The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1923-02-22
STATE GUARD
LOSES IN FIGHT
Assembly Passes Bill for
Abolishing Guard by
Big Majority.
SHEARER SAYS mo"
Vincent of Kenosha County
also Opposed OF Bill but in a
Hopeless Minority.
fBy Associated Press Leased wire.)

MaQ1SOH, WlS.-IH ne WlSCoHcAI wa
tional Guard lost the second battle in
/ its fight for existence today when the
bly, by vote of 65 to IA refused
to indefinitely postpone the Polakowski
bill calling for complete abolition Of
the states military force. Rules were
suspended by 81 to IT vote and the
measure finally passed by reclamation.
Eight times friends Of the National
Guard went down to defeat as the
steam roller tactics of the coalition
between administration forces and So
cialists forced the measure safely
over every legislative pit-fall. AS a
final victory those backing the bill sus-
pended the rules for second time by
a 81 to II vote and Immediately mes
saged the measure to the senate for
action by that body.
There was little debate over the pro-
posal from either of the factions. A
caucus Of administration members held
last night decided unanimously to
throw it's force behind the bill and on
the vote carried out this decision.
The fight opened when Assemblyman
Frank Prescott, Milwaukee, dubbed the
bill calling for abolition Of the guard
"pet measure of the Socialists"
To go on record favoring a Socialis-
tic movement would give the state a
"black eye," he said.
Peterson Says "Ungrateful."
Assemblyman H. ]. Peterson, Mil
waukee, spoke in opposition ito the
measure, declaring that the legislature
Cannot eliminate something of out
standing credit to Wisconsin in one
swipe." "The Wisconsin National
Guard" he said, sis a credit to the
state. 1t has never failed. 1t came
back and asked for the bonus and got
a kick. Now the legislature wants to
hit them another rap. 1t is most I'M
grateful this thing the legislature is
attempting to do"
"Assemblyman Sixtus Lindahl, Su-
perior, said that he was supporting the
bill as a means of tax reduction mas
much as abolition of the guard would
cut the expense of state government
nearly $1,000,000 annually. He declar-
ed that he was a "rock-ribbed Repub-
lican" and that he, with other mem
bers, was not voting for the proposal
in the interest of Socialist propagan-
da as charged"
Friends of the bill, confident of their
strength, made no open attempt to urge
its passage. They offered no debate,
but with Assemblyman Thomas Dun
can, Milwaukee, Socialist, as their
spokesman, they moved with regularity
to push the proposal over every step
of the way from the committee through
the lower house to the senate.
Majority Holds Firm.
Assemblyman Prescott moved indeff-
mite postponement. This move was de-
feated "a to Id. Peterson then moved
call Of the house. There were not
enough supporters for this move.
Peterson then made a motion to lay
the bill on the table. This was voted
down by reclamation. Then the pro-
posal was engrossed without roll call.
At this juncture Assemblyman Pres
colt charged that Assemblyman Dun
can was taking advantage of the abb
sence of members to push through the
bill. A laugh greeted his suggestion.
Assemblyman Duncan moved at once
to suspend the rules and put the~bill
on final passage. This was successful
| 81 to II. Passage was given by ac-
clamation. Once again rules were
suspended 81 to Is and the bill went
to th@senate.
In the senate harder shedding is pre-
Ldicted for the proposal to abolish the
National Guard. AS a result of the
assembly action Governor Blaine who
opposes the bill, according to an ex-
preston given to the State Federation
of Labor, will bring pressure to bear
to head off the measure by a comprom-
Use. A large cut in the appropriation is
anticipated with the guard continued.
=
How Assemblymen Voted.
The following is the record vote on
the proposal:
FOR THE BILL-Schrimpf Slack, A.
E. Smith, C. F. Smith, Spoor, Tucker,
Warden, Weber, WEIGH, Woller, Ziemer,
zittlow, Dahl, George Nelson, W. &.
Nelson, Oliver, Olsen, OFT, Petersen,
Peltier, Polakowski, Rahr, Ruling, Sal
ter, Saugen, George Schmidt, G. w.
Schmidt, Hamper, Kiesner, Koenigs,
Liehe, Lindahl, j. D. Millar, A. M.
Miller, w. F. Miller, MINER, Moul,
Naumann, Nein, Camper, Gauer, Grain,
Grimstad, Halverson, C. E. Hanson, J.
C. Hanson, .Hefty, Hillmann, Holly,
Hutchinson, E. H. Johnson, Jung, Allen,
Anderson, Barker, Blomberg, Busse,
Dieringer, Duncan, Eber, Eirschele,
Ellenbecker, Elsner, and friedrich.
AGAINST THE BILL-zShearer, Stof-
fel, Zimmerman, Vincent, Whelan, F, j..
Peterson. Prescott, Price, Royce, Law
son, Mark, Anderson, Huxley, Jones.
Paired were Meggers and Kamke
for the bill; Cushman and Mosely
against the bill.
Senate in Quandary.
Senators today were in q quandary
over the National Guard. They were
faced with the problem of either
abolishing or refusing to abolish the
states military force, and in most in
stances expressed themselves as un-
willing at this time to commit their
vote to any stand.
It is generally accepted, however,
by both the Socialists and the admin
istration members that a compromise
would be arrived at cutting drastically
the size of the state guard and its APP
I L. II