The Cook County news-herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Cook County, Minn.) 1909-current, 1919-01-29
MATT JOHNSON. Publisher.
Official County and Village Paper.
HAPPENINGS At. THE =
minnesota LEGISLATURE

basis with sweeping reforms in the
matter of the present state wide
primary election laws found vigor-
Gus expression this week when Gov.
Burnquist delivered his inaugural
message both both branches of the
legislature. While any return to the
old order of things, his excellency
declared, was unthinkable, still ex-
pediency and the best interests of
the voters and the state as a whole
demanded change and such he said,
lay only in the adoption of legislar
tion granting to political parties the
right to legally assemble, to discuss
party principles and to adopt party
platforms. For the state to do this
in a way that would accomplish the
best results, he argued the legisla-
ture should first be put on a party
basis. How best to bring the desired
reforms about he left to the best
judgment of the house and senate.
That Gov. Burnquist's appeal did
not fall on deaf ears was shown in
the almost immediate announcement
by Rep C. H. Warner of Aitkin, that
he intended to go into the matter at
once and would offer for considera-
ton at an early date a bill that he
believed would give the desired re-
lief. The measure he has in mind
will be patterned otter the Odlin
act of two years ago which provided
for party conventions, delegates to
the same to be named at the regular
June primaries. Outside of those
bearing the brand of the Nom parti-
san League it is said the proposed
>return to party. lines will be sup
ported generally by republican men,
! bers in both the house and senate
1t is claimed that even many of the
democratic members favor the
change. What probably more than
anything actuates those interested in
primary election law changes is the
menace of the Non-partisan League
and the growth of the Bolsheviki
idea generally, While the League
and it's socialistic following was
badly distanced in the recent state
wide election Townleyism and kind
red infections were by no means
put out of business. They are still
on the job and those interested in
good government say their perma-
nent reinforcement can be brought
about only through a return to party
lines.
Gov. Burnquist's inaugural mes
sage delivered this week before the
two legislative bodies was generally
praised. Many members advanced
the opinion that it was the strong
est document of it's kind presented
in recent years. If he had made any
mistakes in the past his excellency
was just as free. in acknowledg
the fact as he was in advocating leg
islation which he believed necessary
to the states future success and
where mistakes had been made he
asked that they be corrected with
out delay. Relative to his veto of
appropriations covering state school
aid and drainage two years ago he
admitted that while nhis own mind
his action was fundamentally right
still there was a chance that he was
wrong and he stood ready to correct
the mistake if such it could be CAL
led. There was no straddling in the
message. The Governor came out
cold for the adoption of the federal
prohibition amendment, womens suf-
frage and the passage of laws that
would effectually squelch the profess
sional agitator. Nothing necessary
to the welfare of the state it might
be said was overlooked. In the
minds of some possibly the message
was not direct enough in the advo-
cacy' of remedial legislation covering
the various subjects discussed but
1AlO CASCLAOAANy "oo AOt even WduClnp
here. The legislature he insisted was
the law making body and what ever
it demanded or advocated would be
his guide. It represented the people
and necessarily it was the voice that
would receive his attention. During
the delivery Of the message applause
was frequent and at the close hund-
reds gathered around him and con-
graduated him.
- -
Schools districts of the state that
Loss out two years ago as a result
of Gov. Burnquist's veto of more
than $1,000,000 in state school aid
are due to be reimbursed shortly.
Bills covering the deficiency, includ-.
!. ing one reimbursing counties for
wolf bounties paid by them during
Il tho oot +x,o xyoo,.c a,-n in tho ,,oo1,;nrp