The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1907-01-11
READY ;. 4 |: J ! FOR f j
THE GRIND
LEGISL ATORl;S
Meet II, St. Paul !: IN
35th Regular Session
Xxx \ X * XXX Xxx

TSTE ~ ~ 1e* ** !
-%~.+t
are kept off the statute books, the
people have the right to know the
why and wherefore; and if good
laws are enacted it is equally just
that they should know what in.
f1uence brought them to pass.
One republican issue has already
been accomplished. Fully nine
tenths of the republicans elected to
the two Legislative bodies stood on
platforms pledging them to assist
in the return of Senator Knute
Nelson. There has been no half
heartedness about the carrying out
of this pledge. A call for a caucus
on the senatorship was issued few
days ago, and the sequel must be
highly gratifying to the gentleman
most concerned. AS fast as re-
publican members arrived in St.
Paul they made it their first task to
sign the call, and it soon became
apparent that nothing short of un-
animity would satisfy. The caucus
was held Tuesday evening and it IS
| now certain that no other name
then that of Senator Nelson will be
presented by the republicans on
January twenty-second, when the
Legislature turns from it's regular
routine to select his successor
There are one hundred and FORTY
tive republican senators and repre-
sentatives in the Legislature, and in
addition to the votes of all of these
it is not improbable that Senator
Nelson will receive portion of the
| democratic votes. A number of
| democrats made prediction prom
| ises of support to Mr.. Nelson, and
others feel as does a senator from
the western portion of the state who
expressed himself as favoring
unanimous vote for the return of
Minnesota's senior senator. He
said that since there was positively
no chance for the selection of
democrat it would be no more than
just recognition of the republican
support given Governor Johnson
for the democrats to now unite with
the opposing party in this partic-
ular. At any rate, with or without
this Jeffersonian support, Mr..
Nelson is sure of at least eighteen
years of continuous senatorial
service unless death or his pleasure
should intervene.
Five day! That's his salary. If
a legislator makes a belated ap-
perance each morning, and doesn't
eat or drink. this daily allowance
sometimes lasts till noon. It's
awful-this expense of membership.
Everybody soaks the statesman in
st. Paul. He is enveloped in an II
saw him first" atmosphere. He gets
the best of everything-and has to
pay for it. Let him step to a cigar
counter with a couple of friends
and instead of the customary nickel
article he is confronted by box of
three-for-a-dollar goods. The optics
OF the planet are upon him and he
has to respond. The Dutchman's
one per cent is doubly added to
everything at which he looks. The
sanity city hotels open their doors
to him for lordly compensation
and even attempt to turn the trend
OF his existence into ablutionary
channels by. persuading the &C.
ceptance of "a room with a bath" a
only $25 month more. The legis-
lator comes to the capitol a proud,
high strung statesman; he leaves it
an impoverished politican-unless
"the interests" take an interest in
his case. Verify, Minneapolis
gobbles all the jobs, but St. Paul
gets the money.
Only very few Legislators walk
ed to St. Paul. An observing
1ounger about headquarters"
ventured the suggestion that this
circumstance might be utilized in
determining which statesmen flung
back their railroad passes. But we
are inclined to believe that a safer
way to find out the number without
passes would be to observe which
ones walk back.
tits the opinion of all we'll in
formed persons that the session
just starting will be the most i'm
portant in the history of Minnesota
Legislature. Never before have the
people demanded so many reforms
and never before have they 80
generously selected men of ability
and character to see that their de-
J mands are obeyed.