Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1907-01-17
GOVERNORS MESSAGE is HEARD
Resistance to Some Of His Rec
concentrations by the Leg
islators Probable.
Two Cent Fare on Railroads Looks
Like II Sure Go-Colored Man
Represents WeaItbiest
District Of State.

| BhuDatlou, inc introduction OF IOuT
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
today 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 tho 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 well
met this time and that the good feel
| Ing which has followed bids well 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
workers who profess at least to be-
lleve that they never regarded his cleo
ton rs 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
Du yi1unn Iinittn,unt
nor and the Free Press, led the public
generally to believe that the popular
young member from Marnette 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 II 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 LaFollettc IL responsible.
This may be partial explanation.
but people have become so accustomed
to surprises from LaFollette that when
new political wonder occurs IL has
come to be second nature to ascribe it
TO him.
Influence of LaFoliette.
IL cannot DO doubted that powerful
factor In Ekern's favor was the fact
that he stood ms the representative of
the genuine LnFollette spirit and ns
LaFollette has so overwhelmingly had
tho assembly with him in past sessions
IN ghniil1 mt hn on 40 t,
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 wns himself the general;
managed the details; lined up the mem
bers, and II was not until he took the
elevator TO 40 to the caucus that he
said confidently: 81 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 SEES
sions during which he has served
Ekrcn Is fine type Of the western
young man In politics. He Is of Nor
wcglan descent, "a years old, and halls
from the pine lands of the north.
Ekcrn's First Omce. -
dozen years ago he came down to
the university n dihdent country boy
with many provincial handicaps to
work of. 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 Leuroot 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
20 to the bottom OF things and the
other members are willing usually 10
accept their conclusions. Ekcrn was
one OF these men two wears ago and by
reason of his excellent work and his
fearless espousnl of the measures 10
which he and his chief were commit.
ted, he became conspicuous and the
logical candidate of the radical wing
OF the party ut this time,
The Governors Message.
Governor DnvidSon'> message Is
conceded on all sides 20 be an abb,
state paper. The advanced ground
taken by him, especially ms regards
municipal ownership and public serv.
ice corporations, was surprise "a
many, even among his supporters, hut
few murmurS of discomfort are vet
heard. The most radical recommends.
ton is that all franchises of corpora.
tons he made 10 expire In 1890. The
will be met with strong opposition no