Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1898-01-19
NEWMAN'S MEMORY.
n Was Wonderful and the Late
Justice the Wit of the Court.
SOCIALISM IN THE BADGER STATE.

! The 400 In the aPhalanx" Near Ripon Fiji
~ Years Ago-Twc Hangings in the Early
Days-A Snub for Church Deacons-As-
semblyman Froeiich's Ambition-Judge
Reyes Has Reached His roth Year of Age
but Fresh as q Peach.
Madison, Wis, Jan. 18.-The late
Judge Newman was good, rather than
q great man. He was modest to the
last degree. In fact, his success was in
part due to saying nothing. There is
always an assumption that a oriet man
mas brains, ,Thile takers soon expose
their mental weakness, If they have
my. Judge Newman rarely interrupted
lawyer. If he did, It was to ask a
| question that naturally exposed his own
attitude in the case 1t is whispered
mat IN the debates that the judges hold
on the respective cases before deciding
! them that he took but little part.
he did. however, have a phenomenal
memory which greatly aided him in his
law work. He could recite poems at
length anc extracts from the classics.
lie also was the wit of the court. There
was always hearty laughter at his sal
hes, and about year ago he ventured
witty opinion. 1t was after his stroke
| u paralysis, and 1t is supposed that
newman wanted to counteract the nat
| urai impression that his abilities were
| impaired. The opinion had to do with
case appealed from Fond du Lac
| county. An extract from Newman's
opinion VIII suggest the decision:
The whole difference between them
was the sum Of 50. The appellar clear.
| ~ mas the courage of his convictions.
He pays his attorney. presumably. many
| tunes the sum in dispute and takes the
risks OF the miscarriage of his suit. IT
may be doubted If the sport is worth
| the candle. On the whole. the less hero
&c would have been the more safe
| course"
Judge Newman went on the supreme
pench -FOUR years ago as the result OF
| one decision as circuit tudge-a danger
Gus practice by the way-in the suits
brought oy the state against the ex-
state treasurers to recover interest
money appropriated by them on state
iunds. 1t was popular decision and
afterwards sustained by the supreme
| court, though on different grounds.
Used to Read Talmage's Sermons.
Newman was countryman in the
pest sense of the word-that is. most
OF his life was spent in the little village
OF Trempealeau. He lived simple
Things, and was free from all affecta-
tons On the day he met the fatal fall
on the ice he could wisely have ordered
a carriage. He could afford it; he was
a large man; there was peril in his
journey to the capitol Judge Pinnev
Oh the same court, also a large man
was wise enough to call a cab. By a
strange coincidence Judge Winslow
suffered fall also
Judge Newman enjoyed the meetings
OF his old college fraternity I'd. K. ES.
but otherwise he was genial rather
than social. He saved some money ev-
cry year and leaves a handsome home
on Lake Mendoza. He took out his LET
ter in the Congregational church lately
n the old days in Trempealeau he used
TO read sermons to the people. They
loved Talmage best of all. Occasion
ally he would try them on Frederick
Robertson or Bushnell, but their atten-
ton tagged. Talmage touches the
heart. He leaves three children, the
youngest sweet little girl of Is. Judge
Newman lost four children in their in
tancy. He told me once he thought If
as much had been known then of in
rant care as now, and if the best medi-
cal skill could have been had. he
thought some of thSm, at least, might
have been saved.
Talk as to his successor is rife. Green
OF Green Bay Is highly thought of in
the executive chamber, but he has a
salary of $4,000 to $4,000 as a tempta-
ton to continue in practice Judge
Clementson's very active -.ndjdacv
against Winslow would make him more
welcome to the quartette later, I sus-
pect than now. Webb of Wood county
and Hastings of Green Bay would eth
er one of them adorn the bench. Both
were offered the bench when Governor
Upham Numbered about before secur-
Ing Judge Marshall. Then there Is
Senator Spooners law partner. Sanborn,
Of annotated statute" fame.
The Wisconsin Phalanx-1s44-1s50.
The Salvation Army people who are
going out west to form a colony might
well go up in the neighborhood of Rip
on and Green Lake and study the So
cial experiment of 1844-50. Brook Farm
had more famous names-Hawthorn
and Ripley--but the wisconsin pha-
lanx" was more successful, and peonle
all over the United States were prspar-
ing to initiate it If it proved a success.
The plan originated in Kenosha. 1t
was the time when everybody was read
ing Fourier, the socialist. company
was formed and 600 acres of govern
ment land pre-empted. Nineteen men
made the journey with ORLEANS. It
was wild country, but they found a
lovely valley, which Is even now a par
adise. The. e was deer and all kinds !
of game. aiey were a week making
the distance of 100 miles. They put In |
crops, their women joined them, a saw |
mill was put up. and there was COM
mon table, but separate living rooms |
1t was called Ceresco from the word |
Ceres" goddess of agriculture. il was
not as religious as ShakerdoIn, but |
there was no strong drink and no i'm |
morality. The free love heresy never |
gained foothold.
The workmen were divided into agri- |
cultural, mechanical and educational. |
Each mans labor was credited on the |
record. Fourier's plan had a scheme |
of labor credits that no gentle" could |
ever work out Each member drew |
stock or cash. according to his credits. |
There was a good school and the dane |
ers and choir singers of Ceresco were ia |
mous. There was preaching, too.
For three years the community -four |
ished. Greeley OF The New York Trib- |
une had been disappointed with SYLVIA |
MIA and New Jersey socialism. but now |
his paper had a great deal to say |
of the community in the Wisconsin |
wilds, There was a membership |
of go and a hard crush of applicants |
The literature of the community Is very |
complete; there were no secrets. There |
was an annual election.
And why did it fail? Not for finan-
cial reasons. for there were dividends
and surplus. Nor was there quarrel |
ing, except, perhaps, differences of
opinion on religion and philosophy. The
only cause that can be given vas the
lack of a common enthusiasm or pur-
pose. Had they been religious fanat-
les Ceresco might all be there. But
there was no soul in the bold purpose
to have things in common-they got
tired of working for it, Some Of the
members wanted to make private
fortunes; the California gold craze Sc
duced others; community life became
irksome. Although the price OF board
at the "Phalanstery" was but 75 cents
per week, many families kept private
tables. In 1850 IL was unanimously vot-
4 - l.