Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1917-05-02
RAGUSE THREAT
AROUSES STATE
Challenge Seen in Socialist
Again Being Candidate.
IS OUSTED FOR OISLOYALTY
He Charged That Maine Was Blown
Up from the Inside TO Create War
sentiment-offers tc Sign Eulogy of
People Of Wisconsin but Refuses to
Retract His Words.

Sentiment-offers tc Sign Eulogy Of
People Of Wisconsin but Refuses to
Retract His Words.
Madison. Wis. (SpeciaD Frank
Raguse, Milwaukee Socialist, repre-
senting the Eighth district of Wiscon
sin, last week was expelled as a mem
Der of the state senate for statements
bordering on disloyalty" The senate
found Raguse guilty of contempt, dis
orderly behavior and conduct unbe
coming a senator" Resolutions Of
expulsion were adopted by vote OF
80 to 3, the trio of Socialists, includ
ing Raguse, voting in the negative.
Expulsion was based on Raguse's
statements, made during discussion OF
the Wilcox bill to circulate $4,000
copies of President Wilson's war mes
sage. that he had been given to under
stand, from newspaper accounts, that
the Maine was blown up from the in
side to create war sentiment in this
country. Patriotism" said he, "can
be created only in two ways; first, you
must destroy people or, second, you
must destroy property"
Senator Timothy Burke. Green Bay
dean of the upper house, said that un
less Raguse withdrew his statement
bordering upon disloyalty" that he
would ask for his expulsion. Other
senator's participated in the debate
and the MiIwaukeean decided to make
further statement He said that he
disloyalty, and that if the senate wish
ed him to do so, he would withdraw
his remarks.
This ended the incident for one
day, but the following day the sena.
tors decided that a more complete
apology would have to be forthcom
ing from the Socialist. Members Of
the upper house drafted what they
deemed to be a proper retraction and
presented the same to Senator Louis
Arnold. Socialist, who in turn sub
mitted it to Raguse. The latter de-
clined to sign the retraction. but said
he would make a retraction in his own
words. This was drawn, but it was
not acceptable to the senate. The re
suit was that Raguse was formally
expelled, and the Eighth district is no
longer represented.
Dramatic Scene In Senate.
The scene in the senate chamber
was dramatic as the chief clerk read
the resolutions to expell the member
Lieutenant Governor Dithmar urged
Raguse to sign the retraction which
was acceptable to the members. He
told him to sit down and consider
carefully the penalty if he did not
sign. Raguse wanted another day to
consider the mandate of the senate
The members were against delay be
cause Raguse had been conferred with
and consulted with and they felt that
he had been given ample time in
which to reach a decision.
Before the vote was taken which
meant his expulsion, Raguse, who did
not seem disturbed or even moved by
the proceedings, made the statement
that the resolutions setting forth the
record in the case did not state the
truth and we're misleading. He reiter
ated that he had no intention of being
dis1oyal and added that his people al
home understood him. He said that he
would be a candidate at the special
election to fill the vacancy and that
he would "come back stronger than
ever"
Without debate and with an air OF
solemnity, the senate proceeded tc
take the vote which expelled the
young Milwaukeean. Raguse remained
in his seat until adjournment, when he
was notified by the sergeant at arms
that he was no longer a member
Governor Philip has not decided
when a special election will be call
ed to fill the vacancy.
AS Raguse mingled with the So
cialists after the proceedings, he was
congratulated by his colleagues. One
OF them said he was a martyr. Others
said that he had been railroaded with
out a trial. Members of the senate ex
blamed that Raguse was not given
trial because he had been accorded
every opportunity to make satisfac
tory retraction. They pointed out thai
the Socialists held a caucus on the
matter and that when Raguse declined
to sign proper retraction he was act
ing upon the advice of his fellow mem
hers of the Socialist group.
Raouse Threatens to Run Again.
The challenge that the dismissed
member will again be candidate j;
regarded by legislators as a danger
GUS suggestion on the part of the SO
cialist for the reason that it would
make loyalty and patriotism an issue
in a political campain at time wheT
this country is engaged in war. Off
Gals here doubt that leaders in th'
Socialist party will go that far 1t is
nointed out that it would be a direc
Sian at the senate which represent.
every section of the state. It is be
ueved that such a move on the par
of the Socialist party would cause
state wide wave of indignation anC
carry dangerous possibilities.
Raguse offered to Sign This.
The statement of retraction which
Raguse offered TO sign. but which was
not acceptable to the senate, follows