The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1909-03-19
DEALT A DEATH BLOW.
MEASURE TO EXTEND ELEVEN
O'CLOCK LID TILL TWELVE.
Move to Reconsider the O'Brien Bill
Knocked in the Head BY Decisive
Vote; Some Strong Speeches Were
Made in the House Yesterday; Lii
quOr Men Defeated y

From The Minneapolis Journal
From Tuesdays Daily.
Death was meted ont TO the OBrien
midnight lid" bill today, when it
showed sign of animation. Several
members attempted to- restore it to
vitality, but these efforts were useless,
for the house, by decisive vote OF 10
to 80, consigned it again to the morgue,
where it was sent last Thursday.
According to the program announc-
ed last week, r. J. Wells of Breck
enridge moved that the vote by which
the O'Brien bill was indefinitely post
pOned last Thursday be reconsidered
and that the bill be restored to its
former place on general orders. He ex-
planned that he made this motion at
the request of large number of lead
ing citizens of Minneapolis, st. Paul
and Duluth, who had personally and
by petition asked him to do so. John
NlcGrath of GAINESVILLE asked the re-
publican members of the house TO vote
against the, motion, arguing that it
was a move from the minority party
in the interests OF the liquor trade
and the republicans. should not allow
themselves TO be caught in the trap.
T.. f. Lobeck and n. j. HOlmberg pro-
tested against the motion on the
ground that the subject matter had
been thoroughly threshed out in a
previous debate and the question dis
posed of. They said further that the
house had given its verdict and the
members should be manly enough to
stand by the result.
Strong Speech Against Reconsideration
Lawrence II. johnson made a vehe-
ment speech against the reconsidera
ton. declaring that members ought to
abide by the result when a vote was
once taken. The Hennepin delegation
was stronger against the bill than il
was last week, only four OF the local
members voting for reconsideration
This led r. j. Wells to say on the
roll call that he had complied with the
request of Minneapolis and st. Paul
business men in making his motion
but seeing how the cities were divided
he would stand by his previous vote
so he voted against his own motion
There was sharp debate on the mea
sure.
Thomas Kneeland declared that thu
liquor interests were making a mis-
take in pushing this bill. Its passag,
would create revulsion of sentiment
that would lead to prohibition in tive
or four years. Even if it passed he
did did not believe the Minneapoli,
council would take advantage OF it,
No Great Demand For Provisions.
| The provisions of this bill contcm
plate radical change in law which
has been on our statute books fol
twenty years. said w. II. Putnam
Some jobbers arc asking for the pas
sage of this bill, but l don't hear the
manufacturers, the workingmen nor tn,
lpeople generally asking for the pas
sage OF this measure. The only ques
ton involved is human life and hap
piness, civic righteousness and mora
uplift.''
! Let us hear some arguments il
| favor OF this BILL demanded j. A. A
! Burnguist of st. Paul. "We want thu
author to tell us what benefit st
Paul will derive from the passage O
this BILL
Minneapolis is not asking for thi.
privilege" said W.. A. Campbell. "W'
are satisfied with the state law. Tn,
laboring people don't want it, the man
iufacturers. not even the saloon keeper,
in my district, want the law changed -
st. Paul Urges 1t.
| ''There seems to be some misunder
standing ON this BILL" remarked George
W. Rodenberg. 1T does not raise tn,
lid anywhere in the state. 1t simply
enables the city councils of Minneapo
lis, ST. Paul and Duluth TO permit thu
sale Of liquor up To midnight. 1t l.
for. the cities to decide the question
for themselves"
As lar as ST. Paul is concerned
there is no question but that st. Pau
lis in favor of raising the lid until mid
night said Cal F.. Stone "Our best
citizens want it,
! The following voted for the recon
sideration:
Austin, Baldwin, Bargen, Brady
Brown, Congdon, Dorsey, Emmel, Fitz
patrick, Friedman, Gartside Goodspeed
Graham, Grant, Greene, Handlan Jor
senson, Kelly, King, Nimrocks, Nye
O'Brien, Peters, Pfaender, Rodenberg
Rowe, Sikorski, Silence, Stone, Sulli
van.