Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1901-03-28
WISCONSIN LEGISLATURE.

Last week was the most exciting
week OF the session up to date, for the
reason that the SO called. most inn
pOrtant measure before the legiSla-
ture-the primary election bill-wa>
reported on at Monday evenings
session by the committee on privileges
and elections with recommendation
that it do pass; one member Of the
committee, Mr.. Kerel (democratl
dissenting
The first political measure before
the assembly was UP for final passage
at Tuesday mornings session, relative
to the newly created wards in the city
of Milwaukee. The bill provides for
the election of aldermen in these
wards by the people at the spring
judicial election, and to do away with
the power of the mayor to appoint.
1t appears that the newly created
wards are republican in politics. and
if the right TO appoint was left with
the mayor Mr.. Rose be being a
democrat. the democratic majority in
the common council would be increased
from one to five; otherwise there
would be republican majority of
three. There being sufficient num-
Der of democratic members to make
use of parliamentary tactics. a call of
the house was asked for by Mr.. Eline
of Milwaukee: this requiring the
sanction of fifteen members only
eighteen democrats rose to their feet.
But the call was soon lifted and the
bill passed; the republicans voting as
a unit In favor of the bill and the
democrats in opposition. The use Of
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES at the even
| ing session on the same day was
decidedly different however, the call
| of the house resulted in an all nights
session, which otherwise could have
been accomplished in three-fourths of
an hour. The gallery and Hobbies were
filled to their full capacity long before
the time for the session to begin, by
spectators anxious to hear the primary
election bill diScuSSed; but the call Of
the house shutting off all debate, and
realizing that if they were to hear
little, if any debate on the subject, it
| would be necessary for them to remain
all night. The gallery and lobby was
soon cleared of spectators when the
| first. second and third houses of the
legislature had full possession and a
lively time enSued. At twelve o'clock
(midnightl lunch was brought in for
| members of the second house: neither
tea nor coffee was served but you may
draw upon your own imagination for
| the substitute. Wood COunty'S repre-
sentative, Frank A. Cady, by his able
| arguments on the floor of the assembly
and in the judiciary committee room,
Of which committee he is a member,
has made himself popular and a source
of counsel with that body, and when
it was learned that he would support
the primary bill as substituted it
created quite a sensation on the part
of the opposition. He was accused of
receiving political favors. also a
traitor to the convention that nomi-
mated him: for instance, we heard it
asserted that the convention that
nominated Mr.. Cady instructed him
to use all honorable means to defeat
the proposed primary election bill.
Your correspondent had the pleasure
of contradicting this statement and
stating the facts in the case.
| At Fridays session when the bill
came up for final passage in the
assembly, two hours was assigned for
debate and Mr.. Cady occupied fully
One-half hour of this time, and during
this time Mr.. Cady read to the as
Sembly the resolutions adopted by the
convention which nominated him by
a unanimous vote. He also read a
similar primary election blank
adopted by the democratic state con-
vention of 1898 and one by the People s
Party: he stated that he knew of
others in the assembly that had
received the same Instructions as he
had, but now was laboring in direct
opposition to their instructions. In
conclusion he said. if it is inStruc-
lions the opposition is trying to lash
me on can give you all you want of
it, those of you that are voting
contrary to the instructions on which
you were elected, may turn traitor if
you wish, I will not; it is my wish
that the bill as substituted may pass
and it is the duty of every republican
in this house to support it.
AT twelve O'Clock noon the vote
was taken IS to 81 in favor of its
passage. E. A. Williams from Second
Winnebago being in favor of the bill
but absent on account of sickness;
otherwise the vote would have stood
IS to 81.
A MEMBER OF THE THIRD HOUSE.
| Cor a, hal no,fnoec