The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1911-04-20
THE SESSION CLOSES
Brief Review of Work of Minnesota
Legislature by Geo. F. Author,
of Minneapolis Tribune.
The Most Constructive Piece of Legis-
lation Passed Was the Good b,
Roads Bill of X. G. Dunn.

st. Paul, Mimi, April 19.-George
F.. Author, in the Minneapolis
Tribune, has the following to say re-
garding the legislative session which
has just closed. Reviewing the ses-
sion of the legislature, Mr.. Author
draws the conclusion that the present
session has been devoted largely to
political thunder-making rather than
to constructive legislation. He says
that the most constructive piece of
legislation passed by the entire ses-
sion was the r. G. Dunn good roads
bill. involving an appropriation of
$3.50, 900 and the submission of con-
stitutional amendment for q one-mill
tax which will eventually result in a
network OF good roads for the state of
Minnesota. The session closed in a
tumult after passing the constitutional
amendment limiting representation
from any county to seven, and after
passing the Keefe bill applying the
Oregon plan for the election of United
States senators to Minnesota. Mr..
Author says:
AT the outset of the session came the
reelection of United States Senator
Moses E. Clapp. At the time of the
last republican state convention the
tariff bill, an unpopular measure in
Minnesota, was being widely dis
cussed. Senator Clapp had taken an
insurgent attitude, and in order to
bring about harmony the Eberhart
people insisted upon the endorsement
of Senator Clapp by the state conven-
ton. His election was foregone con-
clusion. In spite of this it was neces-
sarily a tribute to the insurgents
strength in Minnesota. Following
the election of Senator Clapp and
the refusal of men like Frank B. Kel-
logg and others to get into the
senatorial race, senatorial politics
began to look ahead two years hence,
when cKnute Nelson will be candi-
date for re-election.>,4-.- =. 49,, =,
Previous to this John Lind of Min
neapolis had played strange game
in Minnesota politics. Following his
nomination for the governorship on
the democratic ticket he had gone
west, where he became inbued with the
idea that the insurgent tendency exist
ing in the coast states was thing of
the future. He insisted on committing
his party to county option and went
throughout the state saying that party
platform pledges meant nothing and
that the man and not the party was to
be considered. This was in the face
OF the fact that his party had refused
to declare for county option in it's
platform, and it was well-known fact
that his party was opposed to this
form of sumptuary legislation. The
assumption has been all along that
Mr.. Lind is, or will be, candidate
for the United States senate. This
opinion is generally entertained in
spite of the fact that Mr.. Lind has
said he is not candidate for any
Office.
At the opening of the session an i'm
mediate plan was developed for the
Introduction of bill which would in
corporate as a Minnesota law what is
known as the Oregon plan of electing
United States senator's. A bill of this
character was introduced in the senate
by Senator Works of Mankato.
Senator Lende, an insurgent repub-
licau, introduced similar bill, while
Senator Murray, republican, intro
duced bill for the direct election of
United States senator's, his plan being
that used in North Dakota.
Following the Introduction of the
Lende bill, Representative .Keefe,
democrat, introduced an Oregon plan
bill in the house, which was promptly
passed. Senator Works in the senate,
secured the substitution Of the Keefet
bill for his own and had it placed at
the head Of the senate calendar in adj.
vance of the, Lende bill. This is the:
bill that was passed yesterday after
noon by the seante, and If signed by
the governor will become the Minne-
sofa plan Of electing United States
senator's. The Murray bill had origi-
nally passed the. senate but was de-
feated in the house. The Oregon plan
divorces the election of United States
senator's from partisan politics. It
gives the minority party decided
advantage and it's adoption is one of
the many victories the democrats have
accomplished this session. It's appli-
cation in Oregon resultedtin the cleo
ton OF Senator Chamberlain, demo-
crat, by republican Legislature.
It works out in this way: The ma
jority party will always have more
~ r. g .