The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1901-05-03
End is DRAWING NEAR
State Lawmakers Will Soon Wind
Up Affairs and Go
Home.
SESSION rs UNSATISFACTORY
Possibility of an Extra Session to Set.
tie the ApportiOnment Problem
Primary Election.

of an extremely unsatisfactory session
of the legislature is drawing near.
Some think May II will see adjourn
ment, with TIE possibility of an extra
session to settle apportiOnment of SEN
atorial and congressional districts I'M
der the census of 1900-unless that diff
ficult business can be adjusted. Elk
ira sessions are not popular. No bust
ness can be transacted except that
instanced in the call by the governor.
Extra sessions are often OppOrtune Oc
casiOns, however, to accomplish what
legislatures refuse to do at regular
sessions. Much routine business has
been done, and there are a number of
good lawyers ia both branches who
have wisely legislated on the ineyita
bic statute changes demanded at ev-
cry session; but there is a dearth of
important laws which attract public
commentator.
The key of the session is the primary
election bill. It has made hard feel
ingS and traces may be found in much
Of the voting even on wholly diSaSSO-
slated legislation. One Republican lead
er Of the assembly was complaining
that another influential member who
differed with him as to the Stevens
bill had not voted for any Of the for
mer'S bills though they affected hog
Wardens and path masters. In the
parcellihg out of senatorial districts,
the hostility is said to show itself.
sit Too Late to Compromise?
There is a feeling that some sort
Of Il compromise may possibly be eff
fected as to primary election, but
most of the leaders say the thing is
dead. The opposition tried hard to
get the Hagemeister County OptiOn)
plan adopted by the assembly, but
Governor LaFOlletteS cO-WOrkers
stood firm against it. The proposition
the assembly has now passed, and of
fered to the senate, is the submission
to the people at the spring election in
1902 of a plan to nominate city, cOun-
ty and legislative officers by the pri-
mary election. The opposition sena-
tors tell me fatty they will never take
it. The only possible extension of
concession l can think of is to let the
people vote on the plan in the fall
elections of 19O2-thus eliminating the
danger, which SpOOner's friends have
asserted, that the next legislature
could be shaped to suit private ends
under this proposed system. Person
ally, | believe Governor LaFollette,
when he says that he has no intent
of warning on Spooner's reelection,
and that he himself only seeks to de-
serve reelection to the gOvernOrship.
SpOOner's friends for their part say
Long Jones says it-that he looks
for the governors reelection. But.
Gas with individuals, who think hard
things that would be cleared up if
they went fishing together) so men IL
public life, each going his own way,
conjure up bOgies and see perils
where only is sunshine. My impress
sion is that Governor LaFollette has
got to the point where he doesn't care
whether the opposition senators give
him any primary election or not. He
knows that in the coming year or two
this issue is going to kindle growing
interest all over the country. When
you want to win out with the peO-
pie, it is a great advantage to stand
for what they want; and if one ap-
pears to have been crucified he at
once becomes more interesting.
primary election" doesn't mean
much but the expression ''direct Vote
is one that makes the stalwarts sQuirm.
speech, took pains to concede that the
direct vote" might have merit.
1t would be a winning stroke for
Senator SpoOner to signify his inter-
est in some such plan as | have indi-
cated-a referendum in the fall of
1902. If some plan could be adopted
by the full Republican legislature, not
by faction, all the members could
then face their constituents without
embarrassment and future candidates
need not dread the awful line of cleav-
age which is sure to divide and per-
haps fatally disrupt the party if the
question: How does he stand on the
direct vOte?' is to be asked at every
Republican meeting in the next four
years.
Will Be an Irritating Issue.
| have discussed this matter rather
fully, for primary election has been
the bone of contention during all the
session, and with an ambitious man
and effective organizer in the guberna-
tOrial saddle it is dead sure to be in
the air while he remains in 4 posi-
ton of power. Nominations by di-
rect vote in large area, like a state,
where the voters do not know each
other and may not know the con-
spicuOus men as candidates, is de-
batable proposition such as may de-
mand the deliberatiOn of convention
The direct vote in smaller areas, as
counties and legislative districts.
which know who of the electorate is
fitted for office, has unquestioned mer-
it. Things that have merit cannot be
killed for any length of time.
Busy Judge Riordan.
The life of member who works is
very taxing. Judge Riordan receives
eighty letters a day on some days.
Two or three stenographers have been
installed who give free service, and
these lessen the strain. Senator Jones
is old-fashioned. Every letter the
Waukesha statesman neatly writes
with his own hand and he keeps close
to his constituents. Dr. Woodwork
and ex-senator Withee were in the up
per chamber the other day. The for
mer made speech, but the old lum-
herman got out of the ordeal with an
expression of regard.
Governor la Toilette has been using