Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1909-04-07
Madison, April /.

Madison, April 1.
The unexpected happened in the
senate last evening when the Marsh
county option bill was killed after a
debate lasting five hours. The
friends of the measure We're confident
of a majority but during he day sew
eral senators turned the trick by 60
ing over to the opposition. 1t is I'M
derstood that Senator Sanborn was
in favor of submitting the question
to a vote of the people.
The bill was made a special order
Tor 1880 o'clock Long before the
session was called to order the cham
Der was filled with spectators, among
them being a number OF women.
Before the senate took recess for
dinner, Senator Burke moved that
the bill be indefinitely postponed, but
final action on his motion was not
taken until 6:15 o'clock last evening.
In the afternoon the discussion was
continued in the assembly chamber.
AT Cos clock the senate returned
to its chamber and there was a wild
rush for down stairs by the public.
There was great Disappointment,
however, when the spectators were
not admitted to the chamber until
all the senators had been let in. Ey-
erybody was anxious to witness the
result of the vote and the little cham
Der was crowded to its doors.
Before the vote was taken. Senator
Blaine asked if the senate had adj
journed to the assembly chamber.
The minutes showed tut Senator
Pearson had made a motion to that
effect and that it was carried, The
clerk then announced the pairs and
read a letter written by Senator Nor
ris to Senator Sanborn. Senator
Morris is in Mississippi on law busI-
ness and he wrote that he does not
want it to appear that he "ducked."
Barker AssaIis Brewers.
Senator Barker opened the debate
with the quotation from Abraham
Lincoln, Let us have faith that
right makes might and in that faith
let us to the end dare to do our
duty as we understand it, He as
sailed the brewery interests and
charged them with having dominated
politics in this state for years. He
said the Marsh bill restores to the
taxpayers the right of franchise and
urged the senators % Go their duty
without fear or favor.
For years the liquor interests were
the dominant factors in the politics
of Wisconsin and the people have be-
come thoroughly disguised with
them, he said He ridiculed the ar
gument frequently set forth by the
opponents of county option that the
time is not yet ripe for a change in
Wisconsin.
The politicians have become so
intoxicated by the influence OF the
brewers that they have tried to be-
little the men who are working for
this BILL declared Senator Barker.
He argued that IS per cent OF the
taxes are paid by the rural districts
and that these taxpayers should have
a right to vote on the question
whether or not licenses shan be
that Governor Davidson failed to
give the subject of county option any
attention in his message to the legis-
lature and asked if it was an over
sight on the part of the executive.
Senator Barker took occasion TO
brewery interests which, he said, had
announced through their agents that
they are now out of politics. He said
that they had the politicians by the
throat for years and dictated plat
forms and policy. The senator made
light of the prediction of brewers
that If the county option bill is pass
ed by this legislature the state will
go democratic in two years hence.
If this is true all good democrats
should vote for the bill" declared the
speaker to the democratic members.
He maintained that the independ-
ent voters viii assert their rights and
not allow the brewers to dictate to
them. He asserted that the republi-
can party owes it to the people to
pass the bill.
In conclusion Senator Barker said
that for years the counties in the
state have been put to an awful ex-
pense on account Of the liquor traffic
and that he is at loss 10 understand
why the people have submitted TO
such gross injustice. Il faf' TO
comprehend why men oppose this
bill. he said ut only restores to
the people the right Of franchise
Taxation should not be imposed
without representation. The bill Is
one Of fairness and justice and the