Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1881-01-13
The Legislature.

inst Politically this Legislature will !
stand as follows: Senate, Republicans
"a, Democrats 9; Assembly, Republicans
u, Democrats %. As the organization |
is now completed, and tue most import
ant offices filled, the next important
measure will be the election of Mr..
Keyes to the Senate. This gentlemans
friends have never before rallied to his
support so thoroughly and earnestly as
in the present instance. Public senti-
ment is largely in his favor, and if pop
ular expression is 80 find a voice we
sincerely believe that the Hon. E. W.
Reyes viii receive the necessary major
ity to entitle him to this honor. Dele
cations from the western and southern
portions of the State will be nearly solid
for Mr.. Reyes by whom they believe
their interests will be better represented
than by Mr.. Sawyer; and besides, there
is a feeling that in the matter of fair
distribution Of senatorial honors that
portion of the state has had its full
share; ex-senator Howe, just retired, be-
ing also from the Oshkosh district The
line of Senatorial demarkation seems to
describe Il perpetual arc, bounded by
milwaukee, and Oshkosh, with recent
extension towards Lacrosse Perhaps
+,
better. to extend the curve a little
more towards the center of the state,
where Il man can be found who is
not only acquainted with the eastern
but the western and all parts of the
STATE rs well, and who has no extensive
tracts Of pine lands or railroads to bias
hi, course in legislation 1t is nothing
10 Mr. Sawyer's disfavor shat he has
large wealth. in fact. il shows those
,hrcwd business qualities which are the
admiration of Americans. But as Civ
ing him 4 special fitness for this posi-
ton, We deny it. No representative can
bc said to be untrammeled who has
large and extensive private interests
to look after, requiring legislative at
tention aS well as personal; nor can the
habit, of lifetime spent in forwarding
private interests be very well put aside
when they shall come in conflict with
legislation for the general good.
Mr., Keyes is subject to none Of these
influences. He has a thorough knowl-
edge of our State. and its needs, is a
close student of our national history and
national legislation, and though an OBJ
scure citizen at the capital, as it were,
he has. by the mere force of his charac-
ter impressed his name upon the age
and the country in which he lives, as a
man of stalwart political faith and of
unconquerable energy in the service of
his party His wealth consists of brains,
not money, and his recognized fitness
for the position is his only capital for
this enterprise
We trust our district delegation upon
this as upon all similar public measures
will unite and stand As one. We need,
in fact, better spirit Of harmony in our
delegations from this district, and if we
are to accomplish anything it must be
upon this basis. If we want recognition
we must show strength, and only in
union is there strength. Let the minor
ity submit to a majority in caucus and
pull together.
We have it in mind that four years ago
our delegation put forward candidates
for Speaker, for Sergeant-at-arms, and
Chief Clerk There was no unanimity
of sentiment in the delegation they
pulled apart and as a consequence lost
every candidate. By uniting in body
they could have secured at least one
good officer.
Therefore we counsel unity upon this,
one of the most important measures (to
the people, that is likely to arise. 1t
viii win handsomely for us in the long
rum and give us a strength not now
| possessed.
Upon the disposal of the Senatorial
matter which viii probably occur within
week, the legislature will settle down
to the work Of legislation.
The biennial session resolution will
receive attention second time, and
will psobably be passed, though some
bricks will be thrown at it by the oppo-
/ sition
The woman suffrage resolution will
come up in about the same form as be-
fore. Upon this subject Legislators have
not the courage of their opinions and it
/ is difficult to tell how the matter will be
I disposed of
The rates of interest will form sub
ject OF legislation. As law cannot very
well regulate the rates of interest, il is
probable that nothing will be accom-
plished.
The tax exemption question will again
be brought up, and there will be a big
tight for the passage of a law taxing
church property, railroad, insurance and
telegraph companies, etc.
! There will be other and more import
ant measures that will come up. notably
the re-dstTicting of the State, and action
on the report of the Insane Hospital In
vestigating Committee, which we will
be pleased to notice at another time
There is plenty of work for the present
Legislature, and it promises to be thor
oughly done with but few travelled ends
| left over
Another Change.
Heretofore, there We're two Republic
can papers in Richland county; the Re