The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1910-12-09
HARRY DUNN TO WELD
GAvEL IN THE HOUSE


be- the next speaker OF the Minncsota
house Of representatives. He has fifty
one republican votes assured out Of
eiehty-ninc. Mr.. Dunn is forty foul
years old and Il native OF Minnesota
His only previous service in the lcgis
lature was in 1897, when he served 9
single session in the state senate from
the Martin and Watonwan district. His
election at that time was the occasion
of one of the most remarkable con.
tests ever seen in the legislature.
Frank A. Day, elected az q repub
lean senator from that district in 1894
was chosen president pro tenn of the
senate in the 1895 session. When Gov
ernor Kmtc Nelson was elected TO the
United States senate. ID. VI. Clough
advanced from lieutenant governor 10
governor, and Senator Day became
lieutenant governor. He had been
elected senator for four year term.
In 1896 he joined John Lind in boiling
the republican party on the silver is
SIZE, and supported William j. Bryan
for president. The point was then
raised that when he became lieutenant
governor, Mr. Day ceased to be sena-
tor, and the republicans in that dis
trict nominated Mr.. Dunn for the SEN
ate. He was then Il young attorney
in Fairmont No other candidate was
nominated and DR.. Dunn was given
the certificate OF election.
1t Was Memorable Contest.
When the legislature met again in
1897, Mr.. Day claimed his seat and a
contest ensued. 1t was fought out on
the constitutional question, and several
republican senator's maintained that
Mr.. Day was entitled to retain his
seat. After a memorable contest the
question was decided in Mr. Dunns
favor. and he served for the remainder
OF the session.
1t is coincidence that at that
session the state was reapportiOned for
legislative districts. There has been no
change in fourteen years, and Mr..
Dunn now returns TO the legislature to
help in the next reapportionment.
After his brief service in the senate,
Mr.. Dunn removed to Albert Lea.
where he formed 4 partnership with
the late Judge John A. Lovely. He
1902 he managed the campaign of r.
Y. KnatyOld. when he ran the first
time against Congressman James A.
Tawney in the republican primaries.
Since that time Mr.. Dunn has become
one OF the most loyal supporters OF
Mr.. Tawney. He was nominated for
the legislature in Freebotn county this
year and announced himself for speaker
before election. The prohibitionists
made n hard campaign against him. but
he was elected by several hundred ma
iority.
He Looks Like Lincoln.
MIR. Dunn bears some physical rcsem-
blancc To Abraham Lincoln, which is
heightened by his soft felt hat, frock
coat and string tic. He is over six
feet tall and slightly stopped, slender
and smooth faced. Il appreciate the
compliment paid me by the third and
fifth congressional Districts said Mr.
Dunn. lin giving me an Endorsement
i'll advance of my own district.
think the contest is all over and our
action here ut Rochester is merely Il
ratification. | feel especially compli-
mcntcd by the Tction of the Hennepin
delegation last evening.
Il will say to the people of the state
that | will stand behind what l. said
during the campaign. My pledges on
all questions will be made good to the
letter. | am in favor of reapportion-
mcnt. on the basis of population, and
to take effect Immediately. My plan
is to select the committee on reappor-
tionment within the next few days
and notify those who are to act upon
it, so they can begin to work out the
bill. and get to work on the clerical
and statistical features.
Will Name a Fair Committee.
II will appoint a temperance cont
mittee which will be fair toward coun-
ty option and will report the bill out
on its merits for the action of the
house On all other matters of legisla-
ton | am free to appoint committees
with view to the best interests of
the public at large"
Will Not Concede It.
2. j. Youngdahl, superintendent OF
the Anti-Saloon league, was not pre-
pared to concede Mr.. Dunn's election
as speaker. II am greatly surprised
at the action OF the Hennepin delesa-
ton" said Mr.. Youngdahl, ''in refusing
to hold Oft for single day and await
developments, and in tying themselves
up by n unit rule to vote for the
man the brewers want Our people
had the votes if they had held to-
cether. hui for the sake of preference
IN committee appointments they have
given up the fight. Men who all
through tho campaign have stood for
the progressive cause have struck a
blow to progressive principles, not only
as to temperance, but rs to other
measures, ii this action turns out to
give the speakcrship to Mr.. Dunn"