The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1915-03-12


Debate, but Is Finally Slaughtered
With Others-Measure to Ask Aid
of Professor Gilmore in Drafting
Waterpower Bill Threshed Out and
Substitute Adopted.
Madison, Wis, (SpeciaD The de-
sire to express the sentiment of the
state in regard to the European war
manifested itself early in the session
of the legislature and has continued
TO bob up from time to time. Various
Joint resolutions have been offered
which touched upon some phase of the
great conflict in Europe. AS these
resolutions found their way to place
OH the senate calendar, they were
laid over or returned TO some commit
tee, the senate always appearing timid
to kill them or to permit them to
reach a vote.
1t became question of time when
the upper house would have to tackle
the job of passing on "war" resolu-
items, so the members of the senate
this week buckled into the task, and
established state policy of neutrality
by killing on four war resolutions,
which brought out considerable de-
bate that was spirited and interesting.
The resolutions killed were:
BY Senator Bosshard- Memorable
ing congress to prevent the shipment
Of arms and cOntraband Of war to
Europe.
By Senator Bray-Extending to
President Wilson the sympathy and
support of the people of this state in
these trying days.
By Assemblyman Carl HansOn-Ask-
ing congress to take steps to speed
the day of peace in Europe.
BY Assemblyman Vint-Asking con-
gross to prevent the shipment of arms,
ETC., to the European war zone
Interesting Debate on Bosshard Bill.
Senator Bosshard is the La Toilette
leader in the upper house, and be-
cause of this fact, the debate on his
resolution was of much interest
my resolution" said Senator Boss
hard, "is to prevent the shipment of
arms and contraband of war to the
nations of Europe now engaged in
great conflict I feel this state and
every civilized state may properly ex-
press its sentiment in matter of this
kind. 1t is proper that every Ameri-
can citizen to go on record in a mat
ter which in some way may speed the
day of peace
Senator BOsshard said that he de-
sired TO remain neutral, but added
that this country is shipping NUM-
tons of war and foOdstuffs for the
use OF men in the allied army. He re-
ferred to Senator r. NJ La Follette's
peace resolution offered in congress.
and quoted from a speech delivered
by Governor e. L. Phillip in La
Crosse in which the chief executive of
Wisconsin said that it is the moral
duty of this nation to cease the ship
ment of munitions of war to the
Bray Offers Substitute.
Senator Bray created decided stir
when he offered a substitute for the
Bosshard resolution. Speaking for his
resolution, Senator Bray said the ship,
nent of arms and foodstuffs by this
country is working to the disadvan-
tage of Germany. Senator Bray insist
&c that he felt no personal prejudice
i'll the matter and that he viewed the
war situation from the angle of a
plain American citizen. His substi-
tuGe was lengthy in its working. and
brought spirited speech from Sena-
tor BOsshard, who said that Senator
Bray was trying to be fastidious. "The
Bray resolution is an insult" he said.
The personal clash had just about
reached climax, when Senator
Burke of Green Bay took the floor and
gave the senate little lecture in his
tory. He said that the supply of arms
in the United States at this time
shows a small increase over the SUP.
ply available when the rebellion
broke out, and arms were shipped in
by the nations of Europe 81 think it
unwise," he said, ito take a stand
which may bring the subject back
home to u.s."
Senator Ackley spoke for strict
neutrality"
When the vote was taken on the
Bray substitute, Senator Bray was the
only one who voted for it.
The Bosshard resolution was then
killed by vote of II to Is.
Following the vote on the Bray
resolution, the Hansen and Vint res.
olutions were indefinitely postponed.
The stand of the senate in the field
day on the European war probably set
ties the fate of any more "war" resolu-
lions which may find their way into
the legislature