Morris tribune., 1912-05-31
Fate Of Leading Politicians De-
ponds on Outcome.
MEANS MUCH TO DEMOCRATS
Because Of Republican Split Minority
viii Be Ab&e to Dictate
Terms on All Legislation.
Especial Correspondence

Especial Correspondence.
st. Paul, May 2S.-Politically speak
ing all eyes are centered on the Cap
itol City these days, and properly so.
Next week the legislature will meet in
extraordinary session and on it's de-
alterations and findings depends much.
More than one crowned head is put
ting in sleepless nights awaiting the
outcome. The whole thing means one
Of three things, the wiping out of Gov
ernor Eberhart and the elevation of
rival to the command of the ship of
state, the elimination of the Repub-
lican party for period of years, or
the complete supremacy of those now
in power. No one is certain what will
happen and it is impossible to get
bet on the probable outcome. Every
body for himself and the devil take
the hindmost seems to be the accepted
opinion. What prompted the governor
to call the legislature together; what
was his motive, you ask? He says it
was in answer to the general demand
for statewide primary law and which
found expression in the late presiden-
tial delegate nominating convention
held in Minneapolis. His enemies say
cars. He knew he was gone and
well, the flip of penny has solved
the fate of nations as we'll as individu-
ais. He was just as we'll off one way
as the other. All this, however, is
only gossip and while some may weigh
his past actions on requests for spe-
cial sessions of the house and senate
against his sudden late call for the
assembling of the two bodies, yet
charity demands that he be given
credit for doing what he believed was
right and what he thought the people
wanted. In all four special sessions
Of the legislature have been held since
Minnesota became state and the rec
ords show that all were failures. Gov
ernor Eberhart has seen fit to issue
the call for the fifth and one must at
least give him credit for taking a
chance. His official head depends on
the outcome, and, fellows, that is sure
some gamble.
!. !. i
With a special session of the legis
lature a certainty-it will convene al
high noon, June 4-the attention Of
the king makers is now directed al
the Democratic minority in the two
houses, for if the best informed have
1t right the unwashed of the two
bodies hold the future of the Repub
lican party in the hollow of their hand
Governor Eberhart says he is calling
the legislature together to enact de
manded statewide primary and the
| passage of such an act, the wise ones
say, depends upon the action of the
minority. This is on the assumption
that the Republican majority will bt
badly split and there is nothing Il
show that it will be any different thar
it was at the last regular session. L
the Democrats play good ball the!
can say whether there will be pri
mary law or not and if such a law il
passed they can dictate the terms
There are better than thirty of the I'm
washed in the house, with a substan
tial number in the senate Showing
| the feeling among the Democrats, on
of the number who was in st. Pau
last week following the call for thu
special session, declared that If pri
mary law did pass it would be on
wholly satisfactory to the Democrats
And he was a leader in the last house
too. He was strong enough to compe
the acceptance Of a bill providing TO
the popular election of United State
senators. and without amendment a
that. The near approach of the cleo
ton, in which majority of the mem
bers will undoubtedly participate, tn
fact that the attention of nearly 500
600 voters will be conferred on thei
actions and the party's future, yo1
probably will say, should guide tn
majority and compel a united front
but the general fear is that it will not
Personal ambition is the menace.
j. j. :.
In writing about things political on
cannot get away from this specis
session stuff. It has everythin
showed off the boards. One thin
bothering quite few is how tn
members of the two bodies are goin
to exist. There will be no pay da
this time. The best they can get
mileage. The members cannot vot
themselves any reimbursement wha
ever. To some this means sho1
session; to others the introduction {
bills and calls for investigations ca
culated to bring the needed bee
steaks. Both represent the views {
few who never see good in anything
yet at the same time it offers a prol
lem worthy of solution at once.
repetition should not be permitte'
Because of the whim Of few nearl
200 men will be torn away from the