The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1917-01-11
DARK SPOTS ON
HOUSE HORIZON
SPEAKER PARKER MAY HAVE
TROUBLE HOLDING UNRULY
IN LINE
REBELLION SEEMS BREWING
LEADERS IN REVOLT SAID TO
HAVE FAILED TO GET IN ON
GROUND FLOOR

st. Paul, Jan. S.-To what extent
the house of representatives is going
to figure in the way of organization
and efficiency Is matter of concern
with quite a number who set out to
mold its destinies. Like the senate it
went to bat with a perfect score and
a line of harmony that augured well
for its future, but dark spots have ap-
peared on the horizon and it looks as
if Pilot Parker will have the time of
his life keeping the unruly in line. A
rebellion is in the making and the
active ones, l gather, are those who
failed to get in on the ground floor.
While they have not started anything
as yet, still they are grumbling, and
the flash may come at any time. Per-
haps it is too early to throw bouquets,
but sometimes first impressions are
the best and in the case of the pres
sent house they run we'll to Ralph j.
Parker, its choice for speaker. Named
in the face of field, the entries in
which included the best of the pres
ent membership, the Fillmore county
man took up the reins without any at
tempt at display or discipline for
those who opposed him. He swung
the gavel with vigor and every time
it dropped there was emphasis in the
sound of its ring. Those who helped
name him, while favored in the plums,
found they could not count on any
thing outside of the legitimate. This
slight depression is INDUCED in to
show what those who are threatening
trouble will have to face, though it can
be said that those constituting the
minority are equal to the occasion
should they deem their cause a just
one. They have live ones among their
number anG several of them have the
benefit of much past experience in a
legislative way. Plans looking to a
general get together, however, are
said to be in the making and the trou-
BILE spoken of may be nipped in the
bud
In marked contrast is the senate,
where from the drop of the gavel at
the opening until adjournment has
harmony and good will prevailed.
Here Senator Sullivan, named presi-
dent pro tenn, Senator Putnam of Blue
Earth county, Senator Wallace of Min
neapolis, Senator Dunn Of Princeton
and more than a score Of others are in
charge and they have overlooked moth
ing in making the organization air
tight. Actively aiding the majority
was Lieutenant Governor Frankson,
the presiding officer. With no attempt
at concealment the leaders organized
the body, distributed the plums and
without delay got down to business.
OF course there was opposition-there
always is to anything that savors of
the machine-but it availed nothing.
Senator Ole Sageng of Otter Tail
county and Senator Campbell cried
"Shame" and then some, and sat
down. They might just as well have
talked to the winds. Machine it is,
and a we'll oiled one at that, but it
spells efficiency all down the line, ana
for your benefit, dear reader, some
good legislation is going to come out
of the senate. Because a majority
stood for an equitable distribution Of
the plums in order to avoid friction
anG consequent delay, does not mean
that those composing it will vote to-
gether on questions of legislation, bu
1t does mean that it will be pretty
near intact on what is beneficial to
the people. Ten years ago-aye, even
fve-such get together would have
been rebuked by half the papers in
the state, and those who opposed it
would have been lauded to the skies
This time the Twin City dailies hardly
noticed the new lineup, while for the
opposition, it did not even figure in
the prints. Rather it was lauded as a
new note in efficiency. My, how times
and methods do change.
Senator Baldwin of Becker and Rep
resentative Carmichael of Dakota
county will endeavor to have the leg.
islature endorse two bills introduced
by them calling for the employment OF
convict labor on the roads of the state
The idea is to use labor not otherwise
employed in the Saltwater prison ano
the st. Cloud reformatory and to pa!
so much per head for the use of the
prisoners. The use of such labor
e,- ate roads has been endorsed by &
number of good roads advocates anc
associations.
President Frankson of the senate
and Speaker Parker of the house viii
announce committee appointments il
the near future and much interest cen
tiers on their publication, This is es
pecially so in the house, where an en-.
tire new shift will be made. Speaker
Parker has announced that he will
permit the farmer members of tn
house to name the grain and ware
house committee and labor also will
have a try at the committee whic!
will handle its affairs. This time tn
! farmer element is especially aggres
F'va in both bodies and bills galor
designed to cure many evils are beir