The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1907-01-10
tBy Geo. Davis.)

bieHldiCh' JdH. lV.-luere is mucn
in the opening of a legislative body
that is impressive and much that
neither the official records of the body
itself nor the dull routine of the re-
porter's table ever tells. 1t is con-
ceded that the greater part of the legis-
lation of the states is formulated in the
hotel lobbies. Much is done in the COM
mittee rooms, but that is merely the
assembling of the threads. The discus
sion is done and the ideas are gath
cred in the corridor talks and in the
gatherings of the members. The same
is largely true of the organization
and the opening of the present session
of the North Dakota legislature is no
exception. When Chief Clerk Sougstad
called the house to order as the hands
of the clock over the speakers desk
pointed to high noon, it was known
by everyone in the city who is in the
least interested in politics just what
would take place. 1t had been formu-
lated at the Grand Pacific hotel where
the political bosses of the dominant
parties were holding forth. The roll
call for the first time is interesting,
as the names of the new members
echoed through the hall. Later the
roll call becomes decidedly monoton-
Gus. But when in the house the elo-
quent Rev. Stanton lifted his voice
in prayer and invoked the divine bles-
sing upon the members and the work
they were entering upon, it hardly
seemed possible that behind the rever-
ence of the members as they stood
with bowed heads during the invoca-
tion, lurked the battle spirit now lax
and spent having completed the work.
1t was battle of giants, but so little
of their strength was required for the
success of the issue that it seems shorn
of their worth.
The election of the speaker was the
only flutter which broke the monotony
of the first days session. Treadwell
Twitchell had been elected several
days in advance of the meet
ing of the body, so far as the leaders
were concerned. 1t was only nec-
essary to secure the support of enough
Of the members to insure his election.
The nomination was made by Repre-
sentative Piper of Cass county, and
while he is an able member, he is
lacking in the oratorical powers of
Webster and it was therefore left
to John Sorley of Grand Forks county,
as the colored minister said, to put
on the "rouseness." Sorley sought to
show that the election of Twitchell
would secure the harmony and union
of the two factions of the republican
party and at the same time would
give the house man who would be
fair alike to political partisan and op-
ponent. He stated that SO popular
was the candidate for whom he was
speaking that the democratic party
had not considered it necessary to
place another man in position. He
seemed to have forgotten that the
names of several democrats were on
the contract by which the members
were united for the support of Mr..
Twitchell Another good speech was
made secOnding the nomination by
Representative Casey of Walsh. Casey
will be remembered as the only demo-
crat of the last house and in addition
to being the acknowledged best look
ing member of the present house, has
the distinguished honor, if my recol-
lection is right, of having introduced
the famous capitol commission bill at
the last assembly. But nobody holds
that as a grudge against Casey. He
made rattling good speech when he
seconded the nomination of Twitchell
and proudly claimed that he was the
best loved man of all the aliens. The
democrats were satisfied, he said, and
that was something to be proud of,
for it is seldom they are. The regulars
were determined to carry the fight
so as to put the insurgents on record
and accordingly candidate was nomin-
ated for the speakership by that fac
ton, the man who was selected for the
sacrifice being Representative Johnson
of Ward county. He was placed in
nomination by Representative Chap
man, who comes from the Ward-Wil-
liams district, and in doing so he not
only paid tribute to his worth as
member and as a speaker, should he
be elected, but showed that his election
would be that of regular republican.
1t would be brought about by the eff
forts of the republicans and without
the dictation of the democratic party
or because of any favors or promises
done that party. He was followed by
Representative Streeter, the fire-eat-
ing editor from Linton, who is best
known because of the connection of
his name with the present criminal
libel law. Streeter did not mince mat
tiers, and he told the history of the
present combination between the demo-
Gratis and insurgents for the control
of the house in vivid language. He
was followed by Representative Buttz
of Ransom county, who, though, crown
ed with the silver diadem of years, is
ever fresh for the fray. He has grown
old in the harness, and is not afraid
of the enemy, whether outnumbered
or not, and he told the reason for the
coalition as probably no other man
could. He recited the history of the
party and the connection it had with
the democrats since the days of 81,