Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1913-01-15

II
given an opportunity to testify.
1t is understood that the governor
desired to dismiss the insurance COM
missioner for the reason that, in his
Judgment, Mr. Ekern had to be dis
missed before the legislature met or
he could not be removed from office
except by impeachment proceedings,
With the legislature controlled by the
La Toilette forces, it was pointed out
that impeachment proceedings would
not be likely to get far
Fight for Control.
The McGovern- Ekern incident has
brought to a head all of the bitterness
incident to any fSctional fight. The
feeling is strong that Governor Nc
Govern is now openly fighting Senator
La Toilette for control of the Repub-
lican party machinery in this state.
1t is said by those who advance this
theory that the dismissal of Ekern is
but one step in that direction.
To close students of politics in Wis
consin the clash between the govern
or and the insurance commissioner
was inevitable because of the personal
strength of Ekern, who is close to
La Toilette and is already being men
toned as a candidate for United States
senator. Friends of Governor Nc
Govern, however, contend that the eX-
ecutive merely performed his duty.
They declare that when the office of
pointive by the governor instead Of
elective by the people it was done so
on the ground that the position re-
quired expert ability and for that rea-
son should be taken out of politics.
In order to accomplish this result,
they say that the Office was made ap-
pointive, with certain restrictions in
the law making it clear that the COM
missioner should not NEEDLE in poll
tics. They admit that Mr.. Ekern has
made a record for constructive admin
istration since he took charge, but
politically. Ekern was appointed by
Governor McGovern.
Complaint Against Ekern.
The formal complaint served on In
surance Commissioner Ekern and up
on which the hearing was held, was
signed by Harry Curran Wilbur, of the
executive Office. 1t was as follows:
Harry Curran Wilbur, being first
duly sworn, deposes and says that he
is now and at all times hereinafter
mentioned was a resident electOr of
the city and county of Milwaukee,
Wis.,, that he is personally asquaint
ed with Herman L. Ekern ard that
at all times since the Goth day of June,
1911, the said Herman L. Ekern was
and still is commissioner of insurance
of the state of Wisconsin.
"Deponent further says upon infor-
nation and belief and charges the fact
to be that the said Herman L. Ekern
is guilty of duty as such commission
er of insurance in this, to wit:
''That on and between the 1st day
of January, 1913, and the 7th day of
January, 1918, both inclusive, at the
city of Madison, Dane county, the
said Herman L. Ekern did serve on
and under the political committee and
as manager of the political campaign
of one L. L. Johnson. who was then
and there a candidate for the office of
speaker of the assembly of the state
OF Wisconsin, contrary to the provi-
sions of section 1867 OF the statutes"
First Surprise of Session.
The elections of Merlin Hull of
Black River Falls as speaker of the
assembly was the first surprise Of the
session. Mar. Hull was made the choice
of the Republican caucus and was
elected speaker of the assembly
through the support of the La Toilette
men, although before the caucus L. L.
Johnson was considered the leading
La Toilette candidate, and Ray Nye,
Superior, the leading McGovern candi-
date, both McGovern and La Toilette
forces declaring that Nye was ''pro-
gressive." The support of Insurance
Commissioner Ekern for Mr.. Johnson
and the subsequent clash between
Govern McGovern and Mr.. Ekern is
believed to have brought about the
selection of Mr.. Hull
Governor McGovern at once said
that the election of Hull was salts
factory to him He said that he ask
ed members of the assembly to sup
port Hull. The La Toilette leaders
said that they. too, were satisfied with
the election of the Black River Falls
man.
Assemblyman Hull was an active
member Of the lower house two years
ago, and was especially active during
the special session of the legislature
which was called to restore the city
of Black River Falls following the
flood. In the last regular session he
took a stand against the saloon in
terests of the state, and opposed some
of the larger appropriations for the
state university. Before the caucus
vote it was predicted that his stand
in these matters made impossible his
selection as SPEAKER of the assembly.
a position which carries with it much