The Watertown news. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1917-1919, 1917-08-08
CALL SPECIAL SESSION
OF LEGISLATURE THIS FALL

| Ut IEUsOLHIUnE lnlO Tall
Gov. Philip on Tuesday told the
executive committee of the Wisconsin
Anti-Saloon league that he would call
an extra session Of the Wisconsin
| legislature some time next fall and
submit to it the question of Sunday
closing of saloons, together with other
matters relating to the liquor bust
ness. The governor said that he would
probably submit other matters arising
from the war, relating to state finan-
ces, drainage of land and other sub
jects, to the legislature in extra ses-
sion.
Issues Statement.
The governor issued the following
statement at the close of the confer
ence:
"On July II last / received COM
municatiOn from the Rev. Henry Col
man, secretary of the Wisconsin Anti
Saloon league requesting or rather re-
handing that 1 require all district at
torneys and sheriffs in the state to
close saloons on Sunday, and that l
summarily dismiss all such officers
who failed to do so.
Il invited the signers of that letter,
who seemed to be the executive COM
mittee or officers of the league, to at
tend conference here on August Z,
and we have discussed the subject at
length.
"The first Sunday closing law was
passed in 1920, when Wisconsin was
part of the Northwest territory. In
1S49, one year after Wisconsin became
state, the legislature of Wisconsin
adopted a similar law.
Under that law the state provided
for Sunday closing of all places of
business except those necessary and
those maintained for charity At a
subsequent date section 1854 of the
Wisconsin statutes was enacted which
forbid the sale of Intoxicating liquors
specifically On the first day of the
week.
'The old law of 1849 now is section
1895 of the Wisconsin statutes During
all these years it has been the policy
OF the state to permit the local COM
munities to decide upon the matter of
opening or closing of saloons on Sun
day. Possibly one-half of the saloons
in the state are closed on Sunday. The
other half is open. 1t may, therefore,
be said that local option has been the
settled policy Of the state.
on, oa4
mere petition of the Anti-Saloon
league. No measure of public senti-
ment has been taken since the law
was enacted, and | feel l have no
right to upset a policy in force for
years, and upon which public senti-
ment has not been measured, upon the
mere petition of this league, which,
after all, is small part of the citizen
ship of the state. n
Il said to the delegates today that !
would call special session of the leg
islature some time this fall, and that
| would submit the question of Sun
day saloon closing to the legislature
in some form, together with other
questions relating to the liquor bust
ness. do this because I want an ex-
preston Of the people on this subject.
If it is shown to be the will of the
people that the saloons be closed on
Sunday, l am perfectly willing to use
my office to bring that about The law
under which I am asked to do it now
| is so old that it can not be said that
the sentiment that passed it represent
ed the will of the people of this day."
The representatives, of the Anti
Saloon league at the conference were
the Rev. Henry w. Colman, Milwau-
kee; State Superintendent R. P. Hut
ton, Milwaukee; former Lieut.. Gov.
John Strange, Neenah; J. ]. Phoenix,
Delavan; F.. j. Yea, Stoughton; the
Rev. L. H. Keller, Milwaukee, and the
Rev. w. G.. Raddatz, Madison. J. J.
Mcdonald Of Madison, and Attorney
David Bogue Of Portage accompanied
the party to the governors office, but
did not take part in the conference.