River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1881-03-17
MADISON CORRESPONDENTS.
MADISON, MARCH IA, 1881

MADISON, MARCH Ia, 1881.
EDnoRS JouRNAL:-The result of the
recent Senatorial contest which culml-
mated in the election of Angus Gamer
on did not Justify the opinion expressed
in my letter of last week that the
legislature would hardly defy public
sentiment by electing another monop-
oily candidate to the United States
Senate. Hon. Angus Cameron was
nominated on the 4Sth ballot by a bare
majority, which of course rendered
his election sure. After the 10th bal
lot a strong effort was made to unite
the opposition upon Hon. Jonathan
Bowman, of Columbia county, but
without success. Had it not been that
Mr.. Cameron was regarded as the joint
candidate of the corporations and the
Milwaukee Custom House ring, which
has awarded itself the contract to
run the Republican party in Wiscon-
SIN, there would have been less serious
opposition to his election. Senator
Price, of jackson county, prompted
10y personal hostility toward the La
Crosse regency. was glad of an oppor-
tunity to assume the leadership of the
opposition, and in an eloquent address
implored his brother legislators to
beware of the entertainments of the
monopoly power, in his earnestness
forgetting that but few weeks before,
he made the election of a railroad
Vice President to the United States
Senate possible. When the Cameron
forces succeeded in getting away with
their opponents, it must have been Il
touching scene-that of the Black
River Falls statesman moving the
unanimous no 1ination of Angus Cam
eron. The Milwaukee politicians are
ineXpresSibly happy over theirachleVe-
ments in debating the election of two
United States Senators during single
legislative session, and seem to feel
Jhat they have finn grip upon the
Republican party of Wisconsin, from
which it is evident that tIey will at
tempt to name the next State ticket.
1t is for the masses of the party to say
whether or not this privilege shall be
accorded to a select ring of Milwau-
kee machine managers.
IN, EatA HaU in he
Assembly for the slaughter of proposed
amendments to the constitution. The
resolution relating to taxation was
refused adoption by vote of 81 to 81;
the one relating to woman suffrage
was refused third reading by vote
Of 40 to so, and the one relating to
prohibition was also refused third
reading by vote of 40 to 48. 1t being
one of the inalienable rights OF an
American citizen to entertain and ex-
press such opinions as he may choose,
| sh I'll take occasion to dissent from
the conclusions of our lawmakers
upon these resolutions. Whether or
not the people of the State desire
THESE amen iments is an open question,
but the right to petition any part OF
! the government is a constitutional
one. and l am of opinion that "a suffi-
cient number of people have mani
| tested a desire to have these several
| pronositiOns submitted for ratification
or rejection TO warrant the Legislature
in submitting them to a popular vote.
There is little prospect of any change
/ in the manner of taxing the property
of railroad, express and telegraph
companies, neither does the unfavor-
/ able condition of affairs proven to
have existed at the State Hospital for
! the insane premise any radical changes
in the system of managing our State
institutions. Nj. b. n.