Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1905-12-12

IT turns out as many expected but
not as Governor LaFollette's enemies
thought. The extra session of the
legislature was called not that Governor
LaFollette might hand in his resigna-
ton of U. S. senator but to accept the
same. There were laws passed at the
last biennial session which needed
amending, viz: To Provide for the
Erection of Capitol Building, Rail
road Rate Commission Law, Railroad
Taxes, Primary Election Law; Fish
ways, Bridges. Grain and Warehouse
Commission. The governor also rec
commended the inv estigation of public
service corporations and insurance
companies. In closing his message the
governor said in reference to accepting
the election of U. S. senator.
Upon the 18th day of January last
you elected me the representative OF
Wisconsin in the United States SEN
ate. | was then and while | live /
shall continue to be profoundly CRATE
full for the great honor which you con-
ferred upon me, but certain fixed OBJ
legations bound me to continue as gov
ernor Laws involving millions of
dollars were being challenged in the
courts and legislation vital to the state
was pending l could not in good con-
science offer more than a qualified &C
1.-THE close of the session found the
litigation undecided and the new laws
untried. Adverse decisions in the cir
cult court might call promptly for
curative legislation, and the admins
tration of the new laws might disclose
defects requiring immediate remedies.
The railways interests and those repre-
senting them were not only obstruct-
ing the collection of taxes but seek
ing to discredit the new legislation.
Every reason made it plain duty to
await the circuit court decisions and
the contest over the new laws.
Time has entirely justified this
course. The attitude of the railroads
in contesting every assessment of tax
es as soon as made, and with
holding from the state of their taxes
under the new law, the construction
which notifications of this law seemed
to demand, the amendments needed for
the better administration of the rail-
way rate law, the amendments of the
primary election law, and the other
important matters for your consider
alton are ali required to round the
work of the last and preceding SEES
sions of the legislature in advancing
this great reform movement.
THE contest for representative gov
eminent in Wisconsin is not ended.
To protect and preserve all that has
been gained by this prOtracted struggle
will require the combined efforts and
the continued vigilance of the patriotic
citizenship of the state.
1--WE have another responsibility in
the influence which this state exer-
cises upon the country at large. We
cannot halt nor turn back without
bringing disaster upon our state and
discouraging all progress along these
lines in other states.
ITO Wisconsin belongs the high
privilege and great responsibility of
proving to sister states of the nation
that these policies adopted and the
principles enacted into law are not
transitOry, but are wrought into the
very foundations of our governments
and are not to be destroyed, during
this special session at least.
"At its close | shall transmit to you my
resignation as governor and accept
senator. / shall regard it as my privi-
lege and duty to continue active per-
sonal participation in contest involving
the principle of representative govern
ment in this state.
I'm this commonwealth no Office or
no honor could tempt me to forego the
right to work aggressively in this field
where the best of my life has been spent
and where / shall ever feel that my first
and last obligation rest"