Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1907-03-13
GOVERNOR DAVIDSON INFORMS
LEGISLATURE.
kSSEMBL YPROMPT LYAClS
Resolution offered by Ass9mb.yman
Norcross Adopted Immediately
Governor Fasors Filling Prospsc-
tive Vacancy Without Delay
Barker Bill Advanced.
Madison. March Z

officially notified the legislature o.
the resignation of 4nited States Sen
ator John c. Spooner, and of its ac-
ceptance by the executive. The COM
munication was as follows:
Il have the honor TO transmit to
you communication received nv me-
on the fifth instant from Senat tor
John c. Spooner, by which he resigns
the office of United States senator
from this state to take effect the first
day of May The letter of resigna-
ton was incorporated in the message.
There appears, continues the
governors message, ITO be no stat
ute comforting upon me specific au-
thority To accept Senator Spooner's
resignation, but in accordance with
established custom | have accepted
the same and have notified the sen
ator of such acceptance.
1T seems to have heen quite uni
formly held by the senate OF the
United States that when a senator re-
signs his seat in the senate to take
effect at a future time the legisla-
ture, in anticipation of such Nacan.
cy, and before the vacancy actuahy
occurs, may proceed to elect a senat-
or to fill the prospective vacancy in
the absence of constitutional or
statutory provision to the contrary
therefore transmit officially this
notice Of such resignation to the Id
that you may take such action there
on as the law requires.
Immediately after the communica.
tion from the executive Office had
been read to the assembly, Assembly
man Norcross introduced a joint reso-
luton, paying trlgute to the senior
senator from Wisconsin and express
ing regret at his sudden resignation
On molten OF the author of the RESI-
luton a rising vote was taken and
the resolution was adopted without a
dissenting vote, though the social
democratic members from milwaukee
and some other assemblymen, Kemp
Hebron, Hager, Harrass. Miller.
Thomas and schaure failed to vote
The resolution in full is as follows
Tribute to Spooner.
John C. Spooner, While a student
in our state university, enlisted as a
private soldier in the union army
He was honorable mustered out of
service with the rank of major, by
breyet. For two years he was the
private secretary Of the late Governor
Fairchild. In 1872 he was a member
of the assembly from st. Croix coun-
,xi,, b. !, n
: became good lawyer and enjoyed a
very lucrative practice Railroads and
municipalities were his clients.
On the 28th day of January, 1885,
at the age of AZ years and with but
very little effort on his part. he was
elected to the United States senate
He served one term, when he was sue
ceeded by the Hon. William F. Villas.
He was again elected in 1897 and
again in 1903, and is now serving his
third term. During his 16 years of
service for this state as United States
senator. he has put all other profess
s:onal business behind him and has
devoted himself exclusively to the
duties of the great Office, to which the
people of this state elected him He
was thoroughly at home on the floor
of the United States senate. He cas-
lily stood at the head of the constitu
tional lawyers in that great forum.
He has taken leading part in all
of the great debates of the last ten
years His plume has always been in
the hottest part OF the fight. He has
been honored by the confidence Of
all three of the presidents
under whom he has served They
have sought his counsel and have re
led upon his advice. As construc
tive statesman, he had no peer He
fought his opponents in oratorical bat
tie. upon the floor of the senate with
skin and courage-but when the con
test was over, he carried no bitter
ness in his heart. BY reason of this
he brought discordant factions % mu-
tual Cancellation and agreement and
this accomplished good results for the
whole republic His ideals were high
His practice was in harmony with his
ideals.
He has refused cabinet positions
and has more than once declined the
ermine of the supreme court. He was
always loyal to the principles OF the
republican party He loved his work
in the senate better than any other
work of his life. For the work he
abandoned all else For this loyal
patent self-denying service, he is
honored and respected by the people of
the whole country. Now. at the very
heigth of his justly earned fame he
has resigned this highest of all honors
that the state could give him. We
were startled upon receipt of the tele-
gram announcing his resignation. We
pause and we ask: Is the love of hon
or and fame and glory dying out of
mems hearts?
BE it resolved by the assembly,
the senate concurring, that we sin
cerely regret this surprising decision
Of our honored senator to give up the
JOY and ambition of his life and re
turn to the practice of his profes sion.
That we herewith extend to him our
hearty appreciation of the faithful
service which he has rendered to his