The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1919-03-06

George H. Sullivan of Saltwater to
the senate after besting w. w. Will
cox, the Nonpartisan League who was
the member named at the November
election, and whose right to the seat
was later contested with the result
that new election was ordered,
was the occasion for quite a jolifica-
ton in the upper body Monday.
Members We'd with each other in
making his triumphant return a
memorable one and the congratulatory
speeches were many. Member of the
Anti-W omen's Suffrage association
equally pleased at Senator Sullivan's
return voiced their jubliation in a
huge floral American Flag which the
Washington member acknowledging
presented to one of his constituents,
who had the temerity during the cam
paign to call President Townley for
presuming to insult the American flag
by holding up the red emble IL of
anarchy and I. w. W'ism. as a fitting
companion for the Stars and Stripes.
All in all it was some occasion. Senator
Sullivan's endorsement was the
elimination of one of the bitterest
political fights in the history of
Washington county. The Senate it
will be remembered divided on the
question of ousting Wilcox, who held
the original certificate and then
finally as the best way out of the
difficulty directed that new election
be held. Honestly few figured that
the Saltwater man could make the
grade and this feeling was in a
measure strengthened when the
primaries returned a lead for Wilcox
of better than ITO. Added to this was
the rural vote which was over two to
one for the Nonpartisan League can
didate. Nothing daunted, however,
the Saltwater man and his friends
proceeded to get busy and when the
election count had been finished the
tables We're turned to the tune of a
majority of 184 for Senator Sullivan.
Both the county and the city of Still
water had reversed themselves. The
only precinct to run true to form was
Woodbury., Nonpartisan League hot
bed and the original seat of the con-
test. 1t was because of admitted
violations of the corrupt practice act
by League judges in this precinct that
-ox,, hold
One of the active lads in Senator
Sullivan's behalf was Secretary
julius A. Schmahl, whose signed
statement in refutation Of the League
charge that Mr.. Sullivan was the at
torney for a number of foreign
corporations, when in fact he was
simply an agent for purposes of SER
vice was made the basis of bitter
attack on the Washington county man.
Angered at the unfairness of the
whole thing took Mr.. Schmahl day
off and invaded the county and when
the election returns were brought in
had the satisfaction of seeing no less
than two of the districts in which he
spoke completely reverse themselves.
One of these towns, Oakdale gave
Wilcox a lead of 10 in the primaries
but Wilcox could not be seen for the
dust that featured the election which
followed. Senator Magnus Johnson
of Meeker county stumped the county
in behalf of Wilcox, but the only
precinct to his credit was Woodbury.,
a League stronghold, which as stated
ran true to it's original form. Secre-
tary of State Schmahl was much
pleased at the result in Washington
county and was among the first to
congratulate the victor.
They say that the present legisla-
ture lacks pep. Well it does if fire
eaters, bombasts and bunk artists can
be counted as such. While the present
legislative bodies have a sprinkling of
what is generally termed the Bolshe-
vik, the membership as whole is of
a safe and sane kind and is not much
given to tearing thing to pieces. A
business feeling predominates. This
session can not be said to be prolific
in called leaders. Most of them are
drawn from the business walks of life
and their one desire seems to be to
get through and then home and bust
ness. In the house Theodore Christ
ianson, of Lac Qui Parle county by
reason of his connection with the ap-
preparation committee,-he is chair
man-has some advantage over the
others, not to mention previous leg
islative experience.
Numerous bills calling for salary
raises in the various state depart
ments are now before the house and
senate, but the outlook for this pas
sage is not at all bright. In fact it
looks as if the big majority of them
would land in the discard. In the
senate the committee having such
under consideration is headed by
Senator j. A. Carley of Wabasha
County, and he has delivered himself
of the statement that any salary