The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1905-02-03


are glad to have the. governor go TO
Washington for the future it opens for
themselves And the senators have
been brought nearer together by rea-
son Of recent events. 1t was mys-
terry to many why hardy stalwarts
Governor LaFollette for the senate.
but other legislators who wished to do
1t and yet dislked, the imputation Of
band wagon are said to be grateful
that they themselves were not made
conspicuous, but that practically the
whole Republican forces gave the
honor to Governor LaFollette.
Happier Days Coming.
There is not much more chance for
friction between governor and senate.
at least it is believed the executive
will not seek ii. and the dispositions on
the part Of the opposition press is to
let the governor alone. There is Il
group OF earnest men in the senate.
men of both factions. who believe tha t
measures. not men. should engage
enact some useful laws along the lines
familiar to our people. Not that hui
man nature will not assert itself. The
primary election law may be amended
to exempt county school superju-
tendents. but the talk of trimming 1t
further to make it more workable will
likely be resisted by it's opponents on
the theory that the people wanted it.
now let them take it in full measure.
So with his mortgage taxation meas
ure. which Governor LaFOllette
wishes now repealed. The present
effect Of the nOn-enfOrced law is about
what opponents Of credit taxation say
should be the right condition-and
there will be opposition to repeal. AS
for proper corporation restrictions, the
administration forces will find men in
the opposition to back them up and
veal progress may be expected. We
shall hear less of ''stalwart" and half
breed from now on. The governor
has put his enemies under his feet, at
the same time shelving his terrific per-
sOnality to great extent as factor
in Wisconsin, politics. and we shall
have happier days. There are some
ambitious men in his. camp, men with
futures no doubt. but all agree there is
no Elisha to take on the mantcl Of
Elijah And being in Washington
larger part of the time including
legislature sessions, a United States
senator cannot also run Wisconsin
affairs, if he wished. And it is doubt
full if now he wishes to. Corporation
regulation is national theme now
and Governor LaFOllette can get into
it as deeply as he wishes along with
Theodore Roosevelt.
The Socialists.
The four Socialists in the assembly
and the senator of that faith purpose
to be factors in this session, at least
on lines of agitation. Their choice for
United States senator was Victor Ber-
ger. the Milwaukee editor. who makes
it 50 hot for Mr. GOmpers because he
dimes with capitalists of the Civic
Federation, the organization which
tries to get together" capital and
labor A sweeping bill came from
the Socialists the other day. Al! pres
ent franchises to semi-public corpora
tons shall be declared null and void
Two years are given to existing cor.
porations TO dispose of their property
or to seek new franchises under the
proposed law. New franchises are to
be granted only upon an affirmative
nf no Tn
tend for longer period than five
years when the people should vote
again Another bill fixes the price OF
telephone rentals ranging from 81 A
month TO II cents according to size of
c1ty. etc.
The Liquor Question.
Bills restricting the liquor traffic do
not get far i'm this state, though this
winter with SO strong a contingent
from the smaller communities, bills
may have better chance. Anyway
one such measure provides for ward
OptiOn"-a plan of reform which is
said TO work we'll in Ohio and else
where. Ten per cent OF the voters OF
a ward may call special election and
decide whether their home district
shall be wet or dry" II is rea-
sonable system. though there is al
ways some one to make the point that
the citizens of one ward have no right
to saddle their saloons on some Door
mans ward. where the reform cannot
be carried.
The New Capitol.
There are all sorts Of rumors afIont
At a time like this. Oshkosh is re-
ported eager TO be the new capital city.
and the visitors growl about the hotels
and say it the citizens are not en-
terprising enough to patch up the
streets about the Capitol Park. they
don't deserve $780, 900 capitol build
ing. 1t is unlikely, however. that the
capital will be,moved. Theepfesent ad-
ministration people evidently propose
to keep the matter df the new capitol
IN their hands, Cor Speaker Lenrcot is
made member of the committee to
, receive appropriation and other bills