Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1919-10-10
GOV. RUSK'S DESK
TO BE SENT HERE
Assemblyman Hellweg Secures
Relic For County Named Af-
ter Popular Executive.

AsSemblyman John III. Hellweg of
figure in the 1919 legislature, is going
to have the desire nearest his heart
gratified, even if Superintendent of
Public Property Blumenfeld has to
serve stretch in Waupun.
Mr.. Hellweg, who fought during the
civil war with an Iowa regiment rep
resents Rusk and Sawyer counties in
the lower house, the former being
named after Jerry Rusk one of Wis
consin's popular governors. An old
desk that Jerry" used in his work here
is now filling a remote corner III the
banking commissioners department in
the capitol, serving only as resting
of little Importance
Rusk county heard of the desk and
asked Mr.. Hellweg to get it for the
county's memorial hall in the court
house at Ladysmith. Mr.. HellWeg went
to Governor Philip and was given
hearty permission to take the relic up
| to his county.
But then came the snag. Mr. Blu
I'menfeld. in his capacity as custodian
of the states belongings, was loath to
part with the desk. Not because he had
any sentimental reasons for keeping it
in the capitol but because he hadn't the
slightest inclination to court a prison
term by giving away state property
without orders. :.
He informed Mr.. Hellweg he'd have
to get an order from the legislature.
This would have been a simple matter
and have taken only few minutes, but,
as luck would have it, when the solons
met few days ago in special session
one of the first actions they took was to
shut out all resolutions, in an effort to
expedite business. That decision was
reached before Mr. Hellweg had
br0ached his plans to anyone. Every
one was sorry when it was learned that
such action would block the worthy pro
ject, but the deed was done.
Mr.. Hellweg figured that the acquisi-
ton of the desk would have to wait un-
| til the legislature meets again, probably
not until January, 1921, but he decided
to make one last effort and went to the
governor again.
Mr.. Philip sensed the humOr of the
situation and instructed Mr.. Blumen-
field to give up the desk. He promised,
if the superintendent of public property
was later sent to prison for giving away
state property that he would exert his
an no
at the earliest possible moment So Mr.
Blumenfeld, reassured. is going to send
the desk up to Rusk county.
Mr. Hellweg is one of the only two
members of the present legislature who
served in the civil war. He was twice
wounded in battle Sawyer county is
one of the two counties in the state dry
under county option, Burnett being the
other. and although they used to say
HAYWARD, Hurley and He'll" were all
alike, the fact is that Hayward has al
ways been a good place for good people
and Mr. Hellweg has found it so for
generation of time. AS to the other two
places, that's another story, which does
not belong in this one.
When he received notice of the re-
/ cent special session, Mr.. Hellweg was
at Muscatine. Ia, attending reunion
of his regiment. He was called upon
| for a speech as representing Wisconsin,
and ION, Wisconsin" was rendered FOR
| the occasion with much enthusiasm. He
says Iowa people are enthusiastic about
/ Wisconsin highways, and the fact that
the tourist can't lose his way is consid-
cred an important point.-Madison
/ Democrat.
| The Democrat fails to give the whole
story. 1t was W. A. Blackburn, row OF
Ladysmith, who "disc0vered' the desk
| in the office of the Commissioner OF
Banking about a year ago, and 1T was
through his efforts that the movement
was started to brng the desk to this
county, the namesake of the popular
governor Mr.. Blackburn enlisted Mr.
Hellweg's aid in support of the move
ment.
Governor Rusk's historic desk is be-
ing overhauled and repaired and will
be in first class condition when shipped
to Rusk county. State Superintendent
of Public Property advises that the desk
will be ready to ship to Ladysmith
within the next few days.
The desk will be placed in the court
house. but in what room is detail yet
! to be decided. Rusk ''county's memor-
/ ~ L., IL, ~ ROT 6icnnynYn6