Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1906-02-07

his home, and moved to Sioux City.
He has since been in business at the
latter place. In the fall OF 1905 the
auditor of O'Brien county, under a
provision of the statute, certified to
Governor Cummins vacancy In the
legislature from the O'Brien district.
Governor Cummins then called an
election. Youde was nominated by
the Republicans and the Democrats
failed to name a candidate. Youde
was elected, receiving all the votes
cast. NO effort was made to keep
him from his seat until the actual
converting of the legislature. Then
Mr.. Whitmer came forward with a
claim that he was the rightful repre-
sentative from O'Brien county. A
committee from the house, composed
of Wright of Webster, Hart of ALA
makee and Kendall Of Monroe (Reps.)
and Springer of Buchanan and Clary
Of Chickasaw (Dems.), was named to
investigate the claims of both as
pirants. The committee made par
tisan report, the Republicans favor
ing the seating of Youde and the
Democrats claiming the seat for Whit
mer The matter was then thrown
into the house, and after a debate
lasting nearly all of one day Whitmer
proved the victor. There are twenty
one Democrats in the lower house of
the legislature and seventy-nine Re-
publicans. All the Democrats but one
voted for Whitmer, and these Swere
Joined by thirty-four Republicans.
Thirty-nine Republicans and one Dem
ocrat, Lundt of Tama county, voted to
sustain the claims of Youde. The de-
cision came on the Interpretation of
the absolute right of the legislature.
the same as the national house of rep
resentatives, to be the sole judge of
its own membership and their qualifi-
cations, and on that claim and the
ground that Whitmer had not attained
a legal residence in Sioux City by at
tempting to exercise the rights of citi-
zenship there, and that he had not
fully determined but he might return
to O'Brien county, the battle was won.
Mr.. Springer of Buchanan county con-
Quoted the fight for Whitmer, and
proved himself leader of much abil-
ity and shrewdness. This fact was
demonstrated many times during the
progress of the contest. No bitterness
was displayed on either side and the
Democrats in bringing their claims to
the attention of the house were fair
calm and judicial, resting entirely on
the constitution. After the final roll
call the successful candidate and
small coterie of his fellows in the
house were surrounded and congratu
uated by their opponents as well as
their friends from the other party.
Freak Legislation.
One of the strangest pieces of freak
legislation asked of the members of
the general assembly has come in the
way Of petition signed by many of
the citizens of the town of Defiance
The petition asks the body to adopt
laws which will prevent the common
honey bee from "buzzing, running at
large or roaming about the streets and
alleys of the cities and towns of the
state, especially the town of Defiance
The presentation of this petition
calls to mind the fact that few
months ago a similar document was
sent by the Defiance bee haters to
Congressman Smith at Washington.
The congressman struggled with the
problem for some days, and then was
struck by the idea that regulation
such as asked for would come within
the jurisdiction of the state. He
thereupon wrote the Trainer of the pc
tition a serious letter, in which he
commenced the objects sought and
declared that such legislation could
properly come only under the direc-
tion of the state law-making body.
OF course the petition will not be
taken seriously by the members of
the assembly, but it may be used to
inject some little frivolity into the
proceedings Of the body. A few years
ago similar law was asked for and
bill drawn up for that purpose. 1t
was finally stung to death with
amendments, but served for many
hours OF gaiety for the members. One
of the amendments proposed at that
time was that the bee should be in
bred with the lightning bug in order
that the industrious little insect might
be made OF public use by furnishing
light to the weary traveller who was
compelled to cross the meadows and
prairies of the state at night time.
Again, the bee has been hauled into
an Iowa court on the plea that it was
live stock and suit has been tried,
in which damages were asked on ac-
count OF trespass on the lands of an
other than the owner.
Interest in Insurance.
The agitation for an investigation
OF Iowa insurance companies still con.
tinues. The entire matter Is now in
the hands of subcommittee from
the big insurance committee of the
senate. This subcommittee is com
posed of Senators Whipple, Court
right. Maytag, Wade and Stuckslager.
They have before them the drastic
Molsberry resolution of investigation
and the Warren bill. much milder in
Its powers. A decision will not be
reached for several days at to wheth.
er one of these measures will be rec
commended or an entire new bill drawn