The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1911-02-07
Following Four Hours of Oratory
Prohibition Measure Thrown
Down so to SO Today.
STEPHENS FATE WITH SENATE
Effort to Have Contest With Saug-
stad Postponed Failed. Final
Vote Before Adjournment.
(By z. A. Wi1Son)
Bemidji Pioneer Legislative Bureau

Be1nidji Pioneer Legislative Bureau
st. Paul, Feb. 7.-(Daily Pioneer
Special Wire Service. )-After four
hours of fervid debate by leading re-
representatives., the Minnesota House
of Representatives at 3:15 this after
noon voted against the county OPP
ton bill SO to so.
P NJ Ferguson of Barker, got up
from a sick bed to be present to vote
against the bill.
The defeat of the county option
lists, although expected, was more
pronounced than even the opponents
OF the bill anticipated.
More than dozen addresses were
made for and against the bill. The
measure came up as special order
at II a. m. today.
All the house galleries were crowd
ed to their utmost capacity and the
floor of the house was crowded by
persons who wished to hear the de-
bate.
The Anti-Saloon League had plan
ned on packing the galleries and
applauding county option speakers,
for the moral effect on the speak
ers. In this they were warded by
the friends of the liquor interests
who fiocked to the galleries and were
there in a large number as were the
county optionists and the applause
was vociferous.
George Mckenzie of Albert Lea,
who lead the fight of the anti-option-
lists on the floor and who spoke Bit
terly against county option was
Kissed by the county optionists
friends in the galleries. Represen-
tative Lyrind of Minneapolis arose
to a point of order Representative
Ditty called the speakers attention
to the discourtesy of the Kissing and
urged that the galleries be cleared.
To this the speaker replied:
Il had believed that all persons
present were law abiding and that
they would behave themselves in the
proper manner. l warn them now
that unless they conduct themselves
in an orderly manner I shall clear
the galleries and without further
warming"
Some of those who spoke in favor
of the bill were Representatives D
P O'Neil of Thief River Falls, D. H
Mattson of Roseau, Representative
Ryan, author of the county option
bill; w. l. Nolan and Burnquist OF
St. Paul, who was candidate for
speaker
At 2 o'clock this afternoon the
senate took up the Stephens-Saug-
stad contest case as a special order
of business.
An effort was made to postpone the
case for one week. This was taken
as a move on the part of the Steph.
ems people, 1t was defeated by a
vote of 20 to a. This put the mat
ter up to the senate to make fna
disposition of this afternoon and the
case of the Crookston banker in be-
ing presented by E. P. Sanborn, the
St. Paul attorney.
the nnai vote on the case Will De
taken before the senate adjourns
this afternoon. AS the arrangement
of counsel and debate of the senate
will be lengthy it will be late today
before the vote is taken.
XXX
1t is admitted by Chairman Cong
don of the House committee that {
reapportionment bill has been drawn
and that it will be introduced in tn.
House within the next few days
This bill justifes the forecast made
by the Pioneer several days ago tina