The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1911-04-15
Speaker Dunn Scores Single Vic
tory in Legislature by Fore
ing Railroad Rate Bill.
POINDEXTER GIVES JAR
TO STAND PAT SENATORS
Advocates Election of United
States Senators by Direct
Vote Of the People.
By W. T.. McEWEN.

BY W. Il. McEWEN.
ST. PAUL April 1S.-(Special Cor
respondence).-Ye was one
big day in the legislature. finishing
up with the most exciting event of
the session. The house was. consider
ing the eastman distance tariff bill
with Speaker Dunn leading the force
in favor of the bill. and just as the
roll was completed it was found that
one more vote was needed to pass
the measure 1t was an exciting mo-
ment, and Representative Kelly, De-
mocrat, changed his vote from no to
yes. Mr.. Dunn wanted another vote,
and he made a personal appeal to
another Democract, but no response
was had. Then Representative Ander-
son of Washington county changed his
vote and when the totals were made
it was found that the long discussed
railroad rate bill had passed the house
by vote Of 81 to Sc.
Speaker Dunn's First Fight.
1t was Speaker Dunn's first and
only floor fight of the session. He
thrust his whole personality into the
contest, and he is wholly responsible
possible exception Of Judge Sanborn
and his decision in the railroad rate
case.
Speakers in opposition to the bill
said that the railroads did not care
very much about it, for there was no
railroad lobby manifest anywhere In
answer to this Speaker Dunn was at
his best. Mo- he said "the railroads
are not in this chamber. Their op-
position is of a. subterranean char
acter. They do not come out in the
open, but they have their man Beeks
in St. Paul writing to all the ship
ers'ia sMihnesota and. making safarrf-
ing" statements Of the possfblfe results
from legislation of this character.
These shippers know nothing of the
merits of this bill. but they are
alarmed at Beeks statement, and the
result is the members of the legisla-
ture get letters against the BILL
Sympathy for Dunn.
1 rather sympathized with Mr.
Dunn's statement, for labor has
heard considerably of the activity of
Mr.. Beeks. He is secretary of the
St. Paul Association of Commerce.
He seems to be general utility man
for big business and dips his oar in
to every kind of legislation of inter-
est to the people.
He was unusually active in writing
to the keepers Of hotels, restaurants
and stores in the country urging them
to use their influence with the men,
bers of the legislature to kill the
eight hour bill, and making extraya-
r1o >f
law, If passed. on their business.
1t was one word for the country
merchant and two for the employers
Of female labor in the big cities. It
will take just another bill or two of
general import to acquaint the peo-
pie of Minnesota of the far reaching
influence and activity of the railroads
and big interests through their err
rand boy, Beeks.
Bill Will Help Duluth
40 not know anything about the
merits of the distance tariff bill. It
may be good for Duluth, and it may
not. Time alone will tell. However.
the claim is made that if this bill be-
comes law it will make Duluth tho
greatest seaport in America. It ia
held by advocates of the measure that
all the grain now shipped from
southern Minnesota to the east hx
way OF Chicago will be shipped via
Du!uth' 1t Is also held that coal ship
ped through Chicago to southern Min
nesota Will be shipped by way of
Dulutn., Th1s sounds good to me, but
the operation OF the law alone will
teli whether or not the fears of the
Duluth Jobbers will be realized.
POindexter Creates Sensation
me other interesting event of VOC.
terday was the appearance of Senator
Polndexter of Washington at the state
capitol. He asked to address tho
senate. His topic was, "The election
OF United States senator's by direct
vote OF the people," No one knew
"hat his subject would be until af-
ter he began to speak.
Ihen there was squirming in tho
seats of the stand patters. Senator
Folndexter delivered his sledee ham
ner blows at the present system, HI
showed now the interests had heen
aole 10 control legislatures, and how
'.e oHlted States senate became the
s'tohshoid OF he big business in
te1ests: lie reviewed at length the
operation of the laws in Oregon and
washington, and told of how both
states were redeemed by the people
w Ihey Meet Him Coldly.
"nen the aggressive and progress
sive senator from Washington had,
concluded he was given a cordial 70
ceptlon by the Republican progress
slves and Democrats in the senate
Inc others held back, and seemed
very much chagrined. but Poindexter
VINO mas developed some thick skin
IT, Continued On PaEe six.- ~ ----' :.