The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-12-30
SESSIONS Of THE
LEGISLATURES ARE
TO Be INTERESTING
Illinois Will Hold Center Of
Stage Among Middle.west.
ern Bodies.
WISCONSIN HAS AN
ENERGETIC PROGRAM
William Alden Smith Confident of Ra.
ing Elected Senator from Nfichiran
Democrats Control Ohio, Indiana.
Missouri, Kansas and Illinois.

Chicago, Dec. so.-1llinois will hold
the center of the stage among the
twelve middle western states whose
legislatures will meet in regular ses-
SION beginning early next month.
With two United States senator's ro ha
elected. the first democratic admins
tratlon in twenty years in the saddle;
oand OF twenty-siX legislators from
the progressive party fighting republi-
cans and democrats. and party hold
ing majority in either house or on
Joint ballot. it seems certain that the
forty-eighth general assembly. which
wlll De called to order January 8. will
become one of the most historic that
| has met at Springfield.
Not only is deadlock in connection
with the senatorships almost IL GER
| talnty in Illinois. but a bitter contest
which may delay the regular work of
the session for weeks. is said to be i'm
minent.
| Wisconsin,. although not furnishing
the spectacular features that will
mark the Illinois session. probably
VIII attract next greatest attention by
the work of it's legislature. Setting the
pace for innovations in legislative af-
fairs. Wisconsin has mapped out
comprehensive program of social bet
terment" legislation for the YEAR 1919
FAR in advance of other states in the
middle west. if not in the country Eff
1orts to establish system of rural
land colonization that will make pos
sible the back to the land" move
ment for the man with little money. a
mothers. pension plan, a minimum
wage bill and recall bill for mem
eers Of state commissions are only
1ew OF the measures that will be con-
sidered at Madison.
Six middle western states. in addi-
ton to Illinois. will elect federal
senator. These are Michigan, Iowa,
Nebraska. South Dakota. Minnesota.
and Kansas. No senator will be elect
ed next year in Ohio. Indiana. Mis-
souri, and Wisconsin.
Indications at this time point to the
election from those seven states Of
four republican senator's at least two
and possibly three democrats and one
progressive. Illinois may choose two
democrats or name one democrat and
a republican or other member to fill
the short term opened by the expul-
sion from the federal senate Of vii.
liam Lorimer.
4 Smith is Confident.
In Michigan, despite rumors of
combination against him. William All.
dren Smith. republican. has declared
that he is certain of election. Iowa
is slated to return to Washington Will
ka; unless the unexpected happens.
will name George w. Norris. pro-
gressive. In South Dakota, Thomas
Sterling, republican primary nominee.
may be apposed by Senator Robert ].
Gamble. In Minnesota. the return Of
Senator knute Nelson seems assured.
In Kansas 1t is expected that Judge
W. H. Thompson, democrat. will be
elected to succeed Senator Charles
Curtis.
OF the twelve states named, IL party
lines govern. the republicans control
the legislatures in Michigan. Iowa.
South Dakota. North Dakota. Mime
hold an overwhelming majority in the
legislatures of Ohio. Indiana. Missouri
and Kansas. In Nebraska the demo-
Gratis have majority of one on joint
ballot. although the republicans have
majority in the Nebraska senate.
These political alignments. however.
may be changed in several of the leg
islatures by members Of the new pro.
gressive party, some of whom were
elected under the name republican.
In some states there is no progress
sive representation in the legislature
and in others the representation is so
fmsl sae1 as to be ff ssaresly any - effect
Ger county. was the sole progressive
elected. According to precedent in
the Missouri house. he will be floor
leader for his party and will be en-
titled to place on every committee.
Wants to Limit Session.
! In Ohio. Governor-elect James M.
Cox will attempt to limit the legisla-
tive session to sixty or ninety days.
Acts for the valuation of the new
Ohio constitution will take up much
Of the time Of the legislators.
/ At indianapolis the members are ex.
pected to be involved in fight by the
/ Taggart faction of democrats to elect
a speaker.
North Dakota legislators will vote
on a proposal to build q new state
house at Bismarck.
Missouri will consider bill for di.
rect election Of United States sen.
ators.
+ Kansas politicians will be occupied
with legislation calculated to enlist the
support of the newly enfranchised
women of the state.
! a review of the legislative programs
in these dozen states indicates that
woman suffrage. "blue sky" laws Ito
regulate the issuance of corporation
stocks). the questions Of public utili-
ties commissions. regulation Of wom.
en- and child labor. good roads, the
liquor question and the initiative. ref
erendum and recall. will be to the fore
in a majority Of the legislative ses.
sions.