The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1931-01-15


ciled trio was just three votes
each one Of orators persuaded him
self. Oscar Swenson was elected
speaker by 126 to 8, the largest vote
received by any candidate for
speaker in many years.
Democratic, He Called 1t
Just before the legislature met
officials Of WCCO and KSTP were
at the capitol arranging to broad
cast the inaugural ceremonies.
Ceremonies, huh" snorted Lud
Roe, executive secretary to Cover
nor Christianson. why the way
they do it, you'd think they were
installing an alderman or a cor
oner into office. Two years ago
when the supreme court arrived
for the Inauguration the justices
had to elbow their way thru the
crowd to get to the rostrum and the
governor had hard work To make
his way thru. It was jus. a dis
orderly mob without any dignity
whatever"
Well, we can't blame Lud. Min
nesota's inaugurals are pretty
messy, for a fact. There are 131
seats in the house chamber where
the inaugurals are held and 131
house members are sitting in them
when the inaugural hour strikes.
Crowded in with them, on the floor
are 131 or more wives, uncles, cous-
ms and aunts of the members. In
come, then, 81 senators hunting
frantically for a seat, and crowd
ing behind them troop of former
members and state officials. Thru
this mob, packed in a small space,
the supreme court and the COVER
nor must make their way as best
they may to seats of prominence.
tits plumb disgraceful," snorted
Lud again.
ooh, I don't know" drawled Dirt
Farmer, Henry Arens, lieutenant
governor. Democratic, I call it.
It just suits me-"
That is the way it was last week,
when two governors appeared, one
to lay down and the other to take
up, the authority of state, and a
third governor, A. o. Eberhart, sat
in the audience, for the largest
gathering that has crowded the
house chamber since the memorable
visit of President Wilson was
there to witness the inauguration
of Floyd B. Olson the first farmer.
labor governor in the history of
Minnesota.
And Dirt Farmer Henry Arens,
the first farmer-labor lieutenant
governor of Minnesota, sat on the
dias, smiling broadly.
Democratic, I call it. It just
suits me-" he seemed to say.
They Stay Right On
One of the happiest incidents Of
the opening week of the legislature
was the announcement of the first
of Governor Olson.
For twenty-six years, under eight
BILLY" Williams and
George Houge have been a recep-
ton committee extraordinary in
the reception rooms of the execu-
tive offices at the Minnesota state
capitol. Just as the legislature
was about to assemble they re-
ceived word that they were TO stay
on. The governors reception room
is beautiful to look at, it is pleas
ure to greet the governor, and 1t is
a real thrill, if one is lucky. to sit
for a moment in the governors
chair, but the real kick Of a visit
to the executive offices is to be
by Billy Williams and
George Houge. Boy, they sho does
know how to do it.
A democratic governor first ap-
pointed them. Republican govern
or after republican governor, end
another democrat as well, reap
pointed hem. Now the ninth gov
ernor, a farmer-labor governor,
names them again.
Governors come and Governors
go, but Billy and George, we are
happy to say, still stay on.
Organization Perfected
Until the committees of the house
and senate, nearly a hundred of
them all told, are appointed, the
legislature can't get much law-malS-
ing done. A legislature, in the
mind of many, is a great delibera-
tive body, in which one of its MEM
bers is holding the others and the
animated debate brings t. a con-
clusion wegihty matters of state.
AS a matter Of fact, however, a
is about ninety per cent
sweating and toiling committees,
trying to thrash some confounded
bill into shape. The time that
the house is in session is the least
part of the legislature.
The labor that is done in committee
is what makes and unmakes laws.
The committees were snamed
Tuesday, they are now holding
their first meetings, and Minneso-
ta's forty-seventh law factory will
begin producing next week.
~