Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1903-02-09

convention, that the county having a
candidate for state Office who said
if the delegation did not support the
platform his chances for nomination
would be spoiled. This statement was
answered effectively by Mr.. Frear,
who observed that the amendment
favored by Mr.. Wallrich sought to
perpetuate conditions which allowed
such clubs to be used, while the bill
as proposed by the committee would
legislate away the possibility Of such
undesirable things.
On motion of Mr. Bradford re-
cess was taken until o'clock.
Debate Renewed After Recess.
Roy C. Smoker said Wisconsin HAD
been notably free from senatorial
contests of late but that in the past
the assembly chamber had witnessed
contests for this high Office which were
of no credit to the state. This is not
a local question, he said. The people of
the state are interested and theIegisla-
ture has expressed it's approval of the
plan to vote directly for United States
senator. "When the gentleman from
ShaWano," said Mr.. Smoker, "safd
that a club had been used over him in
the last state convention he furnished
an argument sufficient in itself to con-
denim the system which he would pre-
serve"
The Ray amendment was lost by
vote of Fl ayes to 70 noes.
Torger G. Thompson of Dane county
appeared with a written speech in sup
port of an amendment changing the
time of holding the primaries. He
said that the farmers could not at
tend the primaries in September. He
said the law as it is would put all the
power of making nominations in the
hands of the cities and would practi-
cally disfranchise the rural voters.
The Thompson amendment was lost
by reclamation.
Ira Bradford's Reasons.
my constituency instructed me to
vote for a primary election law" said
Ira Bradford, "and | said l would vote
seemed to me that it would be better
to try the law to a limited extent.
But this is not a new question, it has
been discussed in every phase during
the past two years. What can be
said today is Lut repetition of what
has been said.
"The principle Of a primary election
10 ;C
pie have decided that they have said
to us through the conventions that
they are in favor of
primary election law SO fM
as am oncerned the only
thing is to give them as perfect law
as it is possible to give them. We
should look at this bill only to see
whether it is the best that we can give
to the people and to the state a pri-
mary election law better than that of
any other state in the union.
Il only wish to discuss the provi-
sions relating to the choice of the
members of the state central commit
tee and the adoption Of the platform.
believe the plan provided by the
bill would bring together men from
every division of the state and repre-
senting every interest in the state.
Where could you get a class of men
who would better represent the party
and the sentiments of the voters of
party than ne men who have been
nominated by direct vote of the
party?
''In regard to the selection of the
state central committee it must be
borne in mind that it is the duty of
this committee to work for the sue
cess of the party. The men who are
most interested in the success Of the
party are the candidates and they can
be trusted to select men who look
carefully after the interests of the
party.
"This bill may not be perfect. l
would if I could have limited the
amount which candidate can expend
to secure a nominauOn. But that
may come later in another form.
would not press it at this time. We
are only interested in securing as
good a bill as can be had to keep our
pledge to the people Of the state"
Mr.. Bradford was applauded when
he" concluded and Mr. Wallrich offered
an amendment to exempt municipal
officers in cities of the fourth class
from the operation Of law He con-
tended that in those cities it would
be impossible to get men to stand for
office in those cities if it was neces-
sary for them to get a petition to run,
as there is no salary for these offices.
He said that the measure had not
been carefully scrutinized. He claim
ed the law would increase the tax
burden which should not be put on
cities Of the fourth class.
Mr.. Frear replied that the question
was before the committee and that it
was agreed that the law requires that
the men who sign the petition shall
stand by the candidates. Now they
frequently urge man to be a candi-
date and when they put him in the
Of 70