administration force
showed that when It came to macfin
politics and manipulation they were st1
great power in the state. 1t Shove,
however, that even the antis had a whole
some respect for the issues on which tt
,oln fo1l SuoT7