The Detroit times., 1913-02-17
DISTINCTION IS
HANDED DOWN TO
SENATOR ODELL
He Is the Last Word in Upper
House, That Is, He Always
Moves to Adjourn
HIGH REGARD FOR
PRECEDENT IN LANSING
Incidentally, a Story That Is Be-
ing Told on One of the
Anti-Suffragists
From a stan Correspondent.

LANSING. Mich. Feb. 1.-THE eyi
dences that a parliamentary atmos
pierre is conducive to the establish
nent and growth OF arbitrary customs
are plain even in the comparative In
fancy Of body like the Michigan leg
islature and that In the most progress
siye year or its history. What wonder
then that among a more conservative
people. In that hoary institution, the
British mother Of parliaments,' prec-
edent Is all-powerflil.
One OF the usual questions when q
proposal is made to our lawmakers IL
is this the customary procedure?" Or
perhaps just as often, the presiding
oficer volunteers, II may say TO the
new members that this has been the
practice In preceding sessions
Only last week, Rep. Stevens. of Mis-
saukee, tried to- have return cards
sent out TO persona receiving copies
OF the legislative journals with the
idea OF cutting out those not inter
ested enough to send back the cards,
and one Of the effective arguments
used against the resolution was that
nothing OF the kind has been done
heretUfora
There Is one custom for fits own
sake that r. being fixed in the pro-
ceedNre OF the senate. It started in
the session two years ago when Sen
ator Charles Il. Cartier. of the twenty
sixth district: got In the habit OF max.
ing the motions TO adjourn.
Senator Sam Odell, OF shelby; step
ped into the shoes OF Cartier at the
opening OF the present session and
the other senator's by common consent
conceded to him the prerogatiye o. his
predecessors.
When the business Tor the day is
completed Ilentenant-G Governor Ross
turns to the left side OF the chamber
and recognizes The senator from the
twenty-sixth" Sometimes that gen
tIeman has not stirred from his chair
but In any case he takes the cue and
makes the proper motion. n
s-Reeently II Is becoming the prac.
tice when Senator Odell Is not present
ut the close OF days session for
some other member TO arise and say
I'M the absence OF Senator Odell, I
make motion that We now adjourn, =
and very solefnniy the 1ieutenant-gov.
ernUr repeats IN the absence OF the
senator from the twenty-sixth. the SEN
ator from such-ard-such "a district
moves that the senate do now ad.
journ." ..+g~ d
In the house, as meaningless a prac.-
tice as this prevails whenever 1t goes
into the. committee OF the. whole.
When the speaker calls on some mem.
Der 10 preside over the committee, the
rest applaud AZ the one selected takes
the chair II he Is a popular man or
they are In a sportiye mood. they
pound on the desks and demand q
speech. No one ever makes speech
under the circumstances, but the Gus
tom is kept up just the same.
A story Is told In the capitol py
some OF the prosuffragists which pur-
ports &c come from one who rode IN
the parlor car with the group OF De-
troll women who came out to Ian.
sing about two weeks ago In support
OF the anti-suffrage speaker, Miss
Minnie Bronson, when she addressed
the legislators,
According to this person who was
making the trip ut that time. he over
heard conversation between few
OF the society women wearing the
anti colors, In the course OF which
one sale to another, Are you really
opposed to woman suffrage7"
ITO be frank with you" was the
answer, Il have never given the ques-
ton q careful study"
Thereupon, a third woman spoke
up. saying: II suppose you and I be-
long together In that great class OF
the uniformed" SCOTT.