Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1919-01-15
OBSERVATIONS
(By a Cornfleld Philosopher.)
xx-LEGlsLATlvE LETTER.

QEu0Sb.
Lieuteant Gov. Frankson presided
in the Senate and Geo. W. Peachey
was elected clerk with full compile.
ment of other officials.
An appropriate resolution relating
to the death of Theodore Roosevelt,
the first citizen of the Republic was
adopted by a unanimous vote. Geo.
H.. Sullivan, the defeated standpat
leader filed notice of contest against
W. w. Wilcox. the non-partisan candi-
date who won out on the face of the
returns by about fifty votes. Sullivan
expects to makeA hard fight for this
seat for without his lead ership the re-.
dictionaries in the Senate are at a de.
c1ded disadvantage.
The House.
AS already noted, w. l. Nolan of
minneapolis was chosen Speaker with
the solid vote Of all the members
not endorsed by the League except
Two, Strand of Lake and Miner of
Minneapolis, radical labor leaders who
cast their lot with the organized
farmers.
Two League members. Nett Of
Stearns, and Scherf Of Goodhue. voted
Tor Nolan for personal reasons. The
League voted for J. A. Urness of the
banner League County of Douglas.
giving him % votes. Oscar Arneson
who has been chief clerk for several
sessions and is we'll qualified for the
place was elected to that position bv
unanimous vote with a full set OF
other officers. The League members
from the 9th District made an effort
to elect VIM. Nelson of Crookston, as.
sistant Sergeant at Arms, who held
that position two years ago, but he
was defeated mainly by the efforts of
Rep. Carlson of Polk County. So all
OF the minor positions went to the
supporters Of Burnquist.
Bills Introduced.
The first bill introduced into the
House was presented by Nimocks of
Minneapolis, and prohibited the dis
display of the Red Flag, and other
emblems. It is radical measure and
| some think it covers the buttons of
social and benevolent orders as we'll
| as the we'll stick buttons of the
League, but it is long ways yet from
| being a law.
The Tonnage Tax.
Hon. A. C. WEIGH of Mcleod, leader
of the League forces in the House,
introduced bill providing for a ton
mage tax of 10 per cent on the net
| value at the mouth of the mine of all
iron ore. A similar bill fathered by
the League and Labor members has
been introduced in the Senate. Rep.
Bendixen introduced a bill for a ton.
| mage tax of per cent, similar to the
measure defeated in the Senate two
years ago.
To Abolish the Safety Commission.
. Senator Bessette and Rep. Pitten.
ger, both from St. Louis County, have
introduced a bill in each House to
abolish the Safety Commission. Pitt
enger says the Safety Commission
Act was war measure purely, and the
war now being over, it is useless
expense. In addition to this, Senator
Bessette proposes or has submitted a
| resolution providing for the investiga-
| ton Of the activities of the Commits.
sion including it's expenditures, etc.,
which is bound to excite hot debate
To Ratify the Prohibition Amendment.
Rep. Haugland of Chippewa intro.
duced in the House joint resolution
| W AoIAAy LA0 ANdLlOu61A 11OAAU1t4Ou
Amendment. DR.. Stafford, the head
of the Anti-saloon League, hopes to
get action on the measure early next
week. 1t is almost foregone conclu-
sion that it will pass both houses.
Thursday both Houses adjourned over
Monday evening when the Commit
tees will be announced and on Tues
DO "a YIop riv11 xxyS1 +
is expected that a bill appropriating
100000 to pay the Wolf bounty will
be the first act to become law.
- The Governors Message.
While there may be a good deal in
the Governors message that all must
agree with, especially that relating to
the promotion of genuine American
ism, yet its general tone is reaction
airy in the extreme and it breathes
spirit of hostility to both the organ
lied farmers and organized working
men. The Governor recommends that
the old party system be restored, so
that all candidates must run under
party label, including members of
the Legislature. A bill of this nature
was badly defeated two years ago, but
desperate effort will be made to
put it through at this session. Labor
agitators, including Nonpartisan Lea
que organizers although he did not
specifically mention them-who go
about stirring up strife and creating
"class feeling" should mot be allowed
to run at large" The Governor rec
ommends the ratification of the Prohi-
bition Amendment
The Safety Commission is highly
praised and some of it's orders should
be enacted into law. The Governor
struck hard at voluntary labor organi-
cations, insisting that they should be
compelled to incorporate and thus be-
come legally responsible. He con-
siders the Red Flag which Socialists
use as emblem of world brotherhood
as menace, and its display should be
prohibited. He wants the Home Guard
and Motor Corps because they are
composed of mature, level headed and
patriotic men made permanent, and
more stringent laws enacted defining
"Sedition and Disloyalty," and finally
that School teachers should get bet.
ter pay for their services. The mes
sage will be divided and referred in
Sections to the standing committees
for action and bills will likely be pre-
pared covering all of these, and many
other recommendations.
Notes.
The organized farmers need not be
ashamed of their first venture into
politics. While they have only ten
OF the 81 Senators and twenty-four of
the 131 House members, and cannot
therefore expect to enact legislation
by their own strength alone, yet they
will be able to make up the issues and
mt everv momha1. m rocord