Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1899-02-22
FARCE OR TRAGEDY?


The most charitable and least severe
construction to place on the action OF
the state senate in refusing, by vote
OF % to 8, to incorporate the forfeiture
of Office clause in the constitutional
amendment to suppress the pass evil,
ia that the majority regard the entire
proceedings, up to date, aa farce. That
the unanimity Of the state press and of
the state conventions, Of all parties, in
unqualiAsdly condemning and binding
their representatives in the Legislature
to the extinction of the psrnicious Gus
tom is simply "a play for wind"
This view os the action referred to
finds q degree OF justification in the
humorous (?) reasoning, low comedy
or nl-disguised contempt which has
characterized the attitude OF the COM
mittss on judiciary and Of several men,
bers of the Legislature towards legisla-
ton introduced to, effectively and in good
faith, redeem party pledges. One OF the
majority has, formally. and on the floor
Of the senate, delivered long funeral
Grafton in memory of the departed { y
pass. Another is reported, by the Madi-
son correspondent of Milwaukee paper,
as being of the opinion that the anti
psss movement, in its entirety, is
damned rot" The committee on ju-
dietary smasculste the proposed oonsti-
tutional amendment for the suppression
OF the pass by reporting, adversely, on
Senator Whelan's resolution including
forfeiture of office as penalty for viols-
ton OF the law.
Ths explanation offered by Chairman
Lammorsux in reply to Senator Den
META request for 'reasons," was: 1.-THE
committee on judiciary hold that the
constitution should declare principles,
only. not penalties" There are pro-
yided three articles in our state con-
stitution declaring the penalty for vio-
lation of ita provisions. So much for
shis plea. There is every reason for the
adoption of the forfeiture of office clause
in the proposed constitutional anti-pass
amendment. Refusal to adopt it, coupled
with the fact that the money penalty,
imposed by the anti-pass bill of the
committee on railroads is less than one
half of that required by Assemblymsn
Halls bill, will justify the inference that
violation of the law is expected and it is
intended that the way Of the transgres-
sor shall not be hard but made as easy
as the conscience of the legislature will
permit.
There is cloud much bigger than a
mans hand on the republican horizon.
The principal involved is, "Shall the
will Of the people, as expressed through
the ordained channels or the press, party
and public petition, be enacted into law
by their representatives, or shall it be
defeated by tricksrv and evasion?"
There can be but one answer to this
vital question. II the present legisla-
ture respond affirmstively, as we believe
it will do, we'll and good. If not, the
battle is on and NO quarter will be asked
or given. The fOrsfathers refused to
accept neoessaries of life, unlswfully
taxed, though obtainable at a price
lower than the untaxed; and they tossed
the stuff into the sea.
Are not some republicans issuing in
vitations to another Boston Tea Party ?"
We are Of the opinion that they are and
that the inscription, r. s. V. p, thereon
will be superluous.