Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1897-02-01
SENATOR-ELECT SPOONER.
Final Legislative Proceedings in the
Selection of Mr.. Villas
Successor.

Madison. Wis, Jan. II Special. /
| The last act in the legislative proceedings
to make John G. Spooner United States
senator took place at noon today when
the two houses met in joint convention in
the Assembly chamber to announce the
vote taken yesterday, which gave Spoon
err III vote to for w. c.. Silverthorn
and l for Gen. e. S. Bragg.
The formality of announcing the vote
was soon over and committee was ap-
pointed to notify Mr.. Spooner of his cleo
ton. The latter appeared and made Il
| short speech of thanks, and he is now
ready to take his seat in the Senate
when Mr.. Villas shall retire ON March 4
next.
At the stroke of II Speaker Buck
staff's gavel descended and the Assem-
| bly, instantly became quiet. The SER
geant-at-arms announced the arrival of
the state officers and the members of the
Senate and Supreme court. The assem-
| blymen arose and stood while the process
sion filed in. Each senator wore car
nation on his coat.
Lieut.-Gov. Baensch and President
| Thayer pro tenn. took, seats on the speak
ers platform, where Speaker Buckstaff
also sat. Lieut. Gov. Baensch opened
with a brief speech.
Chief Clerk Houser then read the
! journal of the Senate relating to the pro-
ceedings of the ballot for United States
senator and Chief Clerk NOVEL; followed
! with the reading of the Assembly journal.
| Lieut-Gov. Baensch stated in accord
ance with his opening statement that the
next order of business would be the cleo
ton of a United States senator and
called for nominating speeches. There
being none, he directed the clerk to cali
the roll, which was done by Chief Clerk
Novel;
The senators were called first and each
| of the Republicans responded to his
name with ''John c. Spooner." When
the name of Senator Burke was called
Meyer voted for Gen. Bragg, as did Sen
ator Solliday. Senator McMullen asked
! to be excused from voting.
| 81 object shouted Senator Burke.
Lieut-Gov. Baensch ruled that q mem
Der had a right to be excused if he de-
sired, and Senator McMullen did not
vote.
The Republican assemblymen voted
for Mr. Spooner and all the Democratic
members voted for w. G. Silverthorn.
Assemblyman Clason, who created Il
sensation in the balloting yesterday, was
| absent.
The presiding officer announced the
! vote as follows SpOoner, l1S; Silver
| thorn, Z: Bragg. 2
Gov. Baensch then declared John G.
Spooner duly elected as Il United States
senator, and the announcement was
greeted with applause.
| Senator McGillivray moved to appoint
a committee to notify Mr.. Spooner of his
| election, and the motion prevailed.
! Senators McGillivray and Mailer and
| Assemblymen Stone, Wheeler and Lange
were appointed on the committee, and
| the convention was then informal pend
ing the arrival of Mr.. Spooner.
When Senator-elect Spooner was pre-
scented to the joint Assembly he adj
| dressed that body as follows:
| Mr. President and Gentlemen Of the Con-
| vention Your committee has informed me
House, read here as required by law, this
convention has declared me duly elected a
senator of the United at States If, for the term
Comprehending with grateful sensibility
the magnitude of this honor, and the gra-
cious and generous manner in which 1t has
| been bestowed upon me, l lament that there
are not words at my command with which
! fifty to testify my gratitude.
| SOlemnly l pledge myself at all times to
| remember that this great trust, which for q
| period is to be placed in my keeping, was
created and exists st5 only FOR the ne 6eneht OF
to labor and to think, it shall be used in the
interest Of the people and for the benefit Of
the people. More than this they will not
ask from me. With less than this they
should not be content.
The distinguished gentleman whom / am
shortly to relieve from service in the Sen
ate has well and easily maintained the high
standard of skill, learning and elOquence in
debate long agq set for Wisconsin in that
| Cameron He has been constant in his
attention. to duty, assiduoqs in its. dis
| charge. fearless in the advocacy of the
principles in which he believes and has not
suffered himself to be affected in official
action by mere clamor within or without
the Senate chamber The later months of
his service afforded opportunity, of which
he quickly availed, to demonstrate in Il
conspicuous way that with him patriotism
and principle are altogether stronger than
party ties and political associations. He
may justly take to his heart, as he returns
to private life, the comforting. assurance
that he is more firmly established in the
esteem of the people than at any other time
during his long, eyentful and distinguished
public career.
I take the liberty to say, speaking of one
not now in public life, and without intend
ing in the least to disparage the gentleman
who for time is to be my colleague in the
Senate, that / recall with a pang OF regret
the fact that am not to be welcomed back
to the United States Senate by Philetus
Sawyer, the daily companion of my former
service in that body. No senator ever had
a more kindly, considerate or helpful col
ly miss his presence, and the aid of his in
dustry and wisdom. During twenty-five
years of public life he rendered to the peo-
pie of Wisconsin and to his party in the
state service which in efficiency and value
has no parallel in the history of either He
has indeed we'll earned the veneration and
respect with which he Is everywhere re-
While have been elected to the Senate as
kepuDlcdH, anu ny AepuUIICd1S, anu
shall Of course be loyal to the Republican
party and to its principles, | am neVerthe-
less conscious that when l take the oath OF
office l become senator of Wisconsin and
servant of all her people. 1t will, there
fore, be my duty, and it will be cheerfully
performed, to conserve to the best of my
ability every, interest of the people Of this
state, by whomever presented which can
properly claim the care and attention of a
senator.
l have hitherto been permitted to address
those to whose votes | am directly indebted
for the honor which l here today acknowl-
edge and 1t is therefor neither necessary
nor proper that l should longer detain this
Joint Assembly. l thank you, gentlemen