The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1913-03-21

survivors of the First Minnesota and
other residents of the state who
participated in the battle, together
with the governor and his staff. was
afterward passed by an almost un.
animous vote.
Mr. Wefald, in support of his
amendment, submitted petition
signed by a number of the veterans,
who said they would rather go with.
out the staff. He said North Dakota
has voted not to send the staff and
! Governor SulZer of New York has
taken similar action. Mr. Dunn and
L. A. Lydiard of Minneapolis de.
Tended the bill against the amend.
ment and said that the governor
would not go if he could not have
the staff along so Minnesota could be
represented with the same dignity as
other states.
Roasts the Governor.
G. B. Bjornson of Minneota said
there never was governor big
enough to say, Send the staff or
will not 60" If he assumes that at.
titude the old soldiers would better
go without him, he said.
Lydiard construed the proposed
amendment as a slap at the COVER
nor. NJ. w. Williams of Lanesboro
said it was greater honor for the
governor to go with the veterans
than with the paper soldiers of
the staff.
H. H. Harrison of Saltwater want.
ed to know if it was not true that
the old soldiers did not care about
this bodyguard. He thought sending
/ a staff of fifty was too much and
suggested sending ten as com.
promise.
/ F. L. Klemer of Faribault said
some of the old soldiers in his coun.
ty had told him they wanted to go
alone and did not want "a lot of
| hangers on
| w. |. Nolan of Minneapolis said
the president of the United States
does not have a staff, and if the
governor of Minnesota is not big
enough to represent the state with
out this gold braid he better not go.
! Attempts to cut the appropriation
were voted down. The bill was
aended to include veterans of any
regiment resident in Minnesota who
had been voted a medal by congress
and also to include members of the
First Minnesota who through illness
wer unable to be in the battle.
! Major Beresford Prior of the gov
ernor's staff was highly incensed at
the attacks made by legislators yes
terday, and last night delivered a
! vigorous defense of the staff
! Must Buy Own Gold Lace.
! Service on the staff of the COVER
nor is more of task than a pleas
ure," said Major Prior. eve are
compelled to provide our own uni
| forms and equipment, and stand
every cent of the expense we are
compelled to incur. The only time
| that anything has been furnished us
that | remember was once TO an en-
campment at Lake City They taunt
us because of our gold braid but
forget that it is the requirement of
the United States military regula
tons. They refer to us as tin SOL
diers' and paper soldiers Most OF
the staff has seen active service in
the army. | have seen service for
over thirty years in the army.
$50 far as | am personally concerned,
it will be hardship to go to Get
| tysburg, and 7 hope that we do not
go. But if ordered out ] shall go with
the rest of the staff. 1t would be a
shame if the state of Minnesota were
/ not represented with the same dig
nifty as other states at the celebra.
ton.
ATTACKS like that made yesterday
! it would seem are entirely uncalled
| for"
Other members Of the governors
staff in ST. Paul, however, declined
to discuss the attack. Colonel David
| Wallblom and Colonel A. G.. F'loan,
implied that they agreed with Major
| Prior.
| The eastman bill was under
debate in the house this after
noon and "a vote was expected
| late this afternoon. The Cream
cry Package company bill will
| be up to vote by about Fri
! day.
| st. Paul, March 1S.-Representative
| e. G. Pless Of Gibbon, whose bill re-
| storing capital punishment was de-
| feated in the house recently by close
| vote, yesterday introduced two bills
intended to make it impossible for a
| person convicted of frst-degree muir
der to be released from prison except
under special circumstances.
| In one bill Mr.. Pless provides that
the state parole board shall not parole
a person convicted of first-degree MUIR
der, as may be done with one convict
ed of murder in the second degree.
! In another bill he provides that a
person convicted of murder in the first
| degree shall not be pardoned unless
| testimony is presented showing eX-
tenuating circumstances, and if the
person pleaded guilty, no pardon can
| be granted unless facts are shown,