Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1901-05-01
End IS DRAWING NEAR
State Lawmakers Will Soon Wind
Up Affairs and Go
Home.
SESSION IS UNSATISFACTORY
Possibility of an Extra Session TO Set
tie the Apportionment Problem
Primary Election.

Madison, Wis, April 30.-The end
of an extremely unsatisfactory session
of the legislature is drawing near.
Some think May IL win see adjourn
ment, with the possibility of an extra
session TO settle apportionment of SEN
atorial and congressional districts I'M
der the census of 1900-unless that diff
fcult business can be adjusted Elk
ira sessions are not popular No busi-
ness can be transacted except that
instanced 10 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 number OF
good lawyers In both branches who
have wisely legislated on the inevita-
BILE statute changes demanded at ev-
cry session: but there is dearth of
important laws which attract public
commentator.
The key of the session is the primary
election bill. 1t has made hard feel
ings and traces may be found in much
of the voting even on wholly disasso-
ciated legislation. One Republican lead
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
parcelling out of senatorial districts,
the hostility is said TO show itself.
Is II Too Late TO Compromise?
There Is feeling that some sort
OF a compromise may possibly be eff
fected as to primary election, but
most of the leaders say the thing is
lead. The opposition tried hard to
get the Hagemeister county option)
plan adopted by the assembly, but
Cover "er LaFollette's co-workers
stood firln against IT, The proposition
the assembly has now passed, and Of
fered to tae senate, Is the submission
TO the ir,pple at the spring election ~
1902 of plan TO nominate city, coun-
ty and h.is,atiye officers by the pri-
mary eicrI,sil The opposition sena-
tors tell me- hatly they win never take
It. The only possible extension of
concession | can think Of Is to let the
people vute m the plan in the fall
election. If l2-thus eliminating the
danger. " liicl Spooner's friends have
could b. shape to suit private ends
under a. Tp sed system. Person
ally. J 10 re Governor LaF0llette,
when be- : tlat he has no intent
Of war; ;pocner's reelection,
and that ~ t,inielf only seeks to de-
serve re-eirttttt TO the governorship.
Spooner's g-i'uiS for their part say
Long Jon,a VS. it-that he looks
h. OH ny1f
(as with iT ais. who think hard
rhings thai I'D be cleared up IL
they went h>lins together) so men In
public life. each going his own way.
conjure up be@'es and see periln
where only II Sunshine. My impress
sion Is that t;oye~nor LaFollette has
got to the point where he doesn't care
whether the oIii,u> ton senators give
him any primary erection or not. He
knows hat In tile 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, II is q great advantage to stand
for what they want: aud IL one APP
pears to have bern crueitied. he at
once becomes more interesting
Primary election doesn't mean
much but the EXPIRE, .fon direct vote"
Is one that makes the !. atwarts squirm.
Even John Whitehead 10 his great
speech, took pains 10 cor that the
direct vote" might have rit.
II would be a Winnn stroke for
Senator Spooner to signii : his inter-
est in some such plan as / have indi-
cated--a referendum In the fall Of
1902. If some plan could b. 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 IL the
question: How does he stand on the
direct yote?" is TO be asked at every
Republican meeting In the next four
years.
WIN Ne 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 a posi-
ton of power. Nominations by d.
rect vote In a large area, like a state
where the voters do not know each
other and may not know the con-
splcuous men as candidates, Is a de-
batable proposition such as may de-
mand the elaboration 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.
1t. Things that have merit cannot be
killed for any length of time
Busy Judge Riordan.
The life of a member who works is
very taxing. Judge Riordan receives
eighty letters 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
90 his constituents. DR.. Woodwork
and ex-senator WitHee were In the up
per chamber the other day. The for
mer made a speech, but the old lum-
herman got out of the ordeal with an
expression OF regard.
Governor LaFollette has been using
the veto power with freedom. His re
lection of bill to equip employees
with police power, authorizing street
railway or other railway companies
to make arrests without warrants
gave rise Do come talk of an attempt
to override. but this requires twenty
two yotes-two-t thirds of the senate