The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1919-01-10
BOTH HOUSES OF
LEG STATURE MEET
Fifty-Sixth Session of !-aW-Mak-
ing Body Opens at N00n-
Philips MESSAGE is READY
War, Reconstruction and Troop Cues
tons Occupy Minds of Members
Drys Plan Statewide Rally
January IA.
BY FRED L. HOLMES.


sion, began its labOrs today. The
meetings were held in each house at
noon. The long formalitieS of Organi-
zation dragged Oh into late in the af-
ternOOn and it is doubtful if Governor
Phillip will have an opportunity to
present his message before tonight or
Thursday morning.
War, reconstruction and troop ques-
tons are on the lips of the legislature.
Governor Philip contends that there
is little work of reconstruction to be
done. He says the factories of the
state are anxious to get labor; that
the farmers need help and that Wis
consin needs the returning soldiers.
Coupled with this comes the announce
ment of Adjutant General Holway that
he is for an extension of the National
Guard system and is opposed to COM
pulsOry military training.
The Wisconsin legislature is asked
to increase the annual appropriation
for the maintenance of the National
Guard in this state from 100000 to
$6OO.OOO
This action is necessary in the judg-
ment of Adjt Gen. Orlando Holway to
comply with the national defense act.
The Wisconsin National Guard,
which won the sobriquet in France
"The TerribleS," has cost the state an
nually about $50 per man. This is less
than One-third the sum expended by
some of the most conservative ma
lions. 1t is One-tenth the per capita
cost of maintaining the regular army.
To comply with the national law
Wisconsin must organize before June
3, 1921, military units Of not less than
10,4O0 men. The state could under
this plan render 10000 troops trained
as were the 10000 who made record
for herOism in France.
Adjutant General HOlway's letter to
Governor Phillip, made public today,
shows that he is opposed to compul-
sorry universal military training. 1t
is compulsory training, he declares,
that brought Europe to the verge of
ruin and involved the world in disas-
ter. He strongly favOrs the National
Guard system.
The opening of the session of the
legislature today was marked by the
absence of many familiar faces. Over
60 per cent of the house membership
is new. The ratio OF new members in
the senate is much smaller
Nine new faces were found in the
senate chamber. The seat of Senator
M. w. Perry, who had served eight
years in the upper house, is filed by
Senator Herbert l.. Peterson, Il banker
of Sturgeon Bay. Senator George l..
Buck, Racine, takes the place of Sem
atOr G.. III. Everett, who was defeated
in the primaries for the domination of
lieutenant governor. Ray j. Nye, Su-
periOr, for many years Il member of
the lower house, takes the place of
Senator Fred Baxter. Henry Bilgren,
a farmer of Iron Ridge, has been given
the seat held by Senator Byron Bar
wig Hy. Kleist, farmer socialist of
BrilliOn, holds the seat of Senator
Henry ROllman. In the place of Sen
atOr Platt Whitman, Highland, former
ly head of the finance committee, is
Oscar l.. Olson, farmer of Blanchard
vile. Capt w. M. Bray's seat is held
by Julius Denhart, Neenah. John A.
COnant, WeSttield, was elected in place
of Senator Frank Hanson. Herman
j. SeverSOn, q lawyer of lola, takes
the place of Senator A. H. Potts.
Claire b. Bird, well-known Wausau
attorney, is here in the seat of w. w.
AlbertS.
The changes are even more marked
in the lower house. Many of the prom
inent leaders are gone. Assemblymen
Weston Woodland, Chippewa Falls, has
been displaced by T. w. Bartingale,
who served in the 1913 session. Frank
w. Downs, Washburn, was chosen in
place of Walter Duffy. Harry Hewett,
q farmer of NeillsviIle, has taken the
place of Assemblyman w. L. Smith,
who was one of the administration
floor leaders at the last session. As
Semblyman William T. Evjue. author
OFT the liquor referendum bill of the
last session, which was vetoed by Gov
>ernOr Phillip, was not a candidate
Gus e. Johnson, Madison.
Dry leaders expect early action by
the legislature on the national dry
amendment. In order to head off the
wet plans to rush through a negative
vote the drys have called a statewide
rally for ratification at Madison Tues
day, January II, when Gov. Charles S.
Whitman, New York; William Jen-
nings Bryan and United States Sena-
tor Wesley l.. Jones of Washington
will address the legislature in favor of
ratification under the auspices of the
Ratification Council of One Thousand.
Governor Whitman will speak at
night, Senator Jones in the afternoon.
Mr.. Bryan will speak both afternoon
and night.
At 2 p. M. dry petitioners will march
through the capitol and present their