Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-08-20
Madison. August Is.

MduISOn, August 10.
Senator Villas has withdrawn as an
attorney in the apportionment suit.
This news will create political SEN
sation His action may result in the
suit being dropped. In fact very
general impression prevails that this
great case may now be regarded as in
noculous. Senator Villas was in Mil
waukee yesterday morning and notified
Chairman Peck of the democratic state
committee of his withdrawal Inter
viewed last night Senator Villas would
give no reasons for his actions. He
ly out of the case. IF it is con-
tinued," he said, lit VIII 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 will tend
to the election of a 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 were 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withdrawn from the case, but he person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
l., IL
part, but that, holding views regarding
silver in harmony with those of Sen
ator Villas and having entered the case
at the latters desire, Though he does
not say sO), he might be regarded as
holding about the same relation to the
litigation as the senator Mr.. Jones
does not say who employed him nor
will Senator Villas, but the fact prob
ably is that the case was almost
Senator Villas and that he is respon-
Sible for the presence of his friend,
Mr.. Jones, in it. Mr.. Jones is a law
continued can of course be retained
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 III the case except to make an
argument.
The results of the work ot Senator
Villas and Mr.. Jones, so far as they
have gone, are in the hands of the
in
and II 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
woulu appoint or engage other at
tofneys to proceed with the case, and
replied that he knew nothing about
the matter whatever. Requesting the
reporter to wait a moment, he went in
to the adjoining room, which is oc-
cupied by E. G. Wall, member of the
national committee and eX-chairman
of the state central committee Emery
ing therefrom 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
Tor 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, it 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 meeting of the COM
mittee to take action in the matter?''
was asked
1 know of no reason why | should
do so, was the reply of the chairman.
since the committee has had no con-
nectlon 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 MiIwau-
kee Journal is understood to have been
enthusiastic in favor of the bringing OF
the suit. The case was to be argued
In the supreme court about Sept. p
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 a speedy termination.
Gel. George w. Bird, who has been
looked upon as Villas possible success
sor in tine senate were the legislature
for silver, said last night, when a
friend urged him to continue the fight
to annul the republican appcrtionment.
that he would not enter any case ex-
cept as a regularly and legitimately re-
tanned attorney.
Ex-Congressman A. R. Bushnell
didn't believe there was much merit in
the case any way.
Ex-senator Spooner's closest friends
believe that the litigation is ended.