The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1889-05-23

THE dilemma in which the state is at
present owing to the bungling OF the
legislature will teach no lesson. The
legislature is not wholly to blame. Pub
lie sentiment largely guides the action of
the legislature. As the law now stands
any villain may violate the sanctity OF a
mans home and he cannot be punished.
The people took no interest in the repeal
of the former law. The legislature acted
purely as a matter of course. There
were no petitions for or against. The
whole thing was characterized by su-
preme Indifference. The virtue OF women
was matter of such little consideration
that no one concerned himself about it.
The Milwaukee Turn Verein sent circu-
lars out protesting against the bill pro-
yiding that nothing but English be
taught in the common schools of the
state, and McElroy, he chairman of the
judiciary committee in response to the
demands of the Verein, worked like a
ieAiSl " tCltdb lllS Dlll. tFCI W Lit
extent of gross discourtesy to fellow
member to carry his ends. As chairman
OF the same committee he reports ia.
vorably on bill which gives every scoun
drel in the state the privilege of assault.
| ing women without fear of punishment
| And the bill becomes law, and McElroy
| becomes the darling of Milwaukee. Sure
Il on his record he may well lay claim to
the speakership of the assembly at It's
| next session. The great service he die
| the Milwaukee Verein will be remember
9d by the people. His action in recon-
| mending the passage of a law which
| leaves the virtue of women without &
| safeguard against the assaults Of
salacious villiany Will not be remembered
| There is not a paper in Milwaukee
| of the same party faith as McElrOy that
will not whoop it for him. He may run
| for congress on the record he has made
II should damn him politically in any
community: but it will not in Milwau
kee. He will be dubbed the young Ma
phleon of Parliamentary Tactics" and his
| services to the Turn Verein will not be-
forgotten.
And then the bill to require denomi
| national schools to make reports. How
petitions against it flooded the legisla
ture-a body always on the gu
| vive to see which way the cat jumps
And it was those who were religi
ously inclined who opposed this bill
There was immortality in the air because
forsooth, it was thought proper the stat
| should know the number of pupils AM
| the character of instructive given in til
UNCONVENTIONAL schools. The obsequi
Gus legislature then modified the bill S
that all that was required was to max
report of the number of pupils attendin
these schools. This did not lessen the in
morality of the demand and the bill wa
beaten in Difference to the united voic
of the religious element. But the relie
ious element did not raise its yoic
against bill which broke down all bal
riers for the protection of the virtue {
women. There were no petitions circr
lated; there was no lobby at Madison
iuterpose auy protest: there were n
argus eyed agents on the watch to pre-
| vent The lurauuous legislation.
And the press is silent. Not wor
against those who were so active in dt
feating wholesome legislation and VIII
aided, either by activityrror passivity, i
passing laws which are disgrace to til
state and libel on decency. The xii
ing of few negroes down south woul
call out jeremiades from the tender
hearted editors of the state. But the il
famous legislature which removes ever
vestige of protection which the laws CAV
womanly virtue, receives not the slight
est censure.