Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1903-02-05

third term of six years in the United
States senate the vote being:
| For Spooner, republican 49,. los
For Neal Brown, democrat >. q
The assembly chamber, where the
| two houses met in joint session to
vote, was packed, Hobbies, galleries
| and all, scores of ladies being present.
| Uncommonly numerous were the
! prominent politicians Of the state.
Judge E. w. keyes of Madison was
with his brother-in-law, H. D. Fisher
| of Florence. Editor John Hicks of the
Oshkosh Northwestern, a vigorous ad-
vocate of Senator Spooner's election:
| J. T. Moak, longtime postmaster at
| Watertown; Col. L. J. Rusk of Chip
pewa Falls; three ex-speakers of the
| assembly, Thomas B. Mills Of SUI
perior, George B. Burrows of Madison
and George A. Buckstaff of Oshkosh;
ex-senator W. G.. Bissell of Lodi fore
most in the league movement to re-
elect Col. Spooner; former Lieutenant
Governor S. S. Fiield Of Ashland; ex-
Senator Hobart S.. Sackett, who rep
resented the Berlin district in the
senate from 1877 to 1880; Postmaster
Cham. Ingersoll and L. Holden Parker
of Beloit; Roger c. Spooner, up from
Chicago to be with his brother in the
hour Of triumph; Col. George w.
Burchard, private secretary to Gov.
Hoard and long a prominent figure in
state affairs; eX-Secretary of State
Froehlich and former State Superin-
Wayne Ramsay, DR.. George Keenan,,
Prof. J. G. Monaghan, Prof J. B.
Parkinson, Col. w. J. Anderson, A
l.. Sanborn, for many years Senator
Spooner's law partner, all of Madison;
c. W. Netherwood of Oregon; Editor
c. S. Crosse of Stoughton, a steadfast
supporter of the senator; United
States District Attorney Wheeler from
GAINESVILLE; Editor F. w. Coon of
Edgerton,-these were few of the
scores of we'll known faces seen. In
the front row of seats little to the
right CT the speakers stand sat
Charles F. Pfster OF Milwaukee, one of
L.
He was accompanied by E. L. Phillips,
formerly republican county chairman
Of Milwaukee, and by w. E. Main OF
Madison. Neal Brown was in the
assembly chamber during the election.
He was treated with an ovation when
he entered the hail. cheers and ap-
plause which had begun on the demo-
Gil of q
participated in also by the republi-
cans.
The main feature of the session was
Of course the presence of Mr.. Spooner
who was called to the assembly cham
Der shortly after the result of the bal
lots in both houses was announced.
The senator responded with 20
minute address. The assembly cham
Der was decorated in honor of the oc-
casion with flags neatly draped and
plants, while large punches of roses
nearly hid the speakers desk.
At the reception which followed the
session there was a general hand shak-
ing with Senator Spooner. Gov. La Fol
lette was among those to extend his
hand, but he did not say a word But
there was something doing when Neal
Brown shook hands with the reelected
senator. No sooner had Brown ex-
tended his hand when Spooner de-
clared: Il am sorry, Brown. You
made good, hard fight"
To this Brown answered:
We'll, your elected and I'll congrat-
ulate you anyway"
The committee which notified Sena-
tor SpOoner of his election and escort
ed him to the assembly chamber after
his election, consisted of Senator Stout
and Assemblymen Ray and Frear
Lieut.-Gov. Davidson presided and in
troduced Senator Spooner.
Senator Spooner in his speech made
no allusiOn to state issues, but eX-
pressed his thanks earnestly. "The
only debt which, dying know that l
can not pay" he said lis the debt
which I owe to the republican party OF
the state of Wisconsin, for the honors
which it has showered upon me; for
the opportunities it has afforded me
for public service in exalted positions:
for the unreserved confidence which
it has given me, and the steadfastness
with which, through good report and
through evil report, it has maintained
that confidence, and not least that it
has never required of me that I as
sumo the attitude of self-seeker. Gap
plause.)"
''My senate record for the term
soon to end is quite made up. 1 can
not change it.. am not satisfied with it.
wish that had been able to do
more and better service for the ad-
vancement of the public will. OF
course, I cannot assert that l have
always been right in my judgment,
but hope I may say without Justly
subjecting myself to the charge of
self-vaunting that l have always en-
deavored to do right, I have no
client but the people, no desire but
to conserve their interests, no ambi-
ton but to earn and thereby win their
added confidence and respect"
The only hint bearing on his old
letter of withdrawal was: "The will
of the republican party of Wisconsin"
A warm eulogy of the republican party
was pronounced. Adding:
THE years which have passed
since by your authority I took a seat
| in the senate Of the United States
have been crowded with great events
; and wonderful national development
and progress. Our industrial and