Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1921-01-19
LEGISLATURE is
WELL STARTED
CONTINUED from first page.

that they are thinking of.
The new members of both House
: and Senate drew their seats after
: being sworn in last Monday anc
: Tuesday and have spent the time
} since in organizing. As slated at the
: Republican caucuses held few days
before the session convened Speaker
Arch McFarlane of Waterloo was
. unanimously chosen to preside in the
House, insuring efficiency and speed
in that department. A. G. Gustafson
was chosen as chef clerk of the
House and that makes for more
speed and efficiency.
In the Senate Lieutenant Governor
Moore presided at all sessions until
Thursday 1 afternoon, and the ses-
sions went on in business-like manner
as though already some weeks old.
Col. L. W. Ainsworth is secretary of
the senate, and has a splendid force
Iof assistants at the desk.
A nice compliment was paid to
Lieutenant Governor Z. r. Moore of
Cedar Rapids in the Senate Monday
when the old members joined in Sc
curing beautiful bouquet and pre-
senting to him as slight testimonial
of their love and esteem for him as
presiding officer and as friend. He
has made a splendid record in the
position he has held for the past
four years.
Governor Harding's Farewell.
There was interest and anticipat-
ion regarding the final message to
the General Assembly of Governor
w. L. Harding. The occasion was
Tuesday afternoon last week, when
the House chamber was crowded with
statesmen and visitors to hear the
message and witness the counting
of the votes for governor and lieu
tenant governor at the last election.
/ In passing we may remark that it
took four adding machines and ex-
perts. at using them, and the COM
mittee of the House and Senate,
some hours to go over the figures as
turned in by the different election
boards for veriication of the results
already unofficially given out. Nobody
seemed worried about the matter,
however, and the outcome was just
what the wonderful intuition of the
people imagined it would be-both
Nate Kendall and John Hammill
were elected!
Governor Harding gave what many
say was the best message he has
ever delivered to the General Assem-
bly,. 1t covered state conditions and
legislative matters thoroughly-and
now and then he side-swiped some
of the critics vho have made his
burdens greater than they naturally
would be. He recommended that the
state agents for law enforcement
should be placed under the direction
Of the governor instead of making
the attorney generals office a ode
tective agency" for seeking out
crime. He challenged the idea that
the new administration would effect
any great reforms or economies in
government Of the state if the prog
ress of the state is maintained and
all the needs of the state granted.
The schools of the state, he said, re-
quired the expenditures made, and
10 citizen of Iowa looking to her well
fare will undertake to icurtail or
hinder the wonderful school system
that has placed Iowa in the front
ranks of states.
Kendall Inaugurated Thursday.
There was wonderful assemblage
of officialdom and citizens on Thurs
day when the new governor, Nate +.
Kendall of Abba, was to be sworn
in as governor and John Hammill of
Britt as lieutenant governor. 1t is
solemn and serious business, this
installation of a new governor in
Iowa. Everybody wants to see him
i'm natural life before he becomes be-
smeared and defiled by political
enemies. But Kendall looked his part
well, delivered masterpiece of ora
tory and starts off with good will and
prestige and without strings and po-
litical managers to tell him what he
shall do. There is hope that peace
and harmony will prevail for one
term, at least, since one disturbing
element has ,liappeared from the
scene of action.
In the evening all the "elite" if
that is a good word, were at the
first reception given by the new gov
ernor. Statesmen and their ladies,
and all the jubic who could crowd
in, passed along the receiving line
and wrung the new governors hand
and wished him well. Apd everybody
looked happy but the fellows who
49,. e., lxo.. cutie for tho