River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1913-04-24
VICE CRUSADE
IN WISCONSIN
Linley's Bill for the Purpose
Advanced by Senate.
CLEVER LOBBYISTS AT WORK

Measures May Be Defeated-inter-
esting Hearing on the Minimum
Wage Bill-State Oil Inspector.
Madison, Wis, April 22.-(Special)
When Senator Linley of Superior
introduced a bill providing for an in
vestigation by a state commission of
white slave conditions in Wisconsin
no one paid any particular attention
to the measure. The attitude of the
legislature, however, has changed,
and the bill not only received a favor
able recommendation at the hands of
the joint committee on finance, but it
has been advanced to third reading
in the upper house. Friends of the
movement for a vice crusade feel con-
fident that the Linley bill will receive
big vote in the senate, and they see
no reason to feel alarmed over it's
chances in the assembly. The meas
ure carries an appropriation of $780,
600, and also provides that the
vice commission shall have print
ed 10000 copies of it's findings for
distribution and publication. Many
of the best known women in Wiscon-
sin spoke for the measure at a re-
cent public hearing.
Progressive Legislation in Peril
Progressive leaders of the legisla-
ture, as suggested in this column of
a week ago, are recognizing the fact
that the enactment of progressive leg
islation at this session is endangered
by lack Of organization in the house
and by reason of the fact that out.
side forces have been particularly ac-
tive and apparently with good results.
One Of the best known men in the
house, who does not desire to have
his name used, said that clever lobby
lists have arranged trades by which
certain large measures may be defeat
ed. The chief and most powerful of
cries. He declared that certain uni
versity interests were in a combina-
ton with the liquor interests and
each would be found protecting the
other. That his views are not with
out foundation is amply proven by
votes on bills relating to liquor in
terests and the university
Something is wrong" he said.
Special interests have apparently en-
gineered mastery combination.
would not be surprised if no progress
sive legislation went through of a
n a tn io1 in
terest of consequence. The lobbyists
seemed to have pulled off something
big, and | am not surprised, for ! have
seldom seen so many clever agents
about the halls of the capitol. The
big directing power seems to be the
| brewing interests and now that the
security of the liquor traffic has been
established the liquor men of the as
sembly may turn in to defeat all
progressive legislation of any conse-
quence to the people of the state. Of
course, legislation which will not
materially injure any special inter
ests, such as mothers pension, will
probably be allowed to go through. |
sincerely hope that / am mistaken,
but | cannot understand the position
certain members have taken of late"
Defeat of Dry Zone Bill.
If there existed in any part of the
state a serious thought that this legis-
lature is likely to enact any import
ant legislation to bring about further
control of the liquor traffic it must
have been thoroughly dispelled by
events in the assembly during the
past week. Earlier in the session,
perhaps, there were indications that
the legislature might pass some i'm
rortant laws on this subject, but it
is now a matter of record, telling it's
own story, that the legislature is not
in the least degree disposed to med
die with this question.
The best fighting strength of the
anti-liquor forces worked for a pass.
age of a five mile dry zone bill for
Madison, the theory being that sa-
looms situated in the university sec.
ton of the city afford a poor setting
for an institution in which the state
is spending great sums of money. The
dry zone bill came up in the assembly
during the week and was fairly
buried beneath a vote of 72 to %.
The assembly on the same day en-
crossed what is known as the saloon
divorce bill, measure which is of
greater interest to men dealing in the
liquor traffic than it is to the general
public. This bill provides that the
brewers must go out of the saloon
keeping business, it being charged
that by reason of their interest in
saloons all over the state the brewers
have built and are maintaining bust
ness monopoly. The engrossment of
this measure is not to the pleasing
Of the big brewing interests, and a
motion has already been made in the
assembly to reconsider the vote by
which the bill was advanced. It
would not be surprising if the assem-
bly, changed its position on this meas
ure. If the bill is passed in the low
er house it is certain that a bitter
fight against it will be waged in the
senate.
Hearing on Minimum Wage Bill.
One of the decidedly interesting
events in the Wisconsin capitol was
the appearance at public hearing Of
Father John A. Ryan of ST Paul and
Miss Mary E. Mcdowell of the univer-
sity settlement of Chicago for the
Mahon bill providing for minimum