Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1907-01-16
GOOD FEELING
AFTER ELECTION
But Choice of Ekern for
Speaker Causes Some
Surprise.
GOVERNORS MESSAGE is HEARD
Resistance to Some of His Rec,
concentrations by the Leg
islators Probable.
Two. Cent Fare on Railroads Looks
Like a Sure Go-Colored Man
Represents Wealthiest
District Of State.


ganizatiOn, the introduction of four
bills and the reading of the governors
message are the net results of the
| first week of the legislative session Of
to-day in order that the members
| might have time to digest the message
and to give Speaker Ekern opportunity
to appoint his assembly committees.
This summary OF the net results is
| brief yet the week has been full, in
terestlng and significant one. Organ
ization is always a tedious and often
a crucial process and in its bearing
on the work of the session often of
the greatest moment. The consensus
of opinion is that the crisis was well
met this time and that the good feel
ing which has followed bids well for
expeditions and effe legislation.
Ekern's Elect surprise.
The election of Mr.. Ekern as
speaker was generally received with
surprise except on the part of his
workers who profess at least to be-
lieve that they never regarded his cleo
ton as doubtful. The claims ana CON
fidence of the Leroy managers were
more widely nOised about and the
| added fact that the Marinette man was
understood to have the support of such
powerful influences as Governor
Davidson, Lieutenant Governor Con-
| nor and the Free Press, led the public
generally to believe that the popular
young member from Marinette must of
| necessity be a comparatively easy win
| ner Correspondents have been anus
| ing themselves and entertaining their
| readers all week with explanations OF
how it all happened. 1t all amounts
| to that Ekern had the most votes on
| the showdown. The most generally
accepted theory is that the fine hand
| of Senator LaFOllette is responsible.
This may be partial explanation.
But people have become so accustomed
to surprises from LaFollette that when
a new political wonder occurs it has
come to be second nature to ascribe it
TO him.
Influence of IIaFollette.
1t cannot be doubted that powerful
factor in Ekeius favor was the fact
that be stood as the representative of
the genuine LaFollette spirit and az
| LaFOllette has so overwhelmingly haG
the assembly with him in past sessions
1t should not be surprising that his I'M
| derstood wish should prevail again.
| But whatever influence the senator
might have quietly brought to bear in
| favor of his man the chief credit for
| the victory belongs to Mr.. Ekern hir.-
self He was himself the general;
n anaged the details; lined up the men,
| t1Fs, ard it was not until he took the
| elevator to go to the caucus that he
| said confidently: Il shall he elected.
| have considered the fact that two of
my men are absent but | shall he
elected without them" However, the
| best of feeling prevailed after the
smoke of battle was cleared away and
It was felt that the victor had earned
| the honor by dint of hard, conscient-
ious and brilliant work In the two SEES
slons during which he has served
Ekren is a fine type of the western
young man in politics. He is of Nor
weglan descent 81 years old. and halls
from the pine lands OF the north.
Ekern's First Office.
A dozen years ago he can down to
the university difiident country boy
with many provincial handicaps to
work off. When he graduated from
the law school he went to Whitehall,
and like so many other young gradu-
ates was elected district attorney.
serving two terms Four years ago he
care to the legislature Two years
ago Speaker Lenroot made him chair
man of the important committee on
judiciary. 1t is well known that in
all legislatures the bulk of the work
is done by about dozen men. They
go to the bottom of things and the
other members are willing usually to
accept their conclusions. Ekern was
one Of these men two years ago and by
reason of his excellent work and his
fearless. espousal of the measures to