The Redwood gazette., 1935-02-14

THE REDv
If you have never listened to legis-
lative session from beginning to end, you
would be amused during the half hour
which precedes session time. Much like a
group of youngsters cooped up during re-
cess by heavy rain, the legislators chat to-
gether in little groups, telling stories, dis
cussing the days business or yesterdays,
playing little pranks on each other or
earnestly preparing for the next periods
class.
Opened by rather lengthy invoca-
tion in which God is asked to watch over
Minnesota until the legislature adjourns,
the first half hour or more is taken up
with the reading of resolutions, bills, re-
quests and other communications to
which few appear to pay particular at
tention. Occasionally someone jumps to
his feet and asks that this or that matter
be tabled, whereupon vote is called and
a few Indifferent yeas and nays decide the
matters fate.
Finally ready for the days business,
It takes but moment to start an argu-
ment and we are treated to some rather
interesting oratory while other members
crouch, ready to spring to their feet at
the first lull in the bombing to toss re-
turn volley or stress some new point. One
wonders, seeing the anxiety of some over
chance to talk, if somewhere in the gal
leries is a delegation from their particular
district checking up on how well their
man is serving his districts needs.
Today's battle, though it sounds quite
involved from our seat, is all over relief
bill. Apparently everyone wants it pass
ed but detail is in dispute. Already the
house has passed one million dollars for
relief, to carry the drouth sections until
more details about the greater sum can be
ironed out This mere one million has be-
come involved in a joint committee (of
the house and senate) squabble which is
slowing it up. The Farmer-Laborites want
to forget about the million already passed
and hook million onto the ten million
dollar bill in the vain hope that the whole
II million will slide through the house
and senate under the plea for speed with
out coping with the demand for an &C
counting of every expenditure, investiga-
tions and numerous other complications.
Being football hero no doubt has it's
advantages at election time but it leads to
embarrassing moments while member,
anyone present at this particular session
must have observed. George McKinnon,
whose career as football player at the
University of Minnesota will be recalled
by every grid fan, sought to amend the
$40 100000 relief bill so that $150,00O
would be used to help high school grad
yates go on to college. The relief fellow
legislators had in mind was for hungry
men, women and children and drouth
stricken livestock and the amendment
didn't appeal to most of them. One face
tious gentleman wanted to know if Mr..
McKinnon had any particular halfbacks
in mind that could be gotten through the
fund. A few minutes later Mr.. McKinnon
was led to remark rather disgustedly
"There is nothing in my amendment
about football" To which someone re-
torted, '"Then there is nothing to prevent
using the money for football men?" The
amendment failed after members had had
enough of the good natured fun at Mr.
McKinnon's expense.
Later in the day the Farmer-Labor at
tempt at finesse also failed and the ten
million relief bill was passed and tossed
to the senate where the one million also
dallies. The anti-Olson group got another
black mark against them in the Minneso-
ia Leaders rating although they carried
out the plan of the quick first million
which had been agreed upon a few days
before Politics is a strange animal.
Redwood county visitors to the capi-
tol need not feel lonesome. Besides Mr..
Zwach and Fred H. Dawson, Redwood
county representative whom we also talk
ed with briefly, there is j. Albert Johnson
of Redwood Falls who presides at the
front door of the house, wearing star
and Clancy Keefe, former Gazette report
er who serves as general handy man.
Nerve Clark who makes divers and mer-
maids of our boys and girls in the sum-
mer time, is also about.
Friday happened to be Johns twen-