The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1911-05-04
THE THIRTY-SEYENT SESSION

Hardly a newspaper in the state
has kind word to say Of the thirtv-
seventh session of the Minnesota leg
islature. Most Of the country
weeklies, taking their cue from some
of the city dailies, denounce the legis-
lators in unmeasured terms. Is this
indiscriminate abuse justified by the
facts: I unhesitatingly answer no.
While the members, especially those
of the house, we're betimes contentious
and unruly, yet on the whole both
branches of the legislature were COM
posed of honest, earnest men, actu-
ated by the highest motives, anxious
to enact legislation that would prove
beneficial to the best interests of the
state. That the aspirations of the
well-meaning members were only par
TALLY realized is due to a combina-
ton of circumstances to certain ex-
tent unpreventable. Nevertheless,
much good legislation was enacted,
while several meritorious measures
failed to pass either one or both
bodies. The issues which gave rise
to the most acrimonious debates we're
reapportionment, rum and, incidental
ly, railroad rate legislation. These
we're the rocks upon which the legis-
lature split and went to pieces. Re-
apportionment was the main bone of
contention in the senate, while rum
was the cause of nine-tenths of all the
trouble in the house.
There never was legislature freer
from the charge of undue influence
than the thirty seventh, and that fact
was widely commented on by intelli-
gent and impartial observers. True,
it is charged, that certain interests
had expended considerable money in
electing members of both branches
who would oppose the enactment of
any radical temperance legislation.
AS to the truth or falsity of these
charges I canont say. But I do be-
lieve that not dollar was expended
by any individual or interest to pro-
mote or defeat legislation after the leg
islature had convened.
The trouble in the house commenced
with the election of speaker. There
were three candidates prominently
mentioned at the start-H. 81. Dunn
of Albert Lea, J. A. A. Burnquist of
St. Paul and Lewis G. Spooner Of
Morris. All three we're able men.
My preference was Mr.. Spooner.
But Mr.. Spooner withdrew from the
race several weeks before the session
convened and espoused the cause of
b. 81. Dunn. Mr.. Dunn, during the
campaign, bad repeatedly declared
himself in favor of reapportionment
based on population as provided by
the constitution, and for that reason
his candidacy for the speakership
found favor in northern Minnesota
and in the twin cities. Although he
was opposed to county option he had
pledged himself to appoint a temper
ance committee that would promptly
report out any county option bill that
might be referred to it without amend
ment, and to favor practical reme-
dial temperance legislation. The
county optionists had a majority of
the republican members of the house,
but many of the temperance members
from southern Minnesota, Hennepin
county and the eighth district voted
for Mr.. Dunn, and he was chosen
speaker. The radical temperance
members, however, opposed him, and
it was their constant aim to embarrass
him all through the session. He re-
deemed every pledge he had made
with reference to county option and
reapportionment, and he, himself,
prepared and had introduced several
remedial temperance measures. A
fairer presiding officer never occupied
the speakers chair than II. II. Dunn
sometimes he was so fair as to even
disregard the rules of the house to
favor the minority. But despite his
ominort fo irnosS tho ra1ioo1 olorcont