The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1909-04-08
C0WED REPUBLICANS
Frank Day and His Aides Round
Them Up Like a Flock of
Badly Frightened Sheep.
Boss O'Connor Pretends to Favor
Plan of City Government That
Would Dethrone Him.

Special ST. Paul Correspondence.
st. Paul, April 7.-Signed, sealed
and delivered might be said of the re-
publican house of representatives.
Tuesday, which, with an asininity
almost incomprehensible sent to the
senate, with only eleven members dis
senting, an act embodying Gov. John
sons plan for commission for the
alleged investigation of ideas and
schemes looking to the preparation of
an employers liability bill for presen-
tation to the legislature two years
hence. And then as finishing touch,
the members with the same sheep like
simplicity, added campaign expense
fund OF SIS, 600 for Frank Day and his
aides with no questions asked. It was
the most pitiful spectacle of republic
can capitulation in years. Nolan,
Stuart. Wells and half dozen other
house leaders Numbered and argued,
but to no avail. Like sheep thew
crowded the runway and the finish
found "a members willing victims of
democratic sagacity and generalship.
While Nero fddled this gallant "a
burned the ship.
The bill passed Tuesday is what is
known as the Campbell act for the
creation of a commission to inyesti-
gate the question of employers liza
blllty and workingmen's compensa-
ton, and under its terms Gov. John
son is empowered to name three men
whose time will be given over during
Inc next two years to thorough in
vestlgation of the subject. With a
full knowledge that the whole thing
was simply a deal between the demo-
cratic administration and certain Twin
City capitalists for the forestalIing of
any action by the present legislature,
the house leaders determined upon the
immediate passage of such an act
without waiting for the next legisla-
ture to busy itself. What happened to
1t is almost needless to state here.
With paid lobbyists logging their
every footstep and even extending
their operations to the floor of the
mouse, the democratic minority acting
as unit in every move, labor leaders
at Sc per day voicing their dissatis-
faction, and the Kitchen Cabinet
threatening humiliation when the next
campaign rolled around, the end was
Inevitable. When. the finish came
no less than IS members had enrolled
their names in opposition. Anticipat-
Ing defeat here amendments were pro-
posed placing the naming of COM
mission to investigate the liability
question in the hands of the governor,
the state auditor and secretary of
state. Defeated by small majority,
Attorney General Simpson was pro-
posed in place of State Auditor Iver-
son, but it also failed and the leaders.
disguised with the whole thing, jump
ed into the breach and shouting "Let
'er go" joined with the minority in
fairly forcing down the throats of the
now hapless members the original bill
for commission to be appointed by
the governor. "Cut the halyards''
was the order and the rigging came
down on the run. Then followed tho
scuttling of the ship as "a answered
the roll call, each a living worker in
the cementing of the democratic ma
chine on the body polite. W. A.
Nolan and Elmer King we're alone in
protesting against the surrender and,
while they failed to head off the STAN
pede. yet eleven members answered
their plea and refused to go over to
the enemy.
Could the republican house majority
have had peep into the room given
over to the daily assembling of the
Kitchen Cabinet following the passage
OF Gov. Johnson IS pet bill half hour
after the capitulation of the republic
can majority, perhaps the result would
have been different. Flushed with
victory the members of the cabinet
fairly danced in their glee, and with
the democratic executive a proud
member OF the group, each told of his
part in the fight. ''Great,'' was the
governors remark following each re-
cltal. But the big laugh was when
one member of the cabinet described
the allotment of republican house
members and the grievance, as aired
by member of the democratic minor
lty, assigned to the left of the legisla-
tive chamber, when one from the
other side1of the chamber ",butted''
In on his territory as ha ca11od Il