Morris tribune., 1912-11-22
MANY SEEKING
SPEAKERSHIP
Half Dozen AspIrants Already
in the Field.
RACE PROMISES TO Be CLOSE
ProgressIves Could Name the Winner,
but They Are Not Likely
to Pull Together.
RACE PROMISES TO Be CLOSE
Especial Correspondence.l

Tor the speakerSh1p of the next house
OF representatives, which meets in
January, is on and the prospects are
that the whole thing will be in doubt
pretty much up to the first of the
year. Here are the candidates.: Pat
McGSrry, Walker; Henry Rines, Mora;
Thomas Frankscm, Spring Valley; w.
]. Nolan and John Lennon, Minneap-
oils, and G. w. Brown, Glencoe. J. T.
Johnson of Fergus Falls, druggist
and member of the last house, may
break into the game at any time. If
those responsible for the new order
of things, by which I mean the so
called progressive movement, sup
posed to include every candidate for
Office opposed to the old regime of
bOssism, stood back to back there
would be nothing to it, but as viewed
impartially as far as the present as
pirants are concerned it looks very
much as if Pat McGarry or G. W.
Brown would land the job. I am in
clined to believe that Brown is little
the best bet, though if keeping ever
lastingly at it counts for anything Nc
Garry cannot but win. He is on the
job twenty-four hours day. Accord
ing to those who claim to be posted
the next house will have a progressive
majority and this claim is not without
substantial backing when it is known
that fully sixty-five members elect
made the race on progressive plat
form, but the fact matters little with
those who biennially take upon them
selves the organization of the lower
house and the arrangement Of the
committees for their own use. Their
cue is the knowledge that the so
called average progressive lacks the
one essential thing, and that is organ
ization. The trouble is there are no
privates in the progressive game.
Every one is statesman.
!. X =
Pat McGarry of Walker arrived on
the scene a week ago, also G. w.
Brown of Glencoe, and can say with
out stretching the truth that both
have been on the job ever since. The
two have headquarters at the Mer-
chants hotel and every member of the
house has received from one to two
letters from each, not to speak of per-
sonal visits. Henry Rines of Mora
showed up the early part of the week,
but he has not been SO active. He
has confined his candidacy to letter
writing. AS l once pointed out but
few speakers of the house in the past
Nv n1
they had the brand of the several in
terests who biennially haunt the legis-
latiye halls, and l am pretty confident
that the next selection will not be an
exception. To speak plainly the pro-
gressive majority will be SO badly
split up at the close that it will be
compelled to go either to Brown or
McGarry. AS the gossips have it in
this neck of the woods the interests
would be satisfied with either of the
two named and in making this state
ment l do not want to be taken as in
timating that either has solicited their
support. Just put yourself in their
place They represent the conserVa-
tive element. There are four on the
other side of the house and though
elimination has been suggested it will
not happen. For every one who with
draws there will be two to take his
place. Could anything be palmer. 1t
is the old, old story and you cannot
get away from it,
X - X
Two years ago State Insurance
Commissioner J. A. o. Preus, as the
principal backer of Governor Eber.
hart, predicted that his favorite would
carry every county in the state, and
he made good. Mr.. Preus, however
cannot lay claim to the same fore.
sight this year, as the returns tell a
Louis county in the Ringdal column
by majority of one and the Mankato
man is reported to have lost his home
district, Blue Earth county, to his
rival by q majority of seven. Several
other counties, complete returns from
which are lacking at this writing, are
said to have been taken over by Mr.
Ringdal. But then Governor Eberhart
prevailed and what is the use of talk
ing about what he lost. You have un
doubtedly heard the old saw about q
miss being as good as mile.
!. 4 =
One of the several amendments tc
the constitution offered to the voters
for their consideration at the late elec
tion-the one mill road tax-has pre-
vailed and that is something to be
thankful for. | hardly know of any
thing that was more pleasing to the
officials at the state capitol, as it rep
resented the unselfish efforts of one
whom they long ago learned to love
and appreciate-R. c. Dunn of Prince
ton Bob's whole soul was tied up il
that amendment and he worked like
Trojan to secure it's passage TIL,
story down here is that he delvet
heavily into his bank account to he'll
it along. He bought publicity righ
ond of pJ told \ oI,o,, l;-o,