The Ely miner., 1927-01-21

For instance:
Sen. j. D. Denegre, st. Paul, one
of the oldest and ablest of the state
senators, died suddenly less than 9
week before the opening of the pres
ent session.
Sen. Oscar A. Naplin, Thief River
Falls, suffered an apoplectic stroke
on the opening day-less than three
hours after he had been sworn in
and died last Saturday morning.
Sen. A. L. Lennon, Minneapolis, is
under sentence to federal prison fo1
violation of the Prohibition law-anC
the senate elections committee now
has before it a resolution by Sen. Vic
tor Lawson, Willmar, requesting him
to withdraw until the Judgment OF
conviction is set aside or reversed"
Sen. j. E. Diesen, Cloquet, member
of the last two sessions, is serving
time in the st. Louis county jail for
falsifying his income tax returns.
Sen. Charles Kelson, Lake Park
also member of the 1925 session, is
behind the state prison bars in Still
water, because of misuse of the funds
of his bank.
Sen. William Fickling, LIE Sueur
died shortly after the close of the
1925 session.
Sen. A. A. Haagenson, Barnesville,
died about year ago, after serving
one term.
Sen. John o. Hougen, Crookston,
newly elected, had occupied his seat
but few days when he was advised
of the sudden death of his father in
Oregon.
While I won't admit I'm at all
superstitious, desire to say here
and now that I'm very we'll satisfied,
thank you, that Pm not state SEN
ator.
What's the matter, anyway?
For the benefit of any of nv
readers who may lean toward belief
in superstition, just let me add that
there were 13 candidates at Mondays
primary election in ST. Paul for the
10th district vacancy caused by Sen.
Denegre's death.
Does that portend further vista
tions of the "jink?"
In the "hoodoo" category above
| admit l didn't mention that a dozen
or more of the men who were sena-
tors last term were defeated for re-
election, while others won out "by
the skin of their teeth" as they
say.
There were two cases where the
votes were recounted, and there is
one contest pending, John G. Priebe
contesting the election of Sen. Erling
Swenson, Minneapolis, alleging vio-
lation of the corrupt practices act.
However, there's at least one little
bit of silver lining so far manifest jim
the clouds of hoodooism, namely:
Sen. G. w. Gillian, Window, who was
defeated for reelection, has just
been appointed by Gov. Christianson
as commissioner of securities to
succeed A. E. Nelson, Minneapolis,
on February 1. Looks like a splen-
did appointment.
By the way, there's another bit of
evidence of the jinx that l almost
forgot to mention: Lieutenant Gov
ernor Nolan was taken suddenly ill
about a week before Christmas, but
he's o. K. again, which helps some.
For the first time in "a years there
is one lay member among all the
lawyers on the senate judiciary COM
mittee-in the person of Sen. Frank
A. Day, Fairmont.
The irrepressible gentleman from
Martin county" served in that
capacity when in the senate in the
1893 session, so he just asked Lieu
tenant Governor Nolan to be put
there again-reverting to form, SO
to speak.
Incidentally, l confess that I can't
understand why the president of the
senate appointed Sen. Day, an editor
as chairman of the senate committee
on agriculture when there are several
real "dirt farmers" in that body.
1t doesn't look just right.
Speaking of Frank Day, reminds
me of a squabble he has just had
with Henry Rines, chairman of the
"Big Three"
In submitting his biographical
sketch for publication in the legisla-
tive manuel, or "blue book" Frank
added these words: 81 am for Low
den for President"
Henry objected strenuously, declar-
ing the blue book can't be used as q
medium of political advertising.
Frank demurred vociferously-as
usual-and even went to Gov. Ted
| with his tale of woe, but got nc
| satisfaction.
The senator from Fairmont finally
had to give in, and compromise with
| his advertising instinct by changing
the expression above quoted to this
81 am free lance, politically"
He sure is. When in the senate
| in the nineties he was a dyed-in-the-
wool Republican. Hhen he became g
Silver Republican, then a Democrat
(and as such was private secretary
to the late Gov. j. A. Johnson), and
during the last campaign he support
| ed the Farmer-Labor ticket.
Nexti
By the time these lines reach the
reader the house will have adopted
the resolution for joint senate and
house committee of six-three from
each body-to make study and sur
vey of the banking situation in Min
nesota, report its findings and make
recommendation for strengthening
the state banking laws.
Sen. Chris Rosenmeier, Little Falls,
Z who introduced the resolution in the
senate and had it passed there last
Thursday, is slated for chairman of
the special committee. Under his
leadership the. committee should do
a good piece of work.
Valiant efforts will be made at this
session to enact some kind of a law
guaranteeing bank deposits, but it is
my guess that such efforts are
doomed to failure.