The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1911-04-01
Militant Little Member From
Rice County Offers Left
Handed Apology.
HOUSE DOES NOT ACCEPT;
PASSES VOTE OF CENsURE
Committees May Be Packed, But
People Want Facts-Oharges
Do Not Go.
BY w. E. McEWEN

BY w. E. McEWEN
ST. PAUL, March 30.-(Special
1.-The all important
event in the legislature this week was
the consideration Of the Klemer af-
fair. It was veritable ''Donny-
brook from start to finish. Not for
years has such a scene been witnessed
in a Minnesota legislature. The de-
bate was exciting and gingery, and
personalities of a questionable parlia-
mentary character flew thick and fast
from every corner of the house.
Just before the vote of sensure was
passed, Mr. Klemer arose from his
seat to make an apology. It was a
left handed one, and had no influ-
ence upon the house. Then when
the censure vote had carried, Mr.. Kle-
mer called up his resolution provid-
ing for the appointment of a commit.
tee of seven. three to be chosen by
Speaker Dunn, three by Mr.. Klemer,
and the seventh by the other six.
Speaker Dunn Takes Floor.
The militant little man from Rice
county. had no sooner taken his seat,
when the long guant figure of Speaker
Dunn was seen to rise from his seat
on the floor Of the house. In a.
most dramatic manner, with his coal
black hair falling over his forhead,
his right hand stretched toward the
speakers chair and his voice penetrat-
ing with it's characteristic droll to
every corner of the immense cham
ber, Mr.. Dunn said:
Mr.. Speaker: I move you that the
gentleman from Rice, Mr.. Klemer,
and the gentleman from Hubbard,
Mr. Stone. be required to present
themselves forthwith before the bar of
this house. and state now what COM
mfttees are packed in the interest of
the special interests and what
members of this house are repres-
enting those interests
Starts the Fire Works.
This started the fire works in
earnest. Friends of the speaker ap-
plauded the motion with enthusiasm
Arguments were advanced for and
against the passage of the speakers
motion. Mr.. Klemers friends or
rather Speaker Dunn's enemies, COM
planned that it was not giving Repres-
entatives Klemer and Stone sufficient
time. The house was impatient, and
by vote of 6S to As the belligerent
members were compelled to present
themselves to the bar of the house.
Both members pleaded that they
had not been given sufficient time
to prepare their charges, and the
whole proceedings tamely ended for
the time with motion to excuse
them. Rumors are rife today that
specific charges are being prepared,
but it is believed by those who seem
to know that SO far the house is
concerned the matter is at an end.
Where Leaders.
Ordinarily my sympathy would be
with Mr.. Klemer. In fact I think
the leaders of the house made a
grave mistake when they did not per-
NIT an investigation to be made as
requested by Mr.. Klemer. I am sure
that there are certain members of the
house who are servants of the "in-
would indeed be strange legislative
body if this were not true. It is the
easiest thing in the world to make
slanderous charge against a person,
and that slander usually flies through
out the country with the fleetest of
wings. but it's answer sloths with
leaden hoof.
Committees May Be Packed.
There may be, too, some committees
of the house, which are so constituted
as to serve others interests better
than the interests of the people. In
this respect Mr.. Klemer may be right,
but to boldly charge that Speaker
Dunn wilfully and schemingly packed
the committees is a. serious charge,
and should not have been made by
an honest man unless he was in full
( ossession of the facts to back up his
charge at the time he made it. p
I have been attending sessions Of
the Minnesota legislature for sixteen
years. I have been interested in just
the kind of legislation that the "spe-
cial interests" do not want. have
been obliged to wage contests
against the representatives of these
interests on may occasions, only to
find that the cause of labor had few
friends on the very committees that
should give it support. 49,, 49,
But Committees Are Fair
After sixteen years of experience I
am free to state that never appear
ed before such groups of fair men as
constitute the committees of this
house of representatives which have
to treat with legislation bearing upon
the economic well-being of the peo-H
pie. It is due to Speaker Dunn to {
have it said of him that he has been
unusually fair in according to every.
class OF people just representation up-
On the committees in which their pes
culiar wants are considered
Letus The Muck Raker.
like the muck k-raking game. It
is distinctly the function of 9 labor
Conatinued on Pase FosE..