The Cook County news-herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Cook County, Minn.) 1909-current, 1919-02-19
HAPPENINGS At THE
MINNESOTA STATE CAPITOL

MINNESOTA STATE CAPITOL.
When the senate hast week by a
unanimous vote unseated one Of it's
members, Nv. w. Wilcox Of White
Bear, and refused Ito: consider the
claims Of George H. Sullivan of Still
water for the vacancy, it practically
Served notice upon the voters of the
state that the corrupt practice act
cannot any longer be violated with
impunity. Come clean was its an
lsWer to Wilcox a Nonpartisan
League product and in order that
there might be no mistake as to how
it viewed the claims of: both, Wash
ington county, the home of the con-
troversy was directed to- hold: an
other senatorial election. This spe-
cial election will be held February
20 and if the statement of friends
is correct Sullivan. and Wilcox, will
again be the contestants: Without
precedent, might be said Of the find
ings made by the senate at it's ses-
sion last Friday. For over six hours
the battle waged and at the close
the vote was a tie. This
put Wilcox in the discard and i'm
mediately followed the motion 20
dismiss both appeals and send the
whole thing back to- the voters.
There was not a dissenting vote on
the latter. To explain briefly Will,
cox won out in the election by a
small margin. His rival, former Sem
ator Sullivan, asked for a. recount
and while he made small gain it
was not sufficient to overcome the
Wilcox lead. 1t was then that he
took the matter direct to the SEN
ate, alleging wilful violation Of the
corrupt practice act on the part of
the Nonpartisan League and other
Wilcox hackers. This violation con-
sisting of the flooding of voting
booths in Woodbury. township with
Wilcox literature and Nonpartisan
League denunciations of Sullivan of
the violation, Mr.. Sullivan claimed,
were at the instance and with the
knowledge of the judges in charge.
He wanted the vote in this partic-
ufar township eliminated from the
county. The Sullivan claim and the
Investigation which followed it had
to BE said impressed many of the
members, but they were chary of
taking drastic action and when some
one suggested that the idea of hold
ing the election over again the idea
was adopted without delay. It would
be fitting rebuAe they said and so
it prevailed. In the arguments made
MIR. Sullivan, it had to be said, had
the best of it, he being ably sup
ported by Senator Putnam of Good
hue County, Senator Rockne of Good
hue County, Senator J. D. Sullivan
of Stearns and Others. The Wilcox
end was presented by Senator Ole
Sageng of Otter Tail County.
One of the features of the Sulli-
van-Wilcox contest was the i'll luck
that pursued Senator Sullivan from
the time the contest was started.
Hardly had the session opened than
two Of his known supporters, Sena-
tors Weis of LeSueur County and
Carl Wallace died suddenly. Next
came the excusing of Senator Good
ing of Olmstead county for the re-
:nainder of the session on account of
illness. Senator Gooding was like
wise an ardent supporter of the
Washington county man. Then came
the final blow, the inability of Sena-
tor Anderson of Freeborn county to
be present at the hearing held Fri
day. Anderson was also listed as a
Sullivan supporter. Up to an hour
before the hearing friends of. Sena-
tor Sullivan were confident of his
vindfcation, though admitting the
margin was small. That they were
not very far off was shown in the
vote on the minority report 81 to 81.
Had Senator Anderson been present
the vote would have. been 80 to 80
to unseat Wilcox and give the seat
to Sullivan. Two weeks ago bets
We're numerous that the Saltwater
man would win out big. The talk
was all his way, but as the days
went by cold feet on the part Of
many was in evidence. Fear Of the
Bolshevik element at home began to
worry and with nisgivings as to
what might happen came the slump.
Neither Wilcox or Sullivan would In
dulge in any comment at the close.
A measure sweeping in extent and
of state wide Importance prevailed:
in the house this week when by an
overwhelming vote the lower body
sent to the senate the Schaleben-