The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1901-04-19

WISCONSIN STATE CAPITOL, MADISON.
might rage in one wing for a long
time without occupants at the other
end Of the building knowing that any
thing unusual was occurring. Those
who have seen the capitols of many
states know that it is not only one
of the best arranged-with its four
Wings-but one Of the most beauti-
full to look on, although, of course,
the white stone of the Albany and
Hartford capitOlS give impressions Of
more OrnateneSS.
A New Political Influence.
Madison is much interested in the
new Milwaukee paper soon to be start
ed under the name of ''The Free
Press Not everybody likes the name,
which was in vogue at time when
the freedom of newspapers was much
abrogated by governments; but per
hapS the owners mean to express in
the title a protest against it's rival in
the morning field. 1t is supposed
that Mr. Isaac Stephenson takes a
liberal part of the 100000 capitali-
zation, which is not extreme for a
great city newspaper. While press
need not cost more than $4,000 or
$4,000 with capacity enough TO print
up to $4,000 circulation, and the rest
Of the equipment needs no large out
lay, the running expenses of a great
city daily, the payroll especially,
count up very fast. If a newspaper
runs behind every Saturday night, the
strain on capital is very great. How
ever, with $4,000 subscription the pa
per should be self-suppOrting if the
advertising is proportional, and likely
enough the property will become val
liable in time.
Primary Elections.
The legislature has been dealing
with most important matters. The
Stevens bill was defeated in the SEN
ate as was expected. There were two
nights of notable OratOry when the
room was checked with listeners. Sen
atOr Whitehead made a speech in OPP
position to the bill. The GAINESVILLE
man made prOfund impression.
Whitehead was candidate for gov
ernOr two years ago, and likely enough
memories of the vigorous campaign
put up by the LaFOllette men rankle
q bit. But. outside this. he is of a
very conservative temperament and
no one questions but that he opposes
the plan because he does not think
it safe. Senator Stout, another man
in whom the common people have
peculiar confidence, has had little to
say on the subject during these
months, but voted square to get pri-
mary elections for as much area as
possible. Senator Jones of Waukesha
displayed his power as political man
ager in the Straight-Out fight he made
against the bill. Jsnes is quiet but
hard fighter, and it should be said
for him that there are no whispers of
indefenSible methods on his part. The
Waukesha man who managed BLACK
Eagle" LOgan's campaigns is no re-
former and stands by the status quo
in all kinds of legislation; but he
plays fair and open. The debate was
managed much like a boxing match,
Senators Jones and Miller (of Madi-
SOM holding the sponges and calling
time With profuse assurances of
mutual regard, the contestants abused
each other in good shape. 1t remind
ed Ellis Usher of the colored ''scrap-
ping match" where the master of GER
emonies announced: "Gemmen, de
mex scrap will be tween two frens
wifi a grudge."
The outcome was the sending to the
assembly of bill which applies pri-
mary elections to counties, but only
when those counties vote to accept it.
Governor LaFollettes friends say
that to make the system a success it
must be uniform and universal. The
citizens must get used to it. If citi-
zens choose some candidates by the
present caucus plan and others by
primary election which might be re-
pealed at any time, it would be half
hearted business and set back the
adoption of the primary election as a
state system such as Minnesota en-
joys. 1t may he that the so-called
sstalwarts will try to enforce this par