The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1908-12-03
Figures Being Made on Vote Of
State Senators on Test on
important Question
FIGHT THE SALOON POWER
Members Of the Legislature Will All be
Forced to Vote on County Option
Bill at the Coming Session
Result is in Doubt


ton Of county option is taking in this
state, both the supporters and oppo-
nents of law Of this character on the
excise question are taking a great deal
Of interest in the vote which is like
ly on a. county option bill in the leg
islature.
Both sides are undoubtedly sounding
members Of both houses on their prob
able vote on the question, and before
the final roll call is taken it is likely
that great deal of pressure will be
exerted on members both ways on
the question.
The opponents Of county option
claim that they will defeat a bill on
the subject in both houses Of the leg
islature and claim that at least eight
cen and possibly twenty senators will
vote against county option bill, while
they declare the majority against
county option in the lower house will
be very large indeed.
On the other hand, the friends of
the county option bill in the upper
house are confdant of majority
although they admit it is likely
the measure will never get by the as
sembly.
With q victory for the bill in the up
per house they, however, say they
viii bring the attention of the public
to the question and be in better shape
to make a fight for the passage Of the
law two years hence.
On the other hand the opponents Of
county option say the decisive defeat
they will give the bill in both houses
will show distinctly the people of
Wisconsin do not desire county option.
Talks with the friends and oppo-
nents Of county option show that each
side is counting on at least fourteen
senators whom they claim are certain
to go on record on their side of the
question.
Thus the opponents of county option
claim the following senators will sure
ly vote against bill:
Senators Randolph, Owen, Husting,
Kleczka, Fairchild, Page, Lakewood,
Bodenstaab, Gaylord, Lockney, Burke,
Lehr, Bishop, Wright-14.
The friends of county option are
counting on:
senators-Bird, Brazeau, Barker,
Morris, Stout, Browne, Fridd, Marsh,
Blaine, Sanborn, Martin, Pierson,
James, Donald-14.
This leaves Senators Whitehead,
Hudnall, Thomas, Lyons and Krumrey
in the doubtful column. Of these SEN
ators there is no doubt the anti-county
option people believe they will have
the support Of Senators Whitehead,
Hudnall, Lyons and Krumrey, and that
they hope for the support Of Senator
Thomas.
On the other hand, the friends Of
county option believe that at least Sen
ators Whitehead, Lyons, Hudnall and
Thomas Will be with them, while they
claim also to hope for the support Of
Senator Bishop, whom the anti-county
option people claim is certain to vote
against a county option bill. The anti
county option people also seem to
think that before the contest is ended
they will have the support Of Senator
Krumrey.
These figures, however, go to show
that the fight may be expected to be
close in the senate and one vote may
decide the contest either way.
In the assembly there has been less
figuring down to single votes OF both
sides, but the anti-county option PEG
pie claim that at least sixty four votes
in that house will be against county
option. This is denied by the support
ers of county option, who say that at
the outside there will not be over
lfty-fve votes in the assembly against
county option.
So great is the interest in the ques-
ton that it is safe to say that every
vote will be called for in both houses
on the question and if there is not a
full roll call present when the votes
are taken, calls Of the house are likely
to result. There is no doubt many of
the state senators hoped this county OPP
tion would be settled in the assembly
and the senate would escape a vote on
the question. The announcement, how
ever, of Senator Barker that he will
introduce a county option bill in the
senate leaves no doubt the upper house
will also have to vote On the question.
ATTENTION c. A. r.