The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-02-12
OFFICE HOLDERS WAKE. Up
REPUBLICAN BARNACLES FIGHT
AGAINST PRIMARY ELECTION
REFORM In WISCONSIN
WILL DO THEM NO GOOD
Three Amendments to the State Con-
stitutiOn ON Their Way Through
the LegisIRture-NOtes
and Comment.

MADISON, Feb 11-(Special )-Federal
-officeholders in the state are making g.
campaign to defeat the primary election
bill. Numerous petitions and letters are
being sent out either by them or at their
suggestion, 1t is said, to work up senti-
ment against the bill. A printed circular
letter, dated at Darlington, Wis, Feb. 4,
which is signed by George f. West, urges
all delegates to the Lafayette county
Republican convention of last summer to
oppose the primary election bill, and
make an effort to induce the assembly
man and senator from that county to
vote against the measure. In the letter
was enclosed a printed petition ready
for signatures, reprinted editorial from
the Republican-Journal of Darlington,
which is edited by Internal Revenue Col
lector J. G. Monahan, against the bill,
and a little, slip designed to be signed by
only one delegate and to be sent to the
members of the legislature from that dis
trict.
Letters received by the members of the
legislature who are pushing the fight for
the bill indicate that this campaign
against it being made by the federal Of
ficeholders is accomplishing very little.
a letter from a well known Republican
in Southern Wisconsin, who had received
one of the circulars against the bill, in
subject. In writing to friend of the bill
this Republican said: LAS this seems to
be but the afterclap of defeat and the &C
ticn of the defeated, l cannot fall into
line with that element
The first hearing on the primary cleo
ton bill will be held Tuesday afternoon
privileges and elections. There is talk of
substitute bills, one of which will pro-
pose that the law be given a trail in
Milwaukee county before it is made gen
eral, while a proposition credited to Sem
ator Long Jones is that the bill be
submitted to the people for their APP
prevail before it is made operative. The
bill however, Is likely to go through the
legislature in practically its present form.
But little opposition to it is expected in
the assembly, while its friends claim
that a canvass of the senate shows Is of
the 50 votes there in its favor.
Three amendments to the state consti-
tuition are on their way through the leg
islature, one being the anti-pass meas
ure, which has passed the assembly, and
will probably receive a practically unan-
1mOuS Endorsement in the senate this
week. 1t will then, after being signed b.
the governor, go before the people to be
voted en- Another amendment up for
SSCOIlu passage AUTHORIZES the leg S a.
ture to pass q banking law, while the
third provides for the election of state
superintendent OF public instruction in
the spring instead of the fall election
the idea being to remove the Office as
far as possible from the realms of poll
tics.
The bill providing for biennial elections
in cities of the third and fourth classes
which 1nPlnfA those h. LOT
under 20.GtO, is likely to become a law II
also provides a salary for the mayor OF
not more than $500 in cities of the third
class or $1,000 for the fourth class. NJ
opposition has been manifested to The
bill, which is the child of the Wisconsin
League of municipalities, though repre-
sentahVeS of several cities have appeared
before the committee to urge amend
ments to it to lit their particular cases.
An old acquaintance came back to the
legislature in the shape of a bill pro
hibiting saloons within a mile of tn;
state university, Or within 500 feet of :
church or school house anywhere in the
state. The bill has the effect of REDUCING
some thirty Madison saloonkeepers who
would come under its ban to a state OF
nervous prostration. Among other liouc,
people it would put out of business Is
the Hausman Brewing company, the
largest manufacturer OF beer in this sec
ton, whose big brewery is located mid
way between the university and state
capitol.
The bill to increase the salary of tn.
justices of the supreme court from $50
to $1,000 year. is likely to receive the
approval of the senate though a pro
vision of the same bill raising the sal
aries of circuit court judges from $3.50
to 5000 with S4(l0 pxnenSo
eliminated, will meet more~~oppositi
The argument that a lawyer who is DUAL
flied to sit on the bench can earn more
than a judges salary in his practice i,
advanced by the supporters of the meas
ure.