The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1899-03-10
GOSSIP FROM MADISON.
Weed and Jacobs the Only Dem.
ocrats Among the Senators.
LEGISLATURE a TALKATIyE ONE.

Many Debates and Few Bills Passed as
Yet-Dennett and Others in the Very
Able Senate-Lashing the Anti-Pass
Law into Shape-Ex-Governor Peck's
Chat with a Boy-Notables Before the
Committees.
Madison, Wis, March 7.-Politics cut
no figure in the Wisconsin senate at
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 at
home in a district supposed to be Re
publican. He is making friends, too,
at this end. He is So 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 PeckS
"Colonels' and has been city attorney.
He defeated Buckstaf by 1873 votes. The.
other Democrat, Jacobs has 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 gen.
eral land office in Washington. In fact,
he has seen considerable of this coun-
try for 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 81 900. The lieutenant gov
ernor usually presides here, but as MT
Stone has been busy taking care of the
governors office. Senator Thayer mas
welded the gavel Senator Thayer is
an instance of man who, by courtesy
tact, and moderation, gets along in the
world. This is the second session he has
been chosen president pro tenn, and
he conducts affairs in business way.
He is an eX-lumberman, and now
stock raiser of Ripon, quiet, polished,
we'll dressed man and very popular
Like nearly all these legislators, he has
cut a big figure at home as town and
county chairman, served a term in the
assembly, and this is his third term Ill
the senate
Treasurer DavidsOn's Ambitions.
There are a number of people who
want to be governor. The list numbers
about a 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 it's
share of LaFollette men. The attorney
generals office, which has the same fla
vor, 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 premature 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, It there is still 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,
h,,t ba will h11j1 iy, 1nnLc
like Sol Smith Russell; dresses like a
gentleman; makes excellent speeches,
and has a bedrock character. He is a
very happy. combination He is a
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 a 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-
ly will keep going 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
| unGuestionably the senators feel THEN
Importance. AS a rule, the senators
are better fed, better dressed, more
commanding. and withal ADLER than the
assemblymen. Of course, | mean as a
body The Wisconsin senate is strong
body of men and worthy of admiration.
The average up ability ard character
| is high.
This is talking legislature and with
the three weeks broken up by the sena-
torial fight, things may be said to be
moving slowly. 1t is true there were
| 200 fewer bills introduced at this
session than in 1897. but each morn
! ing, after meeting at 10 o'clock and
| listening to the chaplain and the
rollcall there is usually some bill that
provokes a debate; and a good part of
| the time up to about 1890 is given to
| "talkee, talkee." This is a good thing
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