The Bemidji daily pioneer., 1911-02-03
Dramatic Clashes Mark Vote on
Hackney Resolution, First Real
Test on Reapportionment.
BILL BELIEVED TO HAVE CHANCE
Will Be Rushed Into House By Chair.
man Congdon and Friends Still
See Success.
(By z. A. WILSON,
Benidji Pioneer Legislative ]

(By z. A. Wilson)
Benidji Pioneer Legislative Bureau
St. Paul, Feb. 3.-Southern Min
nesota Senators in solid array, flank
ed by few faithful servants of the
brewery interests, dealt a singing
blow square in the face OF friends of
an honest reapportionment, when by
a vote of 20 to 81 the senate yester-
day killed the Hackney resolution,
which proposed to limit subsequent
legislatures to a senate of 63 mem
bers and house of 1926, which is the
size Of the present legislature.
Senator S. D. Works (democrat) }
of Mankato lead the fight. of the
over-represented regions of the south
but his bold assault was met by vol
leys of wrath from thoroughly
aroused champions of a statewide
square deal and the senate chamber
resounded with dramatic outbursts
of eloquence
More than one senator hurled the
warning that vote to kill the reso-
luton would mean to the people of
the state that reapportionment is
opposed, and yet in the face of this
thirty-one senators permitted them
selves to be recorded against the
Hackney resolution.
General Wilson Thunders a Defense
mo one in this senate is so dull or
stupid" thundered General Wilson.
the venerable senator from Minnea-
polls, that he cannot comprehend
what a vote for indefinite postpone
ment of this resolution means. l do
not wish to impung the motives of
anyone, but there is a tremendous
significance to the vote we are about
to take; in the face of party plat
form and the known sentiment of
the people the full meaning of this
vote is far reaching. l make the
the vote is counted it will be one of
geographical location-that will tell
the story. There is nothing binding
in this resolution; it is merely an
expression of good will; just a pre-
liminary proposition. This resolu-
tion passed the house a few days age
by substantial vote"
Here General Wilson was inter.
rupted by Senator Schaller, of Hast
ings, democratic leader of the sen.
ate, who rose to the point of order
tor, who rose to he point of order
that it is improper to refer to the
proceedings of the house thu
senate should take Independent
action. Senator Wilson admitted
that the point was we'll taken anc
concluded by reiterating that ther,
could be no mistaking the purpor
of the resolution and expressed tn,
hope that all senators would be bi.
and broad enough to vote for it.
What the Resolution Meant.
The senate was in a committe O
the whole when the Hackney resolu
tion came up for discussion. Sen
ator W. w. Dunn of St. Paul ha,
been called to the chair by Lieuten
ant Governor Gordon. The resolu
tion had been pending several day
and last week was voted down whel
and effort was made to pass it unde
the suspension of the rules. Tn
resolution was originally presente
to the senate by Senator J. M. Hack
ney of St. Paul, chairman of the sen
ate reapportionment committee
Senator Hackney explained that tn
resolution would simply put the com
mittee in a position to know wha
sort of bill to draw up.
The motion of Senator Works t
Indefinitely postpone the resolution
was a signal for the senators t
clash, and clash they did.
Senator F. A. Duxbury of Gale
donia of the extreme southeaster
part Of the state and Senator ].