The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1929-01-18
Nv r. w HITCHCOCK Representative. Goth District.

coming to chairman in varying de-
grees are glory-rather less-and work
rather more
A Long Hike.
Thus far in this letter, We think, we
have stuck pretty well to our task, but
here let US initiate the distinguished
body we are considering and stop and
gossip a bit.
Many members of the forty-sixth
legislature doubtless spent time, money
and effort TO be elected But how
many of them would walk 500 miles
to serve in the legislature? Yet that
is what three members from Pembina
did for the fourth session of the terri
torial legislature in 1853. Messrs Kilt
son. Gingras and Rolette made the
500 mile trip on snowshoes.
Men must be made Of stern stun TO
walk 500 miles Just for a legislature,
but these were determined men, part1-
culariy Joe Rolette who proved his
mettle as a legislator IN another in
cident that is famous in Minnesota
history.
From the beginning st. Paul has
been the capital of Minnesota but
twice it almost lost the prize. That
distinguished opponent Of Abraham
Lincoln, Senator A. Douglas, once
visited Mendoza and was vastly i'm
pressed with the lovliness of this
little village lying where the Missis-
sippi and the Minnesota meet. N
charge of the bill in congress to or
ganize the territory of Minnesota, he
was determined TO make Mendoza the
capital and only the most vigorous
efforts Of Henry H. Sibley saved st.
Paul at that time.
Rolette to the Rescue.
At the eighth session of the terri
torial legislature In 1857 st. Peter had
the vote TO take the capital from st.
Paul. The bill for the removal passed
in council eight to seven and also
won a majority in the house. 1t was
sent back to the council TO be enroll
ed. There Councilman Joe Rolette,
chairman of the enrolling committee
and firm friend of st. Paul, emulated
Tom. the Piper's son, for he stole the
bill and away he run
Members of the legislature, barking
back to those old days, will doubtless
enjoy the parliamentary impaSSe that
ensued. In order to send the ser
geant- out to bring Joe Rolette
IN. il was necessary to order call
of the house" Once the house was
under call President Brisbin, also a
friend to ST. Paul, ruled that two
thirds vote was necessary TO suspend
the call and that, meanwhile, no
other business could be transacted.
There were nine votes out of fourteen
to suspend the call Is nine two
thirds of fourteen? President BrisbIn
said no, and refused to allow an ap-
peal from his decision. The council
remained in continuous session for l23
hours while the Sergeant-at-arms, who
also clave unto ST. Paul, looked every
whereof or Councilman Joe Rolette ex-
cept where he well knew Councilman
Joe Roeltte was. As the council adj
journed by limitation the missing
councilman burst dramatically into
the chamber, waving the bill aloft but
President Brisbin's gravel fell as he
said, You're too late, Mr. Rolette."
Governor German later signed the
bill but the courts, when appealed to,
ruled that no law had been passed.
They Kept His Memory Green
Small wonder that IN the Minnesota
Z
ed life-size figure of Joe Rolette clad
in the gay habilimentS Of an Ameri-
can Indian in full dress with few
French Canadian touches of Joe's own
designing. On the heavy frame Is
this inscription, Joe Rolette Who
Saved the Capital to ST. Paul by steal
the Bill for its Removal" Those were
the days of oxteam transportation to
and from the Red River Valley. Penn
bina, at the American end of the val
ley, the baliwick of Joe Rolette was
the resort indifferently of voyageurs
and Indians and Joe favored them
both in his every day dress at home
But when he hoofed it 500 miles to be
a statesman, he always ordered fine
new suit of clothes and sent the bill
to Henry NJ. Rice, his former employ
er, who promptly paid it without ques-
ton
The Stone Minneapolis Rejected.
The second territorial legislature IN
1851 had before it the weighty ques-
tons of spending $4,000, much money
in those days, for q state capital
building, the location of the state
penitentiary and the location of the
state university. The university didn't
amount to shucks in those days but
Saltwater and Minneapolis contend
ed bitterly for the Pen Saltwater
won and great was the wrath of Min
neapolis thereat. The legislature COM
promised as usual by giving st. Paul
the $4,000 for the state capital build
ing. St. Anthony Falls the university
and Saltwater the penitentiary
What little way we can see into
the future! Today Minneapolis would
not trade the University of Mime
sofa for all the penitentiaries in the
country.
Time to Adjourn.
How do you pass law?" That's
right, we havn't told you yet, have
We? We are as slow in getting down
TO business as the legislature itself
Let US then, like the legislature, put
it over until next week
4 Z:
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