The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1912-12-19
Opponents Insist Speakership
Contest Is Not Settled.
R. C. Dunn IS SPOKEN OF
Princeton Editor Denies EmphaticalIy
That He Is a Candidate for
the Position.
Especial Correspondence.)

ST. Paul, Dec. 16.-Any attempt at
this late date to jar Henry Rines of
Mora from his hold on the house
speakership would seem like the
height of folly, but just the same
the game is in the making and anoth-
er week may see it fully launched. The
much talked of floor of the house idea
1s the scheme and R. C. Dunn of
Princeton-if he will permit it, and
l doubt it very much-will be the
beneficiary. For a week the new order
OF things has been brewing, but under
cover. Wednesday the plot came to
the surface when the pan only showed
slight trace Of color, but since that
the whole thing has grown and now
the political atmosphere is full of
what may happen. To add to the
threatened raid on Rines' preserves
P. H. McGarry and G.. w. Brown, both
rivals of Rines, and w. H. Wescott of
Dakota county showed up at the Mer-
chants hotel the early part of the
week and ever since all kinds of Cos
sip have been rife. r. G. Dunn r,a1e
his appearance at the Merchants hotel
about the same time, but good roads
legislation and visits to the offices of
the state highway commission occu-
pied most of his visit, so it could not
be said that if anything was brewing
that he was helping stir the pot,
Asked If he was a candidate for
speaker Mr.. Dunn Indignantly denied
any connection whatever and vehe-
mently declared that he would not
touch it with ten-foot pole. 'T've
got enough troubles without taking
on that job," said the warrior from
Princeton. However, he did not say
that IT the crowd opposed to Mr.. Rines
used his name without his consent
that he would offer any objection, but
he did say that if anything in that
line was being done 1t was without
his knowledge.
AS l pointed out the lifting of Mr..
Rines' official scalp at this late date
seems among the impossibilities, still
stranger things have happened.
Those opposing him are resourceful
and though they fell down on the orig
inal job they evidently have shot
or two left in their lockers. The
throwing of the job on the floor of
the house was among the first things
proposed in the speakership fight, but
friends of the Mora man quickly head
ed the scheme off by sewing up thirty
two of the 100 Republican members.
The others were brought into camp in
order. Should house floor election
be forced Rines' enemies would prob
ably have about eighteen of the Dem
ocrat1c members. That they would
secure more than twenty from the
Republican side of the house hardly
seems possible and this would not be
anywhere near enough to elect AS
explained by one interested onlooker
probably the whole thing is for the
purpose of soaring Rines and bluffing
him into a division of the spoils, but
1 hardly think the Mora publisher will
be bluffed. At any rate his lieuten-
ants say not.
Speaking of R. c. Dunn, he is prob
ably the one man of the 12O members
composing the house who could 20
into the speakership game at the pres
ent time and give Rines a run for his
money. Of the entire house member
ship he alone has a statewide &C.
quaintance and following and had he
cared to go after the place at the
start it is safe to say there would
nave been nothing to it but Bob.
When the speakership fight opened
every candidate for the place made
haste to get the Princeton man on his
side, but he refused to be dragged in.
He said he had other fish to fry and
1t spelled good roads. That Mr..
Dunn's name is being mentioned now
in an attack on the Rines forces I am
positive is none of his doing, but SIM
ply that of those who see in his name
and statewide following something to
conjure with. Long ago Bob found
out that success was not all talk and
his silence now may be because Of
that knowledge. I think he will be
heard from in due time.
!. :. :.
In the meantime Mr. Rines is going
on with his plans for the organization
OF the next house and they include
the distribution of the committeeships.
He is silent on what this distribution
will be, but it is probably safe to say
that Andrew Davis of Elk River will
be at the head of the appropriation
committee and w. l. Nolan of Mime
apolis the chairman of the committee
on rules. Representative Knapp Of
Chisholm is another who will be we'll
cared for. Another matter that the
speaker is working on is a resolution
reducing the number of employees. The
last house had seventy-two EMPLOYEES.
The number will likely be reduced to
sixty. Mr.. Rines is now spending two
days week in St. Paul meeting mem
bers and ascertaining their wishes in
the matter of committeeships. s.
..- = :.
Comment upon the attack on the