Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1911-02-01
LEGISLATURE T |
!. =. =. OF 1911
A lnsurgsnt Surgeon.
Watching for Woodohucks -
Election Contests and Re-.
BY LYNN HAINES
n ent.

| / Election Contest. and Re-.
Mes ''''''''""'"'.
y
ing out said provisions, which
some of the insurgents admit they
do not understand. .t...
H. F. No. 5 all but slipped thru
the House before its Inconsistencies
were discovered. Then it was cast
into the custody of the Committee
on Public Accounts. where it is
now in the stages of investigation.
At the time of it's introduction it
was referred to the Appropriations
Committee but was taken from that
committee upon a motion Of its
chairman, L. G. Spooner. and placed
on general orders. Now members
are wondering why the bill was not
considered carefully at the proper
time and place.
There is no disposition to kill the
bill. nor will its passage be long
delayed. But there may be altera.
tions. Possibly l shall feel inclined
to discuss the incident more fully
in later letter. =:
His district and the state is to be
congratulated upon the success of
Senator J. j. Amman in his cleo
tion contest. An attempt was
made to unseat him on the ground
that he was not a citizen. The
Election Committee considered the
case and decided unanimously in
his favor. 1t only remains for the
whole Senate to adupt the Commit
tee report. which will be done be-
fore this is published. Senator All
mann is one of the most dependable
members in the Senate. Whenever
a roll is called his name comes first
and it is safe wager that the vot-
ing is started IN the interest of the
people. There is a strategic i'm
portance. to his position at the head
Of the roster which may have had
something to do with the desire for
his defeat.
The other contests. those in which
Ray l. harrington is after the seat
of DR.. Froshaug and A. D. Stephens
is attempting to unseat John Saug-
stad. will test the probity of the
Senate as will no other issues to
come before that body. 1t is sig
nificant that men speak in whispers
when discussing these cases. No
one can foretell the results in either
contest because of the subtle: silent
influences at work. Each new
day DEVELOPMENT seems to indicate
that it is harrington and Stephens
VS.. .Froshaug and Saugstad. If one
contestant wins. both will win. un-
less the interests deem it wise to
compromise. 1t is the old, old con-
tiict between patriotism and the
property power in politics. :
The legislature is getting into a
regretatle tanele over reapportion-
ment. At present about the only
phase of the question which can
be regarded as certainty is that
the spirit and purpose of democracy
will be the loser, whatever the out
come. If the fight is futile and
there is no reapportionment it will
mean that most Of the session will
be given to the useless struggle, to
the detriment of direct legislation,
extension of the primary and other
vital issues. If reapportionment
does come, it will be in such a form
as to bestow every possible advan-
tage upon the special interests.
The brewers hold the balance of
power. That splendid]y organized
influence is in position to dictate
terms to the responsiveness. At
present they are presenting a pre-
tense of opposition on the theory
that they have "safe Senate and
do not care to risk new election
of that body two years hence. This
seems reasonable and the political
reporters on the big dailies are
making the most Of it: but the
Smith Reees-Zollman machine is not
taking short-sighted view of the
situation. They see decades and
not biennums. g.
1t is absurd that the. brewers
should endorse the stand of the ene-
mics of reapportionment. that the
big cities should not have as large
representation as the rural dis
trlcts. That would make county
option inevitable. Another thing
the brewers will never be in bet
ter shape to so divide the state as
to minimize the number of county
option members.
1t; is an interesting study to
watch the big interests and this is
sue. Every other legislative ques-
tion is bound up in and with reap
portionment.