Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1896-08-20
SENSATIONAL TURN IN THE APP
PoRTIoNMENT SUIT.
TWO LAWYERS WITHDRAW
Chairman Peck Says the Central Com
mittee Never Had Anything to DO
With the Litigation and That Wall
Always Opposed It-Pmhability
That the Case Is at an End
Madison, August is.


This news will create political sem
sation. His action may result in the
suit being dropped. In fact very
general impression prevails that this
great case may now be regarded ms in
noculous Senator Villas was in Mil
Chairman Peck of the democratic state
committee of his withdrawal. Inter
viewed last night Senator Villas would
give no reasons for his actions. He
admitted however, that he was entire
~ out OF the case. IF it is con
tinued, he said, 1T will have to be by
Chairman Peck, who will then engage
his own lawyers. While the senator
declined to disclose the reason for his
withdrawal, the fact Is he does not feel
bound to do anything that WI tend
10 the election of free silver United
States senator in Wisconsin next win
ter to succeed himself. He realizes
that, If the legislature is democratic.
the free silver element will be in con-
troll.
Other attorneys in the case We're Burr
W. Jones of Madison and George c.
Greene of Green Bay. Mr. Jones is re-
ported from Milwaukee to have also
withdrawn from the case. but he person
ally does not put it in quite that light,
but leaves the impression that there
has been no formal withdrawal Oh his
part, but that, holding views regarding
e4{I tn Ia ~ 80
ator Villas and having entered the case
at the latters desire Though he does
not say sol he might be regarded as
heldins about the same relation to The
litigation az the senator Mr.. Jones
does not shy who employed him nor
will Senator Villas, but the fact prob
ably is that the case was almost
Senator Villas and that he is rtspon
sible for the presence of his friend.
MIR. Jones, in it. Mr.. Jones is law
yer above all else and if the case is
continued can Of course be retain
to continue in it.
Mr.. Greene remains in the case, but
he is an attorney regularly employed
merely as counsel, with the under
standing that he should not be asked
to aid In the case except to make an
argument.
The results of the work o. Senator
Villas and Mr., Jones, so far as they
have gone, are in the hands of the
democratic state central committee,
and 1t is for the committee to decide
whether other attorneys will be sub
stituted or the case dropped, Chair
man Peck of the democratic state cen
trail committee was asked in Milwaukee
yesterday whether the committee
would appoint or engage other at
torneys to proceed with the case, and
replied that he knew nothing about
the matter whatever Requesting the
reporter to wait moment, he went in
TO the adjoining room, which Is oc-
eupied by p. G. Wall, member Of the
national committee and eX chairman
Of the state central committee. Emerg-
ing thereto a few moments later
Gov. Peck said.
Il understand that the chairman Of
the state committee has had nothing
to do with the case, but was not in ia
vor of beginning it and advised against
It. Neither the present chairman Of
the state committee nor the member
Of the national committee has or has
had any connection with the case and
no responsibility for it, Consequent
ly, 1t is not incumbent upon them to
supply attorneys in the place of those
who have retired from the case. and
they are not authorized to do SO"
"Will you call a meeting of the com
mittee to take action in the natter"
was asked
know Of no reason why | should
do SO" was the reply Of the chairman,
since the committee has had no con
nection with the matter so far, !"
1t is asserted on good authority that
Chairman Peck is mistaken in some of
the statements he makes. One thing
appears to be clear, that If the mater
Is left to the chairman, the case Is at
an end. L. W. Nieman OF the Mlwau-
kee Journal is understood to have been
tHlHubldallt III idNOT Ol the uIiHElHE u
the suit The case was to be argued
In the supreme court about Sept ~
The action Of Senator Villas will not
necessarily delay the proceedings at all.
as other attorneys may be substituted
for him and Mr. Jones and the case be
prosecuted to speedy termination
Col George w Bird, who has been
looked upon as Villas possible success
sor in the senate were the legislature
for silver, said last night, when "a
friend xed him to continue the fight
to annul the republican appcrtionment,
that he would not enter any case ex-
cept as regularly and legitinately re-
tanned attorney,
Ex-Conkressman A. r. Bushnell
didn't believe there vas much merit in
the case any way.
Ex-senator Spooner's closest friends
believe that the litigation is ended.
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