Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1899-03-08
GOSSIP FROM MADISON.
Weed and Jacobs the Only Dem.
ocrats Among the Senators.
LEGISLATURE A TALKATIyE ONE.

Many Debates and Few Bills Passed n.
fet-Dennett and Others In the Yer,
Able Senate Lasting the Anti Pas.
Law into shape Ex- Governor Peck,
Chat with Boy-Sotables Before III.
Committees.
Madison. Wis, March Politics GU
no figure in the Wisconsin senate :,
present. There are thirty-three sena
tors and only two of them are Demo
crats-Weed, the Oshkosh lawyer. and
JACOBS OF Beaver Dam. Both were
elected for the first time in 1898.
Weed defeated ex-Speaker Buckstaff
which shows he must have a hold al
home in district supposed to be Re.
publican. He is making friends. too
at this end He is IS years old His
father fell in the war. The son gradu-
ated at the state university, and the
more OF such there are the easier run
the appropriations for the big school
Weed was one of Governor Peck's
Colonies and has been city attorney
He defeated Buckstaff by 1873 votes. The
other Democrat. Jacobs, has a private
library and is prominent among the
Germans. He has been active in the
German National bank of Beaver Dam
and has always taken kindly to politics.
In 1893 he was chief clerk of the gem
eral land office in Washington. In fact,
he has seer considerable of this coun-
try tor he was a worlds fair commits
sioner and Hoke Smith sent him to Ok
lahoma in 1898 to open the Cherokee
strip. He has been delegate to all sorts
of Democratic conventions.
Ripon Man Rules The Senate.
The position of senator carries no
more salary than that of assemblyman,
but it lasts four years two sessions)
and so nets 81, 1000. The lieutenant gov
ernor usually presides here, but as Mr..
Stone has been busy taking care of the
governors office. Senator Thayer has
welded the gavel. Senator Thayer is
an instance of a man who, by courtesy,
tact, and moderation, gets along in the
world. This is TIE second session he has
been chosen president pro tenn, and
he conducts affairs in a business way.
He is an ex-lumberman, and now a
stock raiser of Ripon, a quiet polished,
well-dressed man and very popular.
Like nearly all these legislators, he has
cut big figure at home as town and
county chairman. served a term in the
assembly. and this is his third term in
the senate
Treasurer Davidson's Ambitions.
There are a number of people who
want to be governor. The list numbers
about dozen now. The latest is State
Treasurer Davidson, the merchant of
Soldiers Grove, who, with Alley Peter
son and Bank Commissioner Kidd are
politically conspicuous in the Kickapoo
valley and the Prairie du Chen region.
Naturally, Mr.. Davidson's office has its
share of LaFollette men. The attorney
ger erals office, which has the same fla
Nor, is in close touch with the govern
or's office, as it should be while these
prospective laws are being considered,
and my rural friends who may be still
shouting about the great revolt of 1898
would be panied, / fear, to see the au-
burn locks of Attorney General Hicks,
the Oshkosh Methodist, mingled with
the prema lure white hair of Jesse Stone,
as they hunt for unconstitutionality in
some bill; or see the giant frame of AS
sistant Attorney General Buell. closeted
with Private Secretary Anderson, the
bird lover and authority on Turkish
baths
No, if there is still a war of factions
we don't know it here.
A Maine Mans Success.
But, speaking of governors prospec-
tive, Senator Fred bennett has a good
start. His furniture factory (Which led
the world in making rocking chairs)
has burned down in Port Washington,
but he will build again. bennett looks
like Sol Smith RUSSELL dresses like
gentleman; makes excellent speeches.
and has a bedrock character. He is
very happy combination He is
Maine man, like Senator Withee and
Speaker Ray. He was born at the foot
of Moosehead lake, where Mt. Kineo,
the famous resort, is located. He came
to Sheboygan as an infant. He hustled
in agricultural implements for many
years, but since 1886 has built up bus
mess that employees 400 hands. bennett
knows state affairs thoroughly, having
been chief clerk of the senate about
centennial time, and for ten years be-
fore held clerkships of one kind and an
other about the legislature. He has a
popular way with him. He undoubted-
~ VIII keep gong up the ladder of
politics.
Brains in the Senate.
1t takes three assemblymen to make
senatorial least, the proportion is
that under the big white dome. And
PROFESSIONALLY the senators feel their
Importance. AS a. rule, the senators
are better fed, better dressed, more
commanding, and withal ADLER than the
assemblymen. OF course, l mean as a
body The Wisconsin senate is a strong
body of men and worthy of admiration