The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1913-01-31
SENATORS NOW FAVOR
SHIFT IN THE DISTRICTS
From Tuesdays Daily.


made in the 1913 legislature TO blocl
reapportionment is doomed TO de
feat. land the prospects for passagt
of a 9legislative reapportionment bill
are brighter today than they have
been for two years. The forces which
united in the senate two years age
10 beat reapportionment and to sub
nit the seven senator" bill have
broken. and no less than seven mem
bers of the upper house who voted
before for the seven senator PROPOSE
ton said today that they will no
support the resolution offered las
week by Senators Putnam. Haycraft
Weis. Moonan and Marden. This res
olution declares that the popular
vote ON the seven senator bill show
ed that it is the wish of the people
and instructs the reapportionment
committee 10 draft its bill accord
ingly.
The promoters of the resolution
have found ii impossible 10 rally the
forces which worked together sc
smoothly before. The bare statement
of their proposition, that the lesis,
lature proceed to violate the consti
tuition, is too much for many of their
former supporters. 1t is doubtful
whether the resolution ever is brought
TO a vote. and if it is brought up, il
will be defeated. Not only that, but
expressions openly made by sena-
tors today Indicate a good prospect
for passage of a fair reapportion'
mentt bill. No less than four sena-
tors who fought il two years ago
went on record today and said that
they would vote for reapportionment
on the basis of population.
Have Changed Views.
Southern Minnesota senators were
solid against reapportionment two
years ago, and this lineup included
nearly all the senate democrats. Al
that time. however, several of the
senators said that they were ready
to vote for reapportionment in 1913.
They did not believe in legislatine
a loU of new senator's ont of office
and their districts ont of existence.
but in 1913 it is different, as the
senatorial terms are about to expire.
Three Southern Minnesota demo
cratsG and two Southern Minnesota
republicans seen today declared that
they will oppose = ~ senator
resolution this time and will vote for
fair reapportionment bill.
Il am opposed 10 the resolution .
said Senator Albert Schaller of Hast
ings And | am in favor of passing
a reapportionment bill at this ses-
sionF There is no reason for putting
il off another two years. What kind
of bill will I favor? Whv, the
constitution tells us what kind Of a
bill to pass" Senator Schaller voted
against reapportionment and for the
seven senator bill two years ago.
II shall vote for superintendent"
said Senator s. D. Works of Man
kato. Il did not see any reason for
passing the resolution on the seven
senator bill, but | may have TO vote
for it for personal reasons. How
ever. / am heartily in favor of re-
apportionment, and shall vote for any
fair bill. | prefer the Hanson bill
10 the Congdon bill, and better
bill than either may be framed this
time, but | shall vote for any fair
proposition that comes up" Senator
Works also voted for the seven-sena-
tor bill and against reapportion-
ment. in 1911.
Z Believes Bill Will Pass.
Il voted against the Congdon bill
two years ago" said Senator Frank
Murray of Olivia, land ] voted for
the seven-senator bill, but that fail
ed 10 pass, and the only thing for
us TO do now is to reapportion ac-
cording TO the constitution. | shall
vote for making of bill. ! don't
think the cities would suffer NV hav-
ing their representation cut down,
and after the passage of reapportion-
ment, | would be willing to vote to
resubmit the seven senator bill, but
reapportionment on a constitutional
basis. | don't think there is any
doubt but that such bill will
pass.
II said two years ago that | would
vote for reapportionment this time,
said Senator julius A. Collier OF
Shakopee, and I will stand by what
| said The seven-senator bill lost,
and there is no use in reviving that
proposition at this time. The reso-
luton Hoffered last week stands no
show, in my opinion. and | think re-
apportionment will pass, with a bill
drawn on a constitutional basis"
"Idthink we ought to pass reap
portiomment this winter" said Sen
ator A. T. Stebbins of Rochester. land
of course, we will have to frame a
While i voted for the seven-senator
bill before, do not see how we can
pass the resolution offered last
week. saying that we will violate the
constitutions | hope the reappor-
tionment bill will be one ! can sup
port but | couldn't vote for bill
that gives the first congressional dis
trictG only six senator's"
Scores Seven Senator Scheme.
Senator j. ID. Sullivan Of st. Cloud
wholVoted for the Congdon bill two
years ago, but who also favored the
seven senator" amendment bill. was
vigorous in his denunciation of the
seven senator resolution" and said
he would oppose it on the floor
Two years ago | voted for submit
ting the seven senator proposal to
the lqpeople of the state" he said
THE . people of the state turned
downqthe proposal at the ballot box
Now it is proposed. despite that vote
to instruct the senate reapportion
-. -. .oo,,u,;tfao m follow ont tho