Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1911-04-19
LEGISLATURE
OF 1911
by LYNN HAINES

- -
This is written April fifteenth.
Before it is read the session will
be over. With legislative condi-
tions so chaotic and uncertain, it is
impossible to predict what may
happen at the finish but this
much is already true. no law max
ing body ever promised more. and
fulfilled so little. In my next and
last letter l shall attempt to show
specifically what was accomplished.
To get comprehensive view of
the situation, one must 60 back
two years in the political history of
the state. The legislature of 1909.
was unprogressive. 1t was char
acterized by acts and inclinations
favoring the special interests. At
the primaries and the general
elections the people spoke out in
emphatic protest against the reign
of professional and corrupt politi-
clans. The result was the smash
ing of the old guard machine in
both branches. A majority of the
new members were independent of
the interests. with progressive
tendencies. 1t looked as though a
complete program of progressive
measures would be enacted.
Goaded to desperation by this
prospect. the reactionaries elected
their candidate for speaker and
captured the House organization.
With that advantage, through the
adoption of Cannonized rules and
the compelling power of patronage
and chalrmanships. the "corpora-
ton cabinet was able to overcome
the handicap of a minority of men,
bers directly controlled by the spe-
cial interests until they had had
time to bring enough recruits into
the combination to give them coll
troll. There isn't space in this
letter to explain how that was
done. In 1.-The Minnesota Legis-
lature Of 1911" ] shall go over each
step in the system and identify the
members who yielded to this or that
influence. 1t is an interesting and
instructive study. the changing OF
insurgents into reactionaries. Some
gave way to flattery; some were
duped and deceived; others surren.
dered for committee assignments.
still others sold their independence
for local appropriations; then there
are other influences about which
one hesitates to speak.
| To sum up the situation. the
reactoinaries serving the special in
terests, were in almost absolute
control of the House before the
session had progressed three weeks.
They had a dependable majority OF
between five and ten. And they
made their control count, as will
be shown when the results are anal.
yized.
On the other hand, Lieutenant
Governor Gordon organized the
Senate in the interest of the people.
He gave the important commit
tees into the hands of progressives
Apparently the special interests
had little opportunity in the upper
branch. Conditions continued in
that way until the Klemer incident
in the House. That sensational con.
troversy almost instantly converted
a weil-ordered and smoothly working
special interest machine into pitiful
chaos. No words of mine are
adequate to describe the change.
About forty-five insurgents stood
together. Outside Of that there
was no harmony, and little work
The reactionary leaders realized
that they had over-played the game
and were discredited. if not dis.
graced. before the citizens Of
the state. Thev blamed each
other. and everybody else. They
were, and are irritable. At any
time since Mr.. Klemer and DR..
Stone charged that the special in.
terests controlled the House; one
could start a row of hours duration
by merely pointing a finger. Il
didn't matter about the direction.
A digit could not straighten itself
without indicating some statesman
who was sore-and guilty. AS q
result the closing weeks of the
session in the House have been dis.
graced by language so ungentle.
manly and disorder so unstatesman.
like as to suggest tenderloin saloon
rather than a digniied law-makin2
body. At one time about the only
special interest could control its
crowd was the brewery combine
This situation frightened the big
bosses the ones who press the
button from above. Accordingly
they turned their attention to the
Senate. They feared that their
House organization might 20 to
pieces and lose control. Big poll
ticians close to high state officials
joined with ENJOYS of the steel
trust to safeguard themselves and