Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1911-03-29
RUSHING WORK
IN LEGISLATURE
Wisconsin SoI0ns Plan to Ex-
pedite Business.
LIVELY DEBATE IN ASSEMBLY
Henry S. cochems Clashes with At
torney 7. c. Richmond Over the
Bill to Wipe Out the Sa-
looms in Madison.

-Four distinct features of the plat
form of the Progressive Republican
party of this state are now squarely
before the Wisconsin legislatures the
good roads bill and the workmen' S
compensation act in the senate, and
the corrupt pratices act and the
second choice idea-known as the
MARY Ann" bili-at the primary in
the assembly. Because legislation was
/ progressing slowly and because both
branches Of the legislature we're de-
/ voting too much time to comparatively
/ uuimportant matters, Governor Nc
Govern called a conference Of the Re
publican leaders in the senate and the
assembly. AS a result Of that confer
| ence a hurry up" policy was adopted,
and in another two weeks practically
every important piece Of legislation 70
/ be acted upon at this session will
! have been introduced in either the
! houses in the form of bills
| Part lar interest centers in the
corrupt practices act because It is
| aimed to give to Wisconsin a new and
/ cleaner spirit in politics. The nub Of
the proposed corrupt practices act as
| framed by the assembly committee on
elections is the disqualification fea-
ture Under this provision any can
didate for public Office who shall be
found guilty of violating the corrupt
practices act shall be disqualified from
serving.
The special committee on work
mems compensation and Industrial in
surance reported to the senate its
bill recommending the adoption Ct
eighteen amendments, as introduced
The most important Of these pro
vides that the defense Of negligence Of
fellow servants shall not be taken
from the employer Of less than four
persons.
Another amendment provides that
an employee of a contractor on public
work shall not be considered an en-
ploye of the state or the municipal
~ for which work IS done The third
amendment provides that nonresident
aliens shall be considered dependents,
A claim for compensation under the
bill shall be entitled to preference
over other debts of the employer. ex-
cept in cases of a lien or judgement
entered
The bill is to go into effect July 1,
1911. It will come up for considera-
ton early next week and will be push
ed to a vote as soon as possible. II
the bin becomes law friendly suit
will be started early TO have the Su-
preme court pass on the subject.
!. = :.
The assembly hall rang with brill
liant debate when a public hearing
was held on the bill to wipe out all
saloons in Madison because the
presence Of the University of Wiscon-
sin After both sides of the question
had been discussed By Madison clergy,
university professors. members of Wis
consin faculty and prominent attor.
ncys for the bill. and liberal think
ers" on the other side. Henry Coch-
ems of Milwaukee. a former WILSON,
sin football star and one of the most
brilliant debaters ever graduated from
Wisconsin, clashed with Attorney r
c. Richmond. one OF WiscousIn's early
graduates. Mr. COChcms said that the
professors OF today are attempting to
handle the university boys like ho,
house plants or like q Flower that Is
too frail to stand alone lie pointed
to Germany. where the great masses
of people drink beer moderately. as
a leading nation of the world, and M
challenged Mr. Richmond TO show
where The people the Muhammpdaus
that for many generations had
pJaetjced his theory, had contributed
anything substa tial 10 tGe progress
of the world Mr. Cuchems said hat
people cannot be made good or bad
by LEGISLATION and he resented the
inference that all OF The young men
at the University OF Wisconsin are
becoming habitual druukards simply
because among that great body are to
be found q few fools" The CALLER
les were filled with students present
TO show their interest In the bill 20
make Madison dry. An attempt was
made to laugh Mr.. COchems into sill
ence.
Turning to the galleries. in a dram
attic sort Of way -he said in a quiet,
earnest tone that could be heard all
over the great room:
Il have addressed audiences all over
the land: | have addressed lumber
camps where the subject of appointing
guardians for men was not the topic
of the evening, and I have on many
occasions addressed my ALMA mater,
bat this is the first time in my life
that speaker has had TO ask that l
being given a fair hearing,
After thas one could have heard
pin drop. aud the speaker was accord
ed courteous treatment.
Mr. Cocbems. among other things.
charged that through The en.husi
/ assn Of lot of university students
the aod-saloon people Of the state
were Attempting TO sUuggle through
/ the legislature measures which meant
I prohibition He charged that the anti
saloon people were not putting tho
STA7y MS Quo f',7r,. ar. Tn sr,o