The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1911-04-15
Political Ties Are Severed Per-
sonal Views of Members Pre-
vail in Most Cases.
LAWYERS PLAY STRONG
PART IN LEGISLATION
Many Vote Their Clients Inter
ests Rather Than the Peoples.
One Member Does It. e;
By w. T.. McEWEN.

7 : : .*z..
BY w. E.. McEWEN.
ST. PAUL, April l13.-(Special cor
respondence).- just few days
the thirty-seventh session of the Min
nesota legislature shall pass into his
tory. This session will go down into
the annals of that history as the least
constructive of all preceding legis-
latures. 1t has been session where
all ties of political parties have been
sides on great state questions in ac-
icordance with their personal, rather
than their political views.
| The senate has conducted its de-
liberations with becoming and ira
ditional dignity. The house has been
noisy, and many of it's members quar-
rellsome from the very beginning.
! Speaker Dunn Is Fair.
| Speaker Dunn experienced consid-
cradle difficulty in maintaining orr
der, and time after time he was oblig-
ed to make personal appeals to the
members for the restoration of order.
I do not care what is said of Speaker
Dunn, but it must be admitted, that
as presiding officer Mr.. Dunn has
proved to be the fairest that ever oc-
cupied the position of speaker in this
state. - -. '7-.-ts
He has been uniformly courteous to
every member, and while he may have
had reason to feel personal bitter
ness against several members who had
attacked his political integrity, there
never has been an outward manifes-
tation of hatred on his part in the
chair. Both friends and foes admit
that he has been aR exemplary speak speak
Progressive Legislation Dead.
Progressive legislation of every
fcharacter received black eye in.
teither one house Or ith
too. many members the desire has
been to serve special interest first.
and the people last. So many inter
ests> are represented in the state law
making body that it does not require
much of a combination to head off
Legislation Of real import to the peo-
pie. >: -: ~ e
| Great Boon for Lawyers.
The state legislature offers fine in
JUDGEMENTS for ambitious lawyers. For
this reason there are so many of them
there. A lawyer, makes a good, legis-
lator when his highest ideal is to
serve the people. He likewise is most
dangerous, If he enters the legisla-
ture, as an attorney for great cor
poration, for he is sure to ever press
the claims Of his client, and protect
his interests at all hazard, even at
the expense Of the people.
A lawyer legislator can do things
! hot 10 10 fo
imprisonment in the penitentiary. Just
think of. the handicap under which
the policemen and firemen labored to
secure the passage of their free ride
bill, when it's chief opponent on the
floor of the senate is member Of a
firm of attorneys, for the Twin City
Rapid Transit company. g
I How Can Good Bills Pass?
Is it any wonder that a distance
tariff bill is defeated when counsel
for the railroad companies hold seats
and have votes in the legislature?
| Labor legislation of the kind which
is intended to improve the economic
we'll being of the working classes,
must naturally compel employers of
1 labor to yield something to the work
ing people. ALI special interests en-
ploy labor, and their attorneys, ever
on watch. have voices and votes in
both houses of the legislature, and
for this reason there is to be no labor.
! legislation of general benefit passed
! at this session.
/ No Employers Liability Law.
The real reason why there is to be
A no workingmen's compensation act,
or even an employers liability bill
enacted into law by this legislature,
is because employers and employers
liability companies are ably represent
ed in the legislature, by their attor-
lneys. @ . .5
I Representative Chas. Fowler OF
Minneapolis, splendid orator, able
and forcible, with mighty charming
personality, is chairman of the COM
mittee on corporations other than
municipal. Whenever an employers
liability bill or the commissions re-
port on workingmen's compensation
is pressed for consideration in the
house, up bobs* Mr.. Fowler with q
characteristic objection and down
goes employers liability and work
lingmen's compensation.
How Fowler Works.
On Monday Representative Lundeen
j lendeavored to have special order
made Of all labor bills before the
house. Then up again bobs Mr.. Fow-
Ter, this time toying with the preju-5
dices of the farmer members, and art
fully arousing their sympathies. by
4 declaring that eswe farmers ought to-
have special order for farm legisla-
i ton for our bill for the destruction Of
i tgrasshop ppers has not yet been dis
posed Of. and 4 suggest that we make
Ia special order OF this bi Il. Is Don't
Ce1ttn1e1 80 q,