The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1911-02-08

Who Retains Seat in the Senate.
posed but sent word that he would
come to the chamber to cast his vote.
Henry Rines of Mora, author of
the county option bill, opened the de-
bate after the speaker had announce
ed that full, free and fair discus
sion'' was to be had. Mr.. Rines
spoke briefly, declaring the county
option bill the most important meas
ure to come before the legislature,
measure in which he said the state
at large is vitality interested. He
said that the issue was not new
one and that for 20 years it had
been discussed, until within the last
few years it had become "a burning,
live issue. He called attention to
the fact that Jacob Jacobson of Lac
Qui Parle supported the measure
and Jacobson was usually right, was
Mr.. Rines' comment.
Interest extraordinary attached to
the remarks of G. H. Mattson of
Roseau, not only because he is at
present a power in the house and
recognized champion of county op
ton, but because it is known that
Mr.. Mattson cherishes an ambition
to succeed Julius Schmahl as secre-
tary of state The Roseau member
gave a graphic word picture of the
"enlightened advancement" charac-
teristic of those who have taken up
the work of advanced liquor legis-
lation and declared there were two
cardinal questions. Does saloon
pay?' and "What does county option
stand for?" He declares that the
saloon does not pay because it Gre
ates no wealth, stimulates no indus
try but on the contrary undermines
civic virtue.
Look, this very moment, at poor
old Illinois. Yesterday, renowned
for industrial achievements, today
sunk so low in political corruption
as to merit the contempt of the ma
ton and her downfall and ignominy
is directly traceable to the liquor
traffic through the saloon"
In answering the second question,
"What does county option stand
for?" Mr.. Madison said:
ct endeavors to bring back to the
people the very principle upon which
democracy reposes. 1t is the bare
question of giving people the right to
settle a question according to their
own Judgment, the fundamental prin-
ciple of democracy"
Mr.. Mattson limited at reappor-
tionment by saying that there was
''another problem to be fought out
on this floor and one that will blunt
the conscience of democracy if it is
not settled alright.
Mr.. Mattson said that nine states
in the Union have adopted county
option and that % governors favor
ed temperance laws. He said the
farmers were entitled to a voice in
the making of the laws and whether
"sons shall pass under the shadows
of saloons and daughters ravished
by the influences of saloons. He
! concluded:
"When you vote against county
option, you deal a death blow
against free government"
Mr.. Mackenzie followed in a
brilliant address against the meas
ure. He explained that two years
ago he was chairman of the temper
ance committee and to rectify the
erroneous impression that the county
option bill at that time was smoth-
cred in the committee, explained
that the bill was introduced Janu-
airy %, 1909, that after three hear
ings it was reported back to the
house February 4, 13 days after its
Introduction with a majority recon-
mendation for indefinite postpone
ment and minority report defended