The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1903-02-06
Senator Spooncr Rcinstalledo


by the election of John c. SpOoner to
| the senate at Washington for the third
time. His term will expire March 4,
1909. He will then be 81 years Of age.
1t is likely that if our Wisconsin man
is to figure as q presidential or vice
presidential candidate it must be in
| 1904 or 1908. Coming later than that,
| the unwritten age limit would be apt
to intervene. The signs of the times
| point to a second term Of President
Roosevelt. This will accord with Sen
ator SpOners views, as they work to-
gether well. Following that, however,
| if the senator holds his present high
place in the public esteem, and multi
plies his achievements, forensic and
otherwise, it is calculated that he
should be most eligible for honors in
1908.
His Speech of Acceptance.
Senator SpOOner walked alone from
his office to the capitol the day he was
elected. He grows stouter each year
Though not tall man he is we'll pro
pOrtiOned, and every inch tribune. A
short man to have dignity must have
power behind it, and Spooner has that
He told me he was never more under
stress, his manuscript as he held it in
his hand-though able to say most of
it-shOok like Il leaf in the wind. 1t
was a hard post. The assembly
chamber was choked with men of note
from every part of the state-and the
ladies were IL full force. During the
past two years few had seen him and
now SpOOner--cOncerning whom much
Of the confusion and debate ragged
was before them. He and they were
thinking of the same thing-Of the war
Of factiOns-yet by the canOns of good
taste he could say nothing of it, nor
did he. There was, however. a touch
Of satisfaction with which he recalled
, that the honor came to him unsought.
Election of Senators; Popular Vote.
The legislature last week passed the
resolution it has passed before (as, ill.,
deed. have most of the states) in favor
Of election Of United States senator by
popular vote. Earlier in the week
there was an attempt, largely by
Democrats, TO worry Senator Spooner
! by instructiny him specifically to sup
port the principle. Some twenty as
semblymen stood out i'll the clearing
to put the senator in a box; but it
failed, thanks to Mr. Cady and others
who might have been expected by some
to have enjoyed q dig at Sp0oner.
Some Odds and Ends Of Bills.
While the number of bills Of cardi-
nal Importance this year is not long,
there are many that are interesting.
Senator RandOlph's, for instance, pro-
poses to put a stop to the frequent
prevarications practiced by station
agents as to how late the train is"
The bill requires that all passenger
trains shall be bulletined and the exact
moment when they may be expected
to arrive at any station to be accurate
ly posted.
j OF local bills there are many. One
aims to forbid the use of nets and
seines in Lake ST CroiX. A petition
states that while in former years large
numbers OF pike, bass, pickerel and
similar fish could be caught with hook
and line, it is now almost impossible
to catch such fish in that way. On the
other hand a Bayfield, movement. pro-
uoses to ALLOW the use of a net along
the south shoe of Superior.
These men do not desire to take
from any waters game fish, but suck
ers. for which a market in the east has
been found. The fishermen say they
are willing to use a net with mesh
sufficiently large for brook trout and
other small fish to slip through. The
laws of Minnesota and Michigan,
whose coast lines are less than fifty
miles distant, permit shore fishing.
, Every one knows Wisconsin has am
bitons in raising cranberries-indeed.
after Massachusetts and New Jersey,
this state has good rank. But we have
! yet much to learn. The legislature
will be asked TO appropriate $4,000 an
nually toward maintaining state cram
berry experimental stations. There
are now 1000 acres of cranberry marsh
in Wood county alone, producing go
600 barrels Of berries annually.
! There are whispers of an effort to
repeal the law establishing fire and po-
lice commissioners in cities. This law
works we'll in Madison; the frequent
shift in the personnel Of the depart
! ments has been abated.
Mr. Ericson's department of labor
reports real success with the free la
3! Dor bureaus. La Crosse and Oshkosh
are listed for the proposed two new
bureaus, but there is crush on the
part of other cities to get them. 1t is
maintained he abuses that grow out
of private bureaus are a justification
for this mild expression of socialism.
Women Getting New Influence.
The placing of a woman on the
board of control will be urged this win
ter. The sex has secured a representa-
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