The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1910-12-03
.0'NEl IS MENTIONED
FOR HOUSE SPEAKER
St. Paul Dispatch Correspondent
Thinks Local Representative May be
Dragged Into Contest.
LEWIS sPo0NER's.. CHANCES SLIM
Tonnage Tx May Figure In Fight
Northern Minnesota Wants to Pla-
cate the South, )

Northern Minnesota Wants to PIa-
cate the South.
This afternoons edition Of the
edition Of the st. Paul Dispatch con-
tains the following telegraphed from
Benldji today by Grove f. Wilson,
political editor of that paper, who
came here last night from Brainerd,
which be- attended in the interests
Of his paper. The article is presented
here by courtesy of the Dispatch
and MI. Wilson: ~. ...~.
Tonnage tax mentioned only in
a whisper at Brainerd, during the
meeting Of the Northern Minnesota
Development association, will be
heard like clap of thunder before
the speakership fight is settled. Those
who have been declaring that no
southern candidate standsa chance
Of landing the place have overlooked
the tonnage tax and the attitude
of northern Minnesota towards
southern Minnesota. <so.-.s: ,.>----.r,. ~
+ This IS the one bright spot IN
I H. n. Dunn's horizon. If Mr..
Dunn Of Albert Lea is himself
right o. tonnage tax, hewin stand
Fan excellent ehance Of securing
1.-THE support Of the Eight District.
This, in spite OF this fact that the
Eighth is today decidedly friendly
| 10 ]. A. A. Burnquist Of ST.. Paul.
However, under the generalship
Of &C Dunn Of Priactcn, the
delegation from the iron country
is quietly hiding its time. and no
definite word fromit can be ex-
pected until just before the-open-
ing of the Legislature. g. . <S< G..
The thing which made possible
the nomination Of P. E. Brown
of Luverne as associate justice of
the state supreme court enhances
Mr.. Dunn's chances in the speaker.
ship contest. The north, is deter
mined to finally and conclusively
bury the Ratchet. It is quite likely
that this disposition is born large
ly of the certainty that tonnage
tax has not been destroyed but
only temporarily set pack. If the
south can be amellorated and the
two sections of the state brought
into working harmony there will
be less danger of radical tonnage
tax bill being enacted. n
In connection with this situation
d. P. O'Neil bobs up as possible
dark horse in the race. Mr.. O'Neil,
who is in Bemidji today admits re-
ceiving letters from delegates in the
Seventh and Ninth districts urging
him to permit his name to go be-
fore the legislators as a speakership
candidate. Mr.. O'Neil thus far has
refused to consider the proposition.
He does not say, however, that ne
positively will not accept the place,
and rather conveys the impression
that it would not be wholly un-
pleasant to him. A
Mr.. O'Neil's popularity reaches
far beyond the limits of his home
district and he is generally spoken
Of as one Of the most likable men in
the house. tits possible that this
very characteristic may initiate
against his chances Of landing the
speakership as L. G. Spooner's de-
cided candor has hurt him in the
race.
By the way, Mr.. Spooner is to
day in Minneapolis, where he is in
consultation with the Hennepln
county delegates in his effort to Sc.
cure their endorsement Of his can.
ldidacy. It is understood that he il