Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1919-01-22
GOv.E.L. Phillip
GIVES MESSAGE
TOLEGISLATURE
PAYS TRIBUTE TO WISCONSIN
SOLDIERS AND CITIZENS
FOR WAR ACTIVITIES.
ADVISES STATE WAGE BOARD
Says Foreign Language Teaching In
Common Graded Schools lnadvis-
able - Repeal Of Primary and State
Insurance Laws Recomm ended.

Insurance Laws Recomm ended.
Madison, Wis.-Gov Philips mes
sage delivered to the Wisconsin leg
islature at a joint session Of the SEN
ate and assembly reads in part as fol
lows:
The Legislature of 1917 was con-
fronted with the problems of the war.
| How to raise men and money and at
the same time carry on the industries
and expand agriculture, in order TO
| increase the food production. and the
numerous other activities that needed
to be carried on that Wisconsin might
do her full share in the great world
war. were problems that confronted
US at that time.
am happy to be able to report that
the people of this commonwealth met
every demand made upon them by the
federal government completely, prompt
~ and with enthusiasm. That this
state has made a reputation for patri-
otto cooperation in support of our
| government and the soldierly quill
ties of the men that we furnished for
the army and navy that is second TO
no state in the Union, is now general
ly admitted.
The splendid service rendered by
| Wisconsin men to whom was given
the privilege to enter the field of OPP
erations is a matter of public knowl-
edge and has been widely commented
upon by the pres sof the country. The
three companies that were taken from
| the National Guard and placed in the
Rainbow Division, and the National
Guard which is part of the 32nd Divi-
! sion took part in some of the hardest
fought battles of 1913. Their praise
comes TO US from the American and
French Generals who commanded
them, and their work will constitute
one of the brilliant pages of history
of the great world war. | have full
faith in the patriotic spirit of our
young manhood and II it had been the
privilege of the entire force of Wis
consin men to meet the enemy on the
field of battle | am sure that they too
would have proven their soldierly
qualities and would have given a
splendid account of themselves.
ask you to pass resolutions recog-
nizing the services rendered by our
Wisconsin soldiers and our civilian
population, laying particular stress
upon the valor of our soldiers and the
patriotism OF our people. in order that
the splendid work which has been ac-
complished will be made permanent
record and placed in the archives of
this state for the information of future
generations.
Reconstruction.
The question of what should be done
for the returning soldier is being
| widely discussed by the press and
public men of the country. For those
who have been wounded or otherwise
disabled the course To- be pursued is
quite clear. They will need to be re-
tanned in the hospitals and receive the
attention of doctors and nurses until
they have recovered, or at least as
nearly so as medical skill can ac-
complish their recovery
1t has been suggested by the Secre-
tary of the Interior that the able-bod-
led men who are now being discharged
be given an opportunity to secure land
| and engage in farming. | agree with
the Honorable Secretary that il would
be very desirable from the standpoint
| of the soldier and the state If such an
opportunity were given 10 returning
soldiers who desire It,
II has been suggested that the state
lands be opened to homesteads for
this purpose 1t will. however, be inn
possible to adopt this suggestion for
the reason that practically all of the
so-called state lands are merely held
in trust for the benefit OF the various
school funds and must, therefore, be
sold TO the highest bidder in the inter
est of the fund TO which the land be
longs All this land that is good FOL
agricultural purposes could be pur
chased, as no doubt could the cutovel
lands owned by private parties. The
state Will, however. be unable to GI
this for the reason that there is con
stitutional prohibition against tbs
contracting of debts by the state eX
cept for war purposes, to suppress in
surrection and repel invasion.
l have suggested 10 the Secretary o
the Interior that the lands oe purchas
"a by the United States Government
and that in addition 10 the land Their
be advanced to each soldier who dc
sires TO engage IN farming a sutlcien
sum of money TO enable him to clea
at least forty acres and erect the nee
essary buildings and purchase the liv
stock that he requires. the govern
| ment TO own the land and other prof
erty and give the soldier reasonabl
time TO earn the money to pay his II
debtedness TO the government lnst
much as the soldier has rendered n;
tional service the matter Of giving hiI
an opportunity to establish himself
in fact a national obligation an
should as matter of right be al
sumed by the United States Govern
ment. Whether the plan which l hav
suggested or some other plan b
adopted is matter that Congress