The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1913-06-05

i
Why allow oppression and exploitation
to 60 unchecked for another year2
We have been accustomed in Wiscon-
sin to regard platform pledges as bind
ing contracts with the people. Presqn-
ably the republican members of the
legislature knew what they were doing
when they adopted the platform of last
September. They must have intended
to redeem the promises then made. If
so, let me observe that nothing has
since occurred to justify the postpone
ment of the work now before us, nor
lis there any evidence of change of
attitude upon the part of the people
who then accepted these promises at
face value. This being true, the people
have right now to ask that these
pledges be kept without delay. If this
be not done the people are very sure
to locate the blame and will hold those
who now counsel procrastination re-
sponsible for any betrayal of party
honor that may occur.
Thus far over $50 bills have been
enacted into law; but not more than a
few can fairly be said to be of gen.
eral interest and these few consist
principally of acts appropriating public
money. The rest, taken singly or col
lectively, do not justify the expense in
cident to legislative session. Do YOU
wish to go back to the people whom
for the time being you represent with
report of accomplishment so meager
as this?
1t is true summer is approaching.
Warm weather is at hand. Those who
live by farming naturally suffer heavy
loss by enforced absence from home.
But it is still only May and no mem
Der of this Legislature has ever had rea-
son to anticipate that the business of
this session might be completed during
the winter months. The legislature of
1909 continued until the middle of June;
that of 1907 until the middle of july:
that of 1905 until after the Goth of
June. The last Legislature continued
until the middle of July and made an
enviable record for legislative achieve
ment-one well worthy of emulation at
this time. Wisconsin legislators have
not been cutters. In the past farmers,
merchants and lawyers alike have stood
manfully by their guns. The fact that
many bills of Importance await final
action at the hands of this legislature
contains nothing unexpected or unusual.
There is no reason therefore why mem
bers should now go to sleep over these
bills either here or at home Your
predecessors in Office never subordinat-
ed the duty of enacting important leg
islation to the allurements of fishing,
farming or fractional politics; and you
should not think of setting the example
now.
The suggestion put forth in this .
joint resolution amounts practically to
a return to the old, discarded plan of
annual sessions. Thirty-two years ago
the requirement that the legislature
should meet annually was abolished by
constitutional amendment. This change
was the result of abundant experience
under the old plan. 1t is proposed now
to revert to the ancient practice in de-
fiance of the will of the people, thus
solemnly expressed. If any good rea-
sons can be given for this departure
they should be made public. The mo-
tives prompting such action should be
such as to bear public scrutiny. That
this resolution was introduced as rumor
goes, after much secret conference but
without open consultation with those
most directly responsible to the people
for the enactment of wise legislation
and the redemption of party pledges,
reveals something as to the motives
back of it. What further may be be-
hind this strange suggestion should now
be freely disclosed. Public opinion will
thus be intelligentiy formed; and in the
last analysis public opinion is the
spring and source of all administrations
and governments that are truly repre-
sentative.
The opportunity for high, disinterest-
ed service to the state is as great now
as it was two years ago. When the
time for adjournment comes your record
as legislative body should be equal
to that of any of your predecessors.
Your membership came here with the
necessary ability and you now possess
the experience satisfactorily to transact
all the business pending before you.
Let me counsel you not to permit such
an ill-advised suggestion as the one
contained in this joint resolution to
divert you from the proper course.
LIGHT BILL TO GOVERNOR.