The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1903-01-30

| branch, the calling of the roll, and
| printed calendar tells of the bills to be
dealt with. Each morning a printed
journal of the preceding day appears
on the desks of the memberS--a pink
sheet. The newspaper men sit at
desks in front of the clerks. It in
cludes some able writer's. One of the
most conspicuous is Hanan of the Mil
waukee Free Press, a big, forceful
fighter, who furnished much of the
energy for last falls newspaper cam
paign. He is supported by Powell,
who has a clerkship. while the Mil
Waukee Sentinel has three men, two Of
them being ex-Assemblyman Wander
cook, who writes running comment,
and Sumner Curtis, one of the most
effective of correspondents. Ellis
Usher of the Milwaukee Journal is the
free lance commentator for that versa
tile paper; Harbach does the Evening
Wisconsin, and Winter Everett is the
nimble exponent of the Milwaukee
News. For the first time the routine
proceedings Of both houses are being
'syndicated'' for Il number of papers,
the side comment and incidents of the
day being written by representatives of
the various papers. as they are moved
to interpret them. Thus the trust
idea creeDS in at every point. though in
this case a mere machinery for con-
venience.
Reforms Must BE Enacted.
It is likely Governor LaFOllette is
determined to effect his reforms this
winter: indeed, it is said he has Sug-
gested extra session" in the event of
success in baking the measures to
which the party is committed. He
thought a bit of this measure two
years ago. Legislators don't take kind
ly to such a step, for by the time a
law-maker has spent five months I'M
der the white dome he is satisfied for
a long while, feeling that his $500 has
been we'll earned. But a legislator
is never so under the fierce light of
publicity as at a special session, when
he must yes" Or mo" some concrete
proposal; and in such a struggle the
governor would have a smart advan-
tlge. 1t seems to be understood that
some of the Democrats will be of
service at critical points. These votes
will be of great use. especially as re-
CARDS the primary election bills.
Primary Election Bills.
Of these. two are now before the
assembly, one by Mr.. Frear of Hud-
son, who is said to have had counsel
from T.. Ray Stevens, author of the
1901 measure; and the other by Mr..
Andrews. Both are by LaFOllette
men. The opposition will withhold
their efforts at framing measures I'M
til the compromise stage is reached.
Both bills are sweeping in scope The
Frear bill omits school superintend-
ents and judicial officers. Oh the the
DRY that these posts are out of poll
tics. The judges of Minnesota do not
relish their law. and it is likely the
effort here is to avoid that structure
The making of the platform was a
detail of the Stevens bill that made
trouble. The Frear bill provides that
the chairman Of each political party
shall determine the manner of max
ing the party platform. Another new
provision is for two ballot boxes, the
enters the booth. voting one. and
those not voted being deposited in the
second box. the purpose being to pre-
serve secrecy.
In their minor provisions both bills
are similar to the Stevens bill of two
years ago.
For state officers the nomination pa
per shall be signed by at least two
per cent of the voters of the party
he represents. by electors from at
least II counties of the state This
provision is made for congressional
offices: two per cent is necessary from
one-ffth of the election precincts and
from One-half the counties of the dis
trict The same holds for Legislative,
county and city officers.
The debate this year will be more
on the details than on the principal,
for the most strenuous of the COVER
nor's opponents are inclined to con-
party declarations call for at least an
experimental enactment.
Spooner's Third Election.
Senator SpOoner will have been for
mally elected by the time many read
this letter. The event will be attended
by flowers. speeches and handshaking.
There will be a good speech by Senator
ator Spooner, but beyond few sig
nificant sentences it is unlikely the
thin ice of the matter will be broken.
as the man shuns sensations He takes
himself and his public work very seri-
Ously, and to one whose ideas of the
United States senate are on the Web
sterian plane, Il scrap of factionalists
up in one little corner of the nation
is not apt to be crowded to the front.
If the senator were a humorist,
few pat jokes about the row in the
party might blow it all away, as Ger
vantes laughted chivalry out of exist