The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1917-03-16

senator, many asking him to stand by
the president and to line up on the
side of preparedness, and others prals-
ing him for his opposition to armed
neutrality. Members of the legisla.
ture have received scores of letters
and kilograms, showing chat the peo-
pie of Wisconsin are keenly interested
one way or the other with respect to
the senator's conduct.
With his resolution delayed severa'
days, Senator Bennett reached the
opinion that unless there was some
early legislative disapproval of La Fol-
lette's course it might be interpreted
as a silent approval. Therefore he
started a round robin in circulation.
and in one afternoon it was signed
by sixteen members of the upper
branch of the legislature. The rounG
robin says that Wisconsin is loyal, and
that La Toilette is not representing
the patriotic sentiment of the state.
An event of particular interest this
week will be a public dinner to be
given by Governor Philip in honor of
members of the legislature, state Of
fees, members of the university facul-
ty, heads of departments in the capitol
and others who are closely identified
with the state government On this
occasion the chief executive will he
given an opportunity to comment On
the work of the legislature thus far,
and present other matters which ne
could not get to members of the leg
islature except in special message.
Governor Philip, Speaker Lawrence
G.. Whittet, President Van Hise of the
University of Wisconsin and others
will speak. Reservations have been
made for about 800 guests. The af-
fair will be informal, and will take
on some of the aspects of a gridiron
dinner.
Dry and Suffrage Problems Up.
The vets and drys have been heard
on the Evjue bill on state wide ref
erendum on prohibition and a report
is expected soon from the assembly
committee on excise and fees. One
rumor is that the committee will send
the bill out without any report; an
other is that the recommendation will
be for indefinite postpOnement, with
the vets having one vote to spare
The contest will be very close in the
assembly, with both sides now claim
ing victory. The margin for or against
the referendum will be less than ten
votes, according to present indica
tons.
The drys placed special emphasis
on the fact that there is a real public
demand for a popular expression ON
the prohibition question. w. H. Aus
tin, representing the Milwaukee Brew
ers, questioned this public demand
saying that prohibition was not an
issue in the last campaign. He said,
too, that if the state goes dry, there
will be 500 vacant store places in the
state. He presented figures to show
what this would mean in increased
taxes. Local option is now available,
and he contended that local option, in
way to pass on the issue of prohibi.
ton.
During the coming week the legis-
lature will make some disposition #
the question of equal suffrage. The
women of the state have campaigned
carefully and every member of the leg
islature has been asked to support the
equal suffrage measure. 1t appears
that the legislature is not likely to
act favorably, unless, perhaps, it is
disposed to pass the Reinnholdt bill
which would result in a referendum
for the women of Wisconsin to say
that do or do not want the ballot.
The senate by a vote of Is to 5
killed Senator Wm Bray's bill provid
ing that receipts for the payment of
personal property taxes shall be an
offset to income taxes of persons and
corporations presenting such receipts.
This bill met with the OPPOSITION of the
merchants and manufacturers Of Wis
consin who said it would mean a tax
increase of about 100000, of which
80 per cent would have to be paid by
the businessmen. Bray introduced
new bill providing that persons or cor
porations presenting personal property
tax receipts as an Offset against in
come taxes must file affidavits declar
ing the receipts were for taxes actual
ly paid on personal property. Those
who opposed the original bill have not
had an opportunity to be heard on the
new measure, which will be taken up
soon in committee hearing.
Women Favor Trading Stamps.
A big crowd of Milwaukee women
came to Madison to express their
views on bills regulating the use of
trading stamps. Most of the women
spoke against any move to do away
with the trading stamps.
In the assembly the Kent measure
for an eight hour day in printing
plants which handle state printing was
advanced to engrossment. This is
only one of several bills introduced