The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1913-01-06
Reapportionment, Iniative, Referen-
dunn, Recall, and Compensation
Act To Come Up.
SENATE COMBINE A F1zzLE
Publicity Given Proposed Move
Aroused Voters and Burnquist
g. Will Win His Point.
Special to The Pioneer,

St. Paul, Jan. 6.-The thirty
eighth legislature of the state of Min
nesota which convenes on January :.
gives promise of being the busiest
and most important session held in
recent years. It faces a program of
Legislation outlined by numerous or
CARNATIONS, and by the governors
message, which, if carried to fruition,
will rank Minnesota among the truly
progressive states of the nation.
On the threshold of the session, the
Legislature is faced with a fight that
once looked menacing in conse-
quences, and which may yet cause
trouble. II
Two years ago the forces of re-
action were in control of the legisla-
ture. -,
A clever and unexpected coup by
the progressives at the psychological
moment threw the reactionaries of
the house of their balance and re-
suited in the election Of progressive
speaker.
With the house organization In the
hands of the. progressives, and the
senate again presiGed over by pro-
nounced progressive, the outlook for
the stand-patters was decidedly
cheerless. .. - *:
In the hope of preventing harmon
ious action between the two houses,
as was planned by the progressive
head of the two bodies, reactionary
Democrats and Republicans in the
senate framed UP a non-political
combine to depose the lieutenant gov
ernor Of his power by the creation of
a COMMITTEE on committees'' which
should take from the presiding officer
the appointment of the senate COM
mittees. Before the plan was gen.
orally known it had secured the sup
port of majority of the senators.
Combine Backed by Interests.
Backed by the support of the big
interests, the managers of this scheme
won over enough votes to insure the
control of the senate by reactionary
influences.
But before the combine could eff
feet it's purpose campaign of public
ity had so aroused the people Of the
state that many of the senators weak
ened under the storm and withdrew
from the combination.
At caucus held by the Demo-
cratic members to agree upon the
details of the scheme, over half the
Democratic membership turned UP
missing, and the scheme went on the
rocks, apparently beaten by public
sentiment.
While, on the eve of organization,
victory for the progressives seemed
certain so far as the committees were
concerned, there is fear that the re-
dictionary influences, even if baked of
ttheir first game, will renew activities
in the considerations of the senate
when progressive legislation comes up
for senate action.
The menace of standpattism has
resulted in virtual alliance Of all
progressive factions, and the Roose-
welt Progressives, the La Toilette pro-
gressive Republicans, and the pro-
gressive wing of the Democrats will
work together for progressive prin-
ciples.
Principle Progressive Measures.
The measures to which all progress
sive forces are pledged and which
seem likely to be triumphant are:
Presidential preference primary
Workingman's compensation act.
Mothers pension bill.
Reform of judicial procedure.
Public utilities commission bill.
Legislative and congressional re-
apportionment of state.
State supervision of securities.
Laws relating to tax reform.
The initiative, referendum and re-
call will be among the bills intro
.duced, but there is some doubt as to
their success at this session.
Owing to the fact that the state
wide primary law and the corrupt
lcoatinuSd on last paso).