The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1901-02-15
MADISON NO7ABLBS.
General Boardman's Work with
the National Guard.
KAREL, FOOTBALL LAWMAKER'
Figured Six Years on Madison Grid.
irOn-One More Week for New
Bills-A Long Session.


legislative halls thus far is about the
provisions of bills as fast as they are
introduced, but when my next letter
reaches readers practically all of the
bills will have been introduced. the
date having been reached for the pre-
senting of new business. After that
date committees may introduce
bills (as on the request of
the tax commission or to con-
form to recommendations of the
inauguraD; indeed, a member may put
i'll a new bill if he can get unanimous
consent Of his fellows. This is granted
until members get tired of it, but 81
single protest can stop bill.
The signs do not favor a short SEES
sion. There are a number of measures,
as the primary election bill, the tax
alton Of insurance companies, capital
punishment, and half a dozen others
any one of which can easily consume
much time. Again, the assembly is
developing number of easy takers,
especially lawyers who enjoy not only
expressing their approval or disap-
prOval of measures as they come up,
but feel the legal instinct to outline the
situation in detail This has it's advan-
tages, but does not make for brevity.
Talk of Primary Election Bill.
The principle of the primary law is
making friends. though it is pretty
clear there must be amendments. 1t
is believed that the primary election
law provides sufficiently for indepen-
dent movements (taken with present
law, which is not affected, but on
this point there is curious interest.
The Oshkosh Northwestern, which is
Loyalty supporting the bill. is frank
to suggest that the plan Of having the
platform made by the nominees does
not strike it as promising good re-
suits.
The bill might reasonably receive
the support of all elective officehold-
ers who think they are giving faith
full service, for one can see that at the
primary election the great mass of
citizens who do not know one candi-
date from another, and perhaps care
less, would be apt to mark the names
on the ballot of the incumbents, espe-
cially if the local papers or other
sources indicated that the officers
were giving good service. AS to legis-
is it not likely that the bulk of the
electorate who do not follow politics
closely, but believe in trained service,
would vote for the continuance of
those in office.
To me the bill is Il menace to rOta-
ton in office, while at the same time
the way is made much easier than at
the present time for public Indignation
or discomfort with an official to reach
him by the direct vote and deprive
him of denomination.
Karel the Bohemian Leader.
An interesting figure in the assem-
bly, is the young man who may some
day be the leader of the $4,000 Bohe-
mians in Wisconsin, John G. Karel,
who for six years played football at
Madison and was universally known
as "Ikey" He is q years old, the
youngest of the Democrats in the as
sembly, and elected by 119 majority
i'll a Milwaukee district, where the Re-
publicans had $50 majority two years
ago. Likely" was sergeant alarms at
the two Democratic state conventions
last year. He speaks three languages
and talked to Carter Harrison's Bohe-
milan constituents in one of his cam
paigns. Since Carl Jonas died, John
Karel, the father Of the aseSmblyman.
is one of the best known and most
highly educated Bohemians in the
state. He is banker and insurance
man, though now recruiting his
strength in Denver. The father has
been consul general to st. Petersburg
and Prague. He speaks six languages
and, as he was educated by priests,
the classic Latin and Greek are easy
to him. He writes for all the BOhe-
milan papers and has national repu-
tatiOn. John Karel. the son, is prac-
ticing law in Milwaukee. A brother
Albert, is cashier in the KeWaunee
bank. Albert and also sister, Flora.
are both graduates of the state uni
verSity While John was travelling
abroad a few years ago, the mother
died, being one OF the party.
Our Badger Bohemians.
Speaking of the BOhemians in Wis
consin Assemblyman Karel tells me
there are $4,000 in the state, of whom
perhaps 10000 came from the old
country. They began to come over
after 1913, and many made a fine rec
ord in the war. ''They make most
thrifty farmers and none of our citi-
Zens are more orderly. In Plzn, the
Chicago district, are $4,000 of these
people, and it is an admirable district
in point of citizenship"
Mr.. Karel tells me that of Bohemian
children many must go out and earn
a living after leaving the ward
schools, but not few families are
able and ambitious to educate their
children. Of eleven who came to the
state university from Kewaunee late
1y, nine We're of Bohemian families
Mr. Karel. by education, popularity
and ability. is qualified to take a high
place in the future public affairs of
the state and his friends expect him
to be a strong influence. especially
his people, for the best things
IN public life.
Marking of Secret Ballot
AS ny readers know, the contested
seat W2S settled in the favor of Cook.
DeMoct% Of Marathon county. At
first blush It would seem as if ballot
On which there was no mark except a
cross under the name of Mckinley
tyould Indicate the intent of the voter
ITO vote for all the Republican candi-
.fSsTnc ON fhn tioI-at TNl,ic 49,,