The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1911-02-17

general sought TO secure the dis
charge of the writer and took other
steps to prevent him from securing
employment. ~. !
Points in the editorial particularly
offensive to the attorney general
was reference to the apparent
lack of grey matter" included in
the attorney generals makeup, and
to the intimation that the voice of
the brewery interests is sweet music
to his ears. AS to the first point, we
are obliged to refer the attorney
general to his creator. Ga the
second point, the Pioneer did not
say that the attorney generals
opinion was dictated by the brewery
interests but it did mean to intimate,
and now reiterates, that during his
term of office the attorney general
has so far as we are able to find
out, never rendered an opinion
offensive to the brewery interests
The attorney general has address
sed a communication to the Pioneer
in which he defends his position.
On the principle that all men are en-
titled to a hearing. The Pioneer
opens its columns to such part of
the attorney generals letter as i,
considers fit to print.
The specific point at issue was an
opinion from the attorney general 5
office to the effect that the leglsla-
ture can reapportion the state a.:
any session. Says the attorney gen.
eral to the Pioneer:
The history of the opinion in
question is this:
In 1907, the legislature of that
year asked my predecessor for an
opinion upon the subject of reappor
tionment, and under date of February
81, 1907, Mr.. Young advised in
effect, that under the constitution of
Minnesota, the legislature could re-
apportion at any session. He forti.
fed the opinion with certain cases
from New York. At the session of
1909 like question was asked me
and following the opinion which |
have just mentioned, and the same
reasoning and the same adjudicated
cases, advised the legislature, under
date of Jan. IS, 1909, in effect, that
if 1t did not exercise the power to re-.
apportion after the enumeration
specified. it had the power at any
subsequent session to make such
reapportlonment.
At the present session the same
question was submitted to this office
and following the former opinions,
in my absence and while I was sick
in the hospital, one of my assistants
advised the legislature, and in my
judgment correctly, that the power
to reapportion existed at any session
of the Legislature" -...-.
Now, kind reader, note the dex-
terity with which the attorney gener.
al lodges responsibility. First, he
calls attention to the opinion of his
predecessor, admits that he, him
self, wrote an opinion along this
same line but lays stress on the fact
that the last opinion from his office
came while he was sick in
the hospital as if he were not
responsible for opinions from the
attorney generals office.
Here, let US quote from the con-
stitution of the State of Minnesota,
Article 4, Section q:
"Census-Apporticnment - The
legislature shall provide by law for
the enumeration of the inhabitants
of this state in the year 1865 and
every tenth year thereafter. At their
FIRST session after each enumera-
ton so made and also at their FIRST
session after each enumeration made
by the authority of the United States
the legislature shall have the power
to prescribe the bonds of Congress
sional, senatorial and representative
districts and to apportion anew the
senators and representatives among
the several districts according to
section second of this article.'