Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1917-02-14
BADGERS SHY AT
WOMEN VOTERS
Prospect Is Poor fer Passing
Suffrage Measure.
NOVEL PLAN IS PROPOSED

Question to a Referendum of Won
en-DiVision on Liquor Issue Ap.
pears close-Legislature Upholds
President - Members Seek PAY
6oost-University Needs Carefully
Considered.
Madison, Feb. 13.-The fight for
equal suffrage in Wisconsin, always
live wire subject in this state, has de-
veloped decidedly new angle in the
legislature.
Do the women of Wis ronsin really
want equal suffrage?
Many say they do; others say they
do not. Both sides are well organized.
Both sides have learned how to play
politics. Both sides maintain lobby.
Both sides fight hard.
Senator H. R. Reinholdt, Milwaukee,
takes the position that the legislature
should remain neutral until the senti-
ment of Wisconsin women can be &C.
curately established.
To this end he has introduced a bill
to find out what the women really
want; to decide whether the majority
sentiment is for or against equal suf-
frage. His bill provides for /, referen.
dun vote in 1918, by the women Of
this state on the question of whether
they do or do not want the right Of
ballot Anti-sufrrage forces of Mil
waukee inspired the bill
At this early date in the session II
is safe to predict that if the legislature
passes any measure proposing that
women shall vote il will moi go beyond
the point raised in the Reinholdt bill
The Milwaukee senator has intro
duced another measure of much public
interest because it has a bearing on
the Evjue bill for a statewide refer
endum on prohibition. This measure
provides for the compensation of per-
sons injured or damaged by reason of
the creation of no license territory. 1t
applies to no license territory created
under local option license laws as wen
to the statewide territory which would
be established if Wisconsin is swung
into the dry column.
Liquor Vote is Close.
Legislative interest centers in the
Evjue bill A careful canvass of SEN
timent on this question reveals that
both houses are evenly divided on it.
At this time the senate and assembly
appear to be against the measure but
the tide changes from day to day, and
leaders on the wet and dry sides ad-
NIT that the vote appears to be very
close. It is likely that action on the
referendum advocated by the Madison
assemblyman will be deferred until
late in the session. Other matters may
have a bearing on the final vote,
which up to this time have not figured
in the speculation as to whether the
bill will pass or fail.
Dry leaders admit that the question
OF compensation raised by Senator
Reinholdt is one of the principal argu-
ments that they will have to meet. Op-
ponents of the measure say that pro
hibition cannot be made real prohi-
hition unless it Is backed by powerful
public sentiment. They say that while
close vote would make the state dry,
il would fail to result in real prohibit
ton, and unfortunate conditions, not
subject to regulation. would develop.
Supporters of the bill do not submit
to this line or argument. They say
that if the people vote the state dry.
no matter how slight the margin may
be. Wisconsin will be dry in fact, be.
cause there will be enough sentiment
back of the movement to bring about
the fullest enforcement of law relat-
ing to the liquor traffic.
Every line of debate under the sun
will be used in FIGHTING out the Fvjue
bill. and forces on both sides are now
busy building their fences. Petitions
are beginning to come in for and
against the Eviue measure. The first
two received come from wet territory
and asked the legislature to defeat the
bill. The dry people viii send in hun
dreds of petitions. all of which will
he read by title and filed away, the
same as petitions from the vets.
Legislature Upholds Wilson.
flnP ItG1SidAuIt HAS bFCU dA Wal al
week over the international crisis de-
veloping out of our governments
break with Germany. At the first SEES
sion of the week Assemblyman Ed
ward Nordman, Langlade county, in
troduced a resolution indorsing VIII
son and placing Wisconsin squarely
back of the President Assemblyman
F.. A. Everett. Eagle River, objected
to immediate consideration of the mat
ter because he wanted to give the
members time to think. This led TO
the impression that the legislature
might not stand back of the President.
and there was no end Of excitement
Every day the galleries were packed
bv citizens who wanted TO be on hand
when the explosion occurred. All sorts
of patriotic speeches were made, dur
which one member drew attention TO
the fact that Senator La Toilette
voted not to sustain the course of the
President.
This resulted in an outburst OF ora
tory. which was very genuine on the
part of the members and good to lis
ten to.
The United States senate has back
ed I'D the President" declared Assem-