The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1907-01-18
GOVERNORS MESSAGE is HEARD
Resistance to Some Of His Rec
concentrations by the Leg
islators Probable.
Two Cent Fare on Railroads Looks
Like Sure GO-COlOred Man
Represents Wealthiest
District Of State.

SanlZaIlOn, the INTRODUCTION OF TOUR
bills and the reading of the governors
message are the net results of the
first week of the legislative session of
1907. Adjournment was taken until
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 ia
brief yet the week has been a full, in.
teresting and significant one. Organ
ization is always tedious and often
a crucial process and in it's bearing
on the work Of the session often of
the greatest moment. The consensus
Of opinion is that the crisis was we'll
met this time and that the good feel
ing which has followed bids we'll for
expeditions and effective legislation.
Ekern's Election Surprise.
The election of Mr.. Ekern as
speaker was generally received with
surprise except ON the part Of his
lieve that they never regarded his cleo
ton as doubtful. The claims and 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
new political wonder occurs it has
come to be second nature to ascribe it
to him.
Influence of LaFolIette.
1t cannot be doubted that a powerful
factor in Ekern's favor was the fact
that he stood as the representative of
the genuine LaFollette spirit and as
LaFollette has so overwhelmingly had
the assembly with him in past sessions
it 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 him
self. He was himself the general;
managed the details; lined up the mem
bers, and it was not until he took the
elevator to go to the caucus that he
said confidently: Il shall be elected.
| have considered the fact that two of
my men are absent, but [ shall be
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 ses-
sions during which he has served.
Ekren is a fine type of the western
young man in politics. He is of Nor
Wegian descent, 81 years old. and halls
from the pine lands Of the north.
Ekern's First Office.
A dozen years ago he came down to
the university diffident 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
came to the legislature Two years
ago Speaker Lenroot made him chair
man of the important committee on
Judiciary. 1t is we'll known that III
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
which he and his chief were commit
ted, he became conspicuous and the
logical candidate of the radical wing
Of the party at this time.
The Governors Message.
Governor Davidson = message is
conceded on all sides - be an able
state paper. The advanced ground
taken by him, especially as regards
municipal ownership and public serv-
ice corporations, was surprise to
many, even among his supporters, but
few murmurs Of discomfort are vet
heard. The most radical recommends
ton is that all franchises of corpora
lions be made to expire in 1890 This
will he met with strong opposition no