The Ely miner., 1915-01-29
Several Measures Before the
Legislature.
POSITION OF THE LIBERALS
Would Prefer County Option to Abso-
lutte Prohibition or Even
Woman Suffrage.

harvest be-county option, prohlbl-
ton or woman suffrage? These three,
all regarded as temperance measures,
have the spotlight in the Minnesota
legislature just now and those inter
ested are wondering which will pre-
vail Why the granting of the ballot
to women should be listed among the
things conducive to temperance is not
explained, but just the same those
concerned with the liquor traffic so re-
gard it. Between you and l the liberal
element of the state, if they had to
accept any of the three, would take
county option any day in the week.
Even absolute prohibition would be
preferable to the ballot for the weak
er sex and if the crowd behind the
present Lobeck prohibition bill in
sist on making it statutory provi-
sion instead of constitutional amend
ment I do not know but they would
prefer the Lobeck act to any of the
three dry 'em up measures now pro-
posed. If it did prevail the chances
are even that the repeal of prohibi-
ton by statute would follow the next
session of the legislature. In the case
of a constitutional amendment such
would not be so easy. The senate SC
far has led in the introduction of so
called temperance measures, but the
house has a number of acts in the
making and their introduction is ex-
pected most any day. Senator Ole
Sageng is fathering woman suffrage,
Senator Lobeck of Alexandria is be-
hind absolute prohibition and Senator
F. H. Peterson of Moorhead is doing
the pilot act for county option. Last
week Mr. Peterson offered what is
known as the official county option
bill. Following the opening of the
session he put in so called county
option measure, but it did not suit
the Anti-Saloon league and the official
bill followed. The one house anti
liquor measure to date is by S. Y.
Gordon of Browns Valley. 1t con-
fines the sale of liquor to the daylight
hours. Another to follow, it is said.
will be a bill prohibiting brewery
ownership or control of saloons. How
ever, the three named have the spot
light and what their fate will be re-
mains to be seen.
i. !. !.
While both sides claim the two
houses in the matter of proposed tenn
perance legislation the truth of the
whole thing is that neither knows
what the outcome will be. 1t was
said this week that poll of the SEN
ate indicated majority for woman
suffrage, but that it would fail in the
house. AS to county option those be
hind the bill insist that it will pass
the house, but they are not so sure OF
the senate. AS l pointed out in a
previous letter the senate is the best
organized of the two bodies and that
condition still prevails. The house,
for some reason or another, cannot
get it's feet under it and as result
most any old thing is possible. The
senate committee on temperance held
brief meeting last week to consider
the Peterson county option measure,
but in answer to the demands OF sew
eral who said they desired to read up
on the proposed law the hearing was
continued.
!. !. !.
Showing the fight that is being
waged against women's suffrage, many
women of prominence opposed to the
movement have begun to make their
appearance about the legislative halls.
Their distinguishing mark is red
rose. Their argument is that if the
ballot is to be given women that their
sex be first permitted to vote on the
question Of whether or not they want
it. Last week circulars suggesting
referendum to women on the question
were distributed among the house
and senate members and the idea
found more or less favor. The advo-
Gates of the movement are mostly
young women and they are effective
campaigners. They are planning for
a big demonstration shortly.
!. = !.
If Senator Rustad of Wheaton has
his way members of the legislature
will be restored to a partisan basis
and the holding of political conven-
tions permitted. In brief, the bill is
a combination of primary and con-
vention and is supposed to be sur
rounded with all the safeguards pos
sible to prevent packing and juggling.
Under its terms where any candidate
gets only a plurality of votes and not
a majority of votes cast at the pre-
ceding primary election county con-
vention is to be called. Those who
desire are permitted to file in the old
way. That the Rustad bill will re-
ceive considerable support is evident
in the number of requests made for
copies. Much attention is being CIV
en- it and there is promise of a lively
fight when it comes up for considera-
ton.
- !. i.
That there is considerable demand
for a return to party lines, in the case
of state officers especially, cannot be
kho 10