Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1903-04-01
OUR MADISON LETTER
Senate Votes for Primary EIec.
tions for Cities and
Counties.
REFERENDUM FOR THE REST
Belief That No Bill Can BE Passed,
and Perhaps an Extra Session
Freight Rate BILL

Madison, Wis. March 31.--Weli. the
senate has take1 lction on the primary
election bin and low the state has the
I situation before it. On the one hand,
the assembly has passed practically n
Stevens bill over again, as the gov
ernor wants Implying the direct
| vote of citizens (without the interposi-
! ton of caucus and delegates) to the
making of oil nominations from gov
ernor of the state to ward alderman
The senate. on the other hand. has
| passed identically the same bill, but
| providing that it shall be operative at
once, only as to nomination of officers
in the II counties and In the 100 cities,
referendum in the fall election of
1904 to decide whether the balance Of
the system Nominations to the legisla-
ture, to congress and state officials)
shall also 60 into effect Under the
senate plan, the spring elections of
1904, the county nominations of the
fall of that year, and the choice of
delegates to the state convention will
be made by direct vote, thus affording
opportunity to see how the plan works.
1t is in these smaller areas the prin-
cipal is at its best This is the testi-
mony from Minnesota and Michigan.
The direct vote is at its best in the
tentative field proposed by the senate
bill. 1t is in the larger areas that the
system becomes complicated, eXpen-
sive, and, it is charged, comforting the
victory on the most diligent adver-
tisers. The governor Is fortunate that
the people would test the Dirt vote
from its workings in citg and county
contests, where the voters know the
petitioners for office ana eau tutelli-
gently act in making choices. ! be-
lieve that the new system will please
voters, win make them feel that by
the abolition of delegates and conven-
tons they exercise a more direct
choice in naming their candidates.
/ am inclined to believe that in the
wave OF general approval the full plan
would be endorsed at the polls"
How the Factions Take 1t.
The senate proposition is compro-
mise that was suggested early in the
session. Tie stalwarts say 1t is a fair
concession. On the delicate point as
to how it aCcords with the state plat
form, they say it reflects the spirit Of
the platform, If not its letter, for the
platform calls for the full system, with
nothing said of referendum. They fur
they say that a platform should not
dictate details, but only principles.
The administration men say the
failure to pass the assembly bill Is a
repetition of action two years ago.
They head it up in their newspapers
as "Treachery," etc, and call roundly
for the blood of statessenators who re-
fused to pass the assembly bill, which
would saddle the full system on the
state at once.
The assembly takes up the senate's
amendment leday; there will be con
ference, and 1t is believed no agree
ment Some maintain that the gov
ernor should accept the senate's YER
sion, reasoning thus:
1T is not all he wants--it is not as
of wide application, but it Is a tre-
mendous achievement, and n fr-uitage
of five years of agitation and effort
which if not garncred now at the
height Of Governor IaTollette's pres.
tige and influence. viii be longer de
laj ed and perhaps forever lost.
What public good has the governor
to achieve by rejecting this offer OF
the senate? If 1t is primary election
system ne seeks with diSnterested
heart, here it is--a notable beginning
with the full system If it works well
and the people want It, If it works
badly and the people do not want it
surely Governor LaBdllette will moi
insist upon retention of the system1'
Special Session Talk.
1t is not unlikely we shall have a
special session on this matter. Even
IL it accomplished nothing 1t would be
a graphic picture Of Governor LaFOl
lette trying to wrench something from
refractory senate, and this would
make a superb opening to third cam
paign in the eyes Of many.
4 feature OF last week was the com
ing to Madison OF President Arthur
Hadley Of Yale. He was given o
round OF receptions. etc, and made an
address to the Phi Beta Kappa, a so
ciety which takes IN the best scholars
of every class.
President HadIey has beer .. prodigy
from youth up. His fathe. 7as Greel
professor at Yale The son Is 4,
years old, and his versatile scholarship
ranges from Greek to political econ
ouy, from logic and divinity to goli
, and witty stories. His big address a
Madison was written Oh the trair
coming from Milwaukee. though thu
thought had been in bis mind since
leaving New Haven He practically
committed to memory an outline o.
about fifty points. but no scrap o.
paper was used in the delivery
Prss.asnt Roo seveit Coming.
We are to have President ROc5e
welt Is Friday. and be win make tw'
! speeches. He arrives on his ear dur
ing the night. but VIII be in The hand
Of the citlzencs from Q 0cloci, - II
When he was writing bis histories h
was much in MadisOn, using ou
+ famous historical library. and wa
I often a guest IN the Lucius Fairchili
Z and other homes. Roosevelt is pop
/ a1aF agTe, ard &c wiir - Interesting .
seo him sud GCgeTfgoT LaJF6ilatte tt
setboF Tbsr hare n1any t.ifaas !
common fand tiie;s 'sdtu-es MY, tode'