Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1910-06-15
DEMAND Written Pledges From
the Candidates.
HAVE DEFEATED REFORM BILLS
Maintain Big and Expensive Lobby AZ
Madison TO Defeat County op-
tim and Do Some Log
Rolling.
BY J. EMORY STREET.

How long and how hard was the fight
which freed Wisconsin from railroad
domination. is still fresh in the minds
OF the people.
That the fight resulted in complete
victory for the people is evidenced by
the fact that the railroads no longer
maintain a lobby at Madison when the
legislature is in session. and their hand
Is no longer seen in WiseonIin poll
tics
And It is better so. Even the rail-
roads admit this.
However. Wisconsin Is not yet free
from the domination OF large interests
In politics. The most profound men,
ace now confronting the people OF Wig
cnnsin is the domination of brewers in
politics. Ia their boldest days the rail-
roads never dared TO demand a writ
ten pledge Of the candidate for the
legislature. But the brewers have
boldly adopted this plan and through
an organization which poses as the
Personal Liberty League. they have
demanded written pledge OF every
candidate for the legislature. They
have not been content 10 stop at this.
They have attempted to secure SINH.
pledges from candidates for all Offices
from coroner to United States sena-
tor.
This was particularly true In the
"a - f., IL,
iattve session that followed, the brew
cry lobby was particularly obnox.
i0us It's registered lobbyists and a bust
OF assistant lobbyists who were not
registered spent many thousands Of dol.
lars In Madison during the session OF
1909
They controlled absolutely about
sixteen members OF the legislature.
Through the pressure they were able
10 bring to bear, they controlled still
othe.s And by system of log roll
ing they we're able to defeat the county
option law In the senate.
rhe influence OF the lobby. however.
did not end with the defeat OF the
county option law. The brewery log.
rolling bee resulted IN the defeat of
the Milw ankee home rule bills and the
hinder Irvine hill. II Is not necessary
al this time TO consider The merits of
either the Milwaukee home rule bill
or the binder Irvine bill. In this con-
neetion II ia oniy important that the
brewery hbbY WAS tending TO other
things thnn their awu business.
The brewery lobby has behaved Just
like ibe lobby at other great Interests.
u not only has attempted TO thwart
che will Of The people IN regard to leg.
islatiou regulating the liquor traffic.
hut II also has interteTed with other
legislation. In other words. brewery
domination has taken The place OF rail-
'osd domination.
Someone may ask. how can county
option relieve this situation? The an
swer Is plain: County option takes the
liquor question out OF state politics
and makes It purely a county ques.
iion This has heen the experience of
the states which have adopted county
option as q solution OF the liquor prob
lem
Reports from various parts OF Wis
cousin and even from Milwaukee In
dictate that many people who believe
In wide degree OF personal liberty
strongly resent the presence OF the
breweries In Wisconsin politics. Re
ports indicate that practically all OF
those who object 10 brewery domina-
ton viii support the county option
movement In this state this fall.
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