Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1902-05-31
that I voiced their will by my votes upon

that | voiced their will by my votes upon
the Stevens and substitute bills.
Under the constitution, each house Of
the Legislature is the judge of the quail
hcatlons of its own members. Civil Off
GERS of the state are subject to impeach-
ment for corrupt conduct in office, or for
crimes or misdemeanors. The Senate is
court for the trial of impeachments.
These high prerogatives have been con-
ferred upon the body under the constitu-
ton. The Senate could not and did not
permit the language used in the message
to pass unnoticed, but adopted a minute
which called attention to the quoted por-
lions, and stated:
"'We therefore claim our privilege as
senators to have it appear upon the rec
ord of our proceedings that we do not
allow these statements of the governor
to pass unchallenged, and that upon any
view of his constitutional prerogative
we deny that he is justified in thus adj
dressing the Legislature. We hold that
no sense of obligation on the part of
the governor can excuse such grave re-
lection upon the members of the Legis-
lature as are contained in the portions
of the message above quoted.
I'VE recognize the constitutional
right Of the governor freely to express
his views upon the policy and validity
of any legislation submitted to him for
his approval, but we hold that the use Of
such expressions as are above speci-
ically referred to, transcend all bounds
of official propriety and constitutional
right.
awe protest, therefore, most earnestly
as members of the Legislature against
acts, upon our personal motives, and
upon our private characters by the gov
ernor in this message to the Leglsla-
ture'
Aimed at Senate.
Il presume that by the words 'one of
it's branches reference was made to the
Senate. As a matter of fact, do not
hesitate to express my belief that the
Senate had not been organized as
charged. If such an organization exist
ed l did not know it then. | have not
known Of it since. I did not hear Of any
meeting of senators, called in opposition
to either the Stevens or substitute bill
prior to a meeting held near the time
when the vote thereon was taken in the
Assembly. If there had been any such
meeting, 1 think l should have heard Of
it; if not at the time it was held, since
that time. AS usual, the night before the
Legislature convened the senator's held a
caucus with reference to the organization
of the Senate. 1t had been the custom
for the chairman of the caucus to appoint
a committee to arrange the Senate COM
mittees for the session, and for the eau
cuses to adopt the report of this COM
mittee. Senators Stout and Jones were
nominated for caucus chairman. The
contest was rather spirited | voted for
Stout. Jones was elected. He had one
vote more than Stout. 1t was understood
that Stout's election would mean the ap-
pointment on the committee on privileges
and elections of only such senators as
were known to be in favor of the primary
election BILL which was to be introduced.
Notwithstanding the way in which the
caucus was organized. the makeup of
the committee on privileges and elections
. gave general satisfaction to senators.
The facts pertaining to the controver-
sy over the primary election bills intro
duced in the last Legislature. so far as
they are within my own knowledge
have been stated in the letters which |
have published.
''The distinguished gentleman who
opened the discussion for the bill before
the joint committee said:
The friends of the measure from
the outset have recognized the fact that
the burden of proof is upon them. 1t is
incumbent upon US who believe that this
bill should become a law to demonstrate
to this committee and to this Legisla-
ture the unfitness of the caucus and
convention method for securing the best
expression of public sentiment, and to
prove by presentation of facts and ar
guments that the pending measure, if
enacted into law, will secure a more gem
eral expression of the judgment of the
best citizenship of the state in making
nominations and thereby securing as can
didates for public Office men whose char
acter and standing are such as to COM
ment them to the rank and file of politi-
cal parties
I'm the judgment of the Legislature
the advocates of the bill failed to fur
nish the proof required and to make the
demonstration proposed.
JOHN NJ. WHITEHEAD"
GAINESVILLE, Wis, May %.