Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1915-04-28

been in force, Mr.. Flowers would not
have been Speaker of the House and
the whole organization of that body
would have been different. What the
final result would have been no one
can tell. The Non-Partisan system
will Improvements and more fearless
and independent men will be chosen.
The people will learn and they will
reflect that knowledge in the charac-
ter of their representatives. Both the |
people and their representatives will
be freed from party fear and SUPER |
stition and forced to look every ques- |
ton squarely in the face, and we may
reasonably expect steady improve |
ment.
We got the County Option Bill in
spite of the bad organization of the
present House, and l don't believe it |
would ever have passed the Senate if
it hadn't been for Jones and Vermilya,
defeating Pugh and Stebbins-
have always fought to finish against
County Option.
ECONOMY.
The appropriation bill will be only
about a million less than two years
ago, but that can't be laid to the door
of the partyless Legislature.
No Legislature has ever worked
harder to save the peoples money and
you ought to see the grabs and gratis
and other "Woodchucks" that have
been killed.
| When the liquor interests organ
lied the House, the "Powers that
prey" held jubilee and prepared for
feast; but they have had to be con-
tent with very poor pickings indeed
they have gone away very hungry,
and they are likely to wander in the
desert for some time to come.
In the matter Of economy, Rockne
in the Senate as chairman of the Fin
ance Committee has stood like rock
against extravaganza. Mr.. Spooner as
chairman Of the House Appropriation
| Committee, has not done so we'll, tho
\ believe he has tried to cut down ex-
/ penses.
The one biggest item is Education,
/ and here the University gets too much
and the Rural Schools too little. The
District and High Schools should get
the support. 1t is not so necessary to
educate lawyers, doctors and other
professional men.
: Mr.. Christensen made hard but
losing fight for the rural schools and
the high schools
John Sullivan killed off even a pal
try 100000 for the work Of the HUI.
name Society, but was willing to al
low several very questionable appro.
priations to 90 thru, involving in the
# aggregate fully $100,000.00.
The little grabs for the benefit of
a lot of useless pages and other hang.
= ers on, went thru in spite of the fierce
r opposition of Davis, Minnette, Adams
= and others.
The scenes Of the last night were
rather more tame than usual, and in
no respect could the word disgracefu]
apply. So far as I know all were
sober
1t was not so very many years ago
= when it was customary for number
of members to be pretty full Of booze
e on the last night.
THE SPEAKER.
= Speaker Flowers has tried to be
fair. No one could charge him with
gross Partially or trickery; and yet
he has not been what could truthfully
be called a good presiding officer.
He lacked experience, his know
ledge of parliamentary procedure was
= very limited, his voice is not strong
enough, and he did not keep as good
= order as should have prevailed.
" On the other hand he is man OF
- exceptionally good personal habits
=. kind, considerate, clean and gener-
= ous-never touches either tobacco or
iquor-and you will know him long
n time without hearing an oath or vul
" gar expression.
D. If GORDON HAD BEEN SPEAKER
OF course things would have been
!, different, but how much better the
n final results no one can guess.
The Gordon men would have had the
responsibility, and could not escape
- the criticism.
- Perhaps they are stronger today
than if they had been in power.
- This session has brought few new
, men to the front who ought to be
worth much to the State.
- On the other hand some familiar
faces will probably be missing at the
. next session.
Responsibility makes big men great
- er, but kills off the weak and incom-
:. petent.
- Mr.. Gordon has shown himself all
: the way thru to be a much bigger and
ADLER man than his enemies have Civ
en- him credit for.
His bills, the so called "seven sis
e ters", are good start toward thor
It ough remodeling of our State admin
it istration.
AS time goes on I think we shall
K forget the shortcomings of this legis-
l. lature, and remember it's good work.
l would not be surprised if it should,
l. in the future, be referred to as the
n turning point toward much better
y things.
e SALEM.
h Co1op, Anil OE-A nurnhor NJ