The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1903-04-03
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.-Well, the
senate has taken action on the primary
election bill and now the state has the
situation before it. On the one hand,
the assembly has passed practically a
Stevens bill over again, as the gov
ernor wants it-applying the direct
vote of citizens without the interposi-
ton of caucus and delegates) to the
making of all nominations from gov
ernOr of the state to Waru alderman.
The senate, on the other hand, has
passed identicalIy 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,
a referendum in the fall election of
1904 to decide whether the balance Of
the system domination to the legisla-
ture, to congress and state officials
shall also go 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 it's 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. It is in the larger areas that the
system becomes complicated, eXpen-
Siye, and, it is charged, comforting the
victory on the most diligent adver-
Users. The governor is fortunate that
the people would test the direct vote
from it's workings in city and county
contests, where the voters know the
petitioners for office and can intelli-
gently act in making choices. l be-
lieve that the new system will please
voters, will make them feel that by
the abolition of delegates and conyen-
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 tho Factions Take It.
The senate proposition is a cOmDTO-
mise that was suggested early in the
session. The stalWarts say it is Il 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 it's 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
repetition of action two years ago.
They head it up in their newspapers
as "Treachery," etc, and call roundly
for the blood Of state senators who re-
fused to pass the assembly bill, which
would saddle the full system on the
state at once.
, The assembly takes up the senates
amendment &c day; there will be a con
ference, ana it is believed no agree
ment. Some maintain that the gov
ernor should accept the senate's YER
sion, reasoning thus:
at is not all he wants-it is not as
of wide application, but it is a ire
mendous achievement, and a fruitage
of five years of agitation and effort
which, if not garnered now at the
height of Governor LaFOllette'S pres
tige and influence, will be longer de-
layed and perhaps forever lost
What public good has the governor
to achieve by rejecting this offer OF
the senate? If it is primary election
system he ceeks with diNnterested
heart, here it is-a notable beginning
with the full system if it works we'll
and the people want it. If it works
badly and the people do not want it,
surely Governoc LaF'ollette will not
insist upon retention Of the system"
h. Special Session Talk.
1t is not unlikely we shall have a
special session on this matter. Even
if it accomplished nothing it would be
a graphic picture of Governor LaFol-
lette trying to wrench something from
a refractory senate, and this would
make superb opening to third cam
paign in the eyes Of many <.f.
A feature of last week was the COM
EIadley of Yale. He was given a
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 Hadley has been a prodigy
from youth up. His father was Greek
professor at Yale. The son is At
years old, and his versatile scholarship
ranges from Greek to political econ
omy, from logic and divinity to golf
and witty stories. His big address at
Madison was written on the train
coming from Milwaukee, though the
thought had been in his mind since
leaving New Haven. He practically
committed to memory an outline of
about fifty points, but no scrap of
paper was used in the delivery
President Roosevelt Coming. g..
We are to have President Roose-