Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1917-05-04
RAGUSE EXPELLED
FROM THE SENATE
Socialist Member From MilWau-
kee Unseated for Refusing
to Retract Speech.
ONLY 3 SOCIALIST NAY VOTES
Senators Take Summary Action and
PURGE the Body From Disgrace OF
DisIoyaIty-ExpeIIed Member
Says He Will Run Again.

Madison.-The state senate mas
found Frank Raguse, Milwaukee ou
cialist, representing the Eighth dlstric1
of Wisconsin, guilty of contempt, us
orderly behavior and conduct unDe-
coming a SENATOR" and, by vote OF
80 to has expelled him, the negative
voters being Senators Raguse, Arnold
and Zumach, the Socialist members
from Milwaukee.
Expulsion was based on the state
ment made by Mr.. Raguse that pa
triotism can be created only III tWu
ways: first, you must destroy people,
or. second, you must destroy proper
ty."
lust before the roll was called, Ra-
guse reiterated that his words had
been misunderstood, and that he had
no intention of committing an act OF
disloyalty
"NIy people at home do not mlsun-
derstand me- said he. "'1 want to say
before you expel me from this BODY
that when the special election is held
to fill the vacancy l am going to be re-
elected | am coming back stronger
than ever"
Resolution of Expulsion.
The resolution expelling Senator
Frank Raguse, Milwaukee Socialist,
follows:
"a resolution expelling Frank Ra-
guse. a senator from the Eighth dis
trict of Wisconsin, from membership
in the senate of Wisconsin.
Whereas, The senate on the TWEEN
ty-sixth day of April, 1917, passed SEN
ate resolution No. -; and
Whereas, In accordance Herewith
Senator Frank Raguse was brought
before the bar of said senate for the
purposes therein specified; and
whereas, He then and there In
open session of the senate, cOntuma-
ciOusly and willfully refused to comply
with the provisions of said resolution
No. Is, by failing and refusing to sign
or file the retraction and apology
therein contained;
"Now, therefore, 1t is found and al
Judged by the senate that the sald
senator, Frank Raguse, is guilty OF
contempt disorderly behavior, and
conduct unbecoming senator OF WIS
consin within the provisions of section
s of article 4 of the Wisconsin constl-
tuition; and be it further resolved
that he is hereby expelled from mem
bership in the senate of Wisconsin.
Resolved, further, That the SER
geant at arms forthwith serve upon
the said Frank RaguSe and the secre
tary of state a certified copy of this
resolution and file proof of service
thereof with the chief clerk of the
senate"
Close Fight Predicted.
The fight on the Evjue referendum
bill promises to be closer in the sen
ate than in the house. 1t is said thai
the contest may be decided by one
vote in the senate, and that this Sena
tor is undecided. The principal argu
ment that is now being made against
the bill is that the war is on and 8
vote on this subject will still further
engender strained feelings. Two men
who three weeks ago were rated as De
ing with the drys, are now said to be
wavering.
Senator w. T. Stevens, chairman OF
the committee which heard the Dill
said that the measure would be re
ported out for action in the senate
That both sides. to the contest reallZt
that it is q neck-to-neck race is 1ndl
Gated by the regular avalanche OF pc
titions that are being received on thu
measure. Over half an hour day i
occupied in reading the titles to peti
tons on this subject presented in thu
upper house.
Realizing that stiff fight is now be
ing presented to defeat the referendum
bill in the upper house, where tn
measure was supposed to be safe lead
ers from all sections of the state rep
resenting the dry movement are com
ing to the capitol. John Strange, Nee
nah, formerly lieutenant governor o
the state, mingled among the members
talking in the interest of the EvJu
bill.
The interests of the bill in the sen
ate will be handled by Senator GeOrg
B. Skogmo, River Falls. He has sim
liar measure pending before the sen
ate and will take charge of the EvJu
bill when 1t comes out of the commit
tee.
New Divorce Law Bill.
The most important change propose
in the divorce laws of Wisconsin TO
many years is offered in the bill whic
has been reported for passage by tn
senate judiciary committee. Tn
measure provides that no divorce az
ton shall be begun in Wisconsin ur
less the written consent of the divorc
counsel for bringing the action is OF
tanned. A limitation states, of course
that the statutes shall only apply Whe
both parties to the action are in tn
state. The idea of the bill is that man
reconciliations will be effected an
divorces prevented Il law is passet