FOR DEMOCRACY IN WISCONSIN
Anderson, Douglas
For Democracy in Wisconsin Record of ih* Uzulature, Just Closed, on the Ten Bills of Most Vital Public Interest BY DOUGLAS ANDERSON (EDITOR'S NOTE—hi. Fqi-letts's 1&*.'«OTE knouts of no more...
...One's own self is all that any of us are sure of...
...It was a simple matter of trusting the pooplo to decide one of the most important issues before tho public of this and other states...
...Those voting for the resolution voted In the public interest, and are marked X. Those vot ing against it voted in the interest of the public service corp orations, and are marked O. X The Assembly passed a bill prohibiting the state hrc insurance fund from insuring public buildings of counties, cities, towns and school districts by a vote of 53 to 24...
...The record given is on the vote by which the bill passed the Senate 20 to 12...
...The rvaJ record of every legislature, and of the Individual members of jt, is usually made on ten or a dozen bills of fundamental public importance —measures in which the issue is squarely drawn as between tbo public interest, and some special interest, seeking to acquire additional privileges, or retain those which it already has...
...There is corresponding responsibility...
...Health,.'a disciplined mind, power to work:—and to play—a heart rich in sympathies, love.'of ..nature, and of truth, democracy of spirit, are essentials, to a full life...
...The votes are so arranged that a vote for a bill in the public interest is indicated by an X, and a vote against the bill by a O. Those absent are marked A. Where more than one roll call was had on any measure, the vote is given on the "test" vote, the vote which really decides the issue, the vote when the lobbyists muster their full strength...
...This "right" is denied however by the fact that tho constitu-tutlonal debt limit for cities is fixed at 5 per cent of their assessed valuation, and most of the cltlee are bonded so close to that amount that municipal ownership of more utilities is impossible in most of the cities of the state...
...The bill was passed In the senate 18 to 15...
...The finance co-imittee cat the appropriation of the Industrial Commission $20,000 annually below the minimum requirement necessary to properly enforce the labor laws on the statute books...
...It is'the least that could have been granted in eight hour legislation...
...This has come about largely through efficient enforcement of the law through the agency of the state Industrial Commission...
...A bill granting cities this power was passed in the Assembly 39 to 38...
...This was the identical issue on which the Farmers Nonpartisan League swept the state of North Dakota four to one...
...If you have a special gift do not neglect it...
...You are equipped for whatever may ba in store—experience, service, achievement your share of the joys and burdens of life...
...Senators voting for the bill, voted as they were requested to do by the councils of 40 cities of the state, and are marked X. No one but the railroad companies asked that the bill be killed...
...For what...
...The vote given here is on the motion to reconsider the action of the assembly in denying an increase of $20,000 annually...
...Judged by the record, the present Wisconsin legislature either did not know the meaning of the term Democracy, or else it was so busy fighting for it in Europe that it forgot all about Its application here at home...
...Do not fear...
...Those voting for the bill are marked X Those opposed are marked 0. II Th.e Assembly refused to submit tae question of equal suiffrage to a, vote of, the people by & vote of 44 to 41, after the bill bad passed the Senate, a refusal to submit a question of such fundamental importance to a vote of the people is a declaration that "The will of the people shall NOT be the Law of the Land...
...It was dosigned principally to permit the exemption of improvement* on real estate from taxation...
...The world is full of opportunities for women today...
...Those voting for the bill are marked X. Those voting to kill the bill are marked 0. (La Follette's is unable thru lack, of space to ptve a complete record of the present legislature on bills affecting labor...
...Tho same situation holds true for Democrats...
...II of the Assembly record...
...Ah, who knows...
...The record is partially disclosed in the actions of legislative bodies, and the roles played by the forces which direct their nation...
...You cannot tell what your life may be...
...The test vote in the senate was on the vote on the amendment to postpone the time when the vote should be taken for two years, the amendment being defeated 17 to 3 5. Every real believer In the principle of the referendum voted against tho amendment, and is marked X. Those who voted fW delay are marked 0, n The issue here was the same as presented In No...
...Senators voting that way are marked 0. VI A bill re-establishing the old party convention, which was to determine the issues, and select the candidates previous to the primary was defeated in the senate 19 to 12...
...Had the bill passed municipal own-i...iip would have been made possible for many cities of the state, where the constitutional debt limit now acts as a bar, to the satisfaction and profit of the public service corporations...
...Those voting for the resolution are marked X. Those voting against it offered aid and comfort to the coal barons, and are marked O. IX The senate defeated a bill to double the existing state inheritance tax rates by a vote of 14 to 9. Senators voting for the bill voted to make a greater portion of the tax bur'en fall upon those best able to bear it, and are marked X. Those opposing the bill are marked 0. X The senate passed a bill compelling fire insurance companies to pay the full face value of a policy in case of total loss, instead of leaving the matter to be adjusted by insurance companies...
...Those voting for the bill are marked X. Those opposed are marked O. VII The senate defeated a memorial to Congress, asking the government to take over the coal mines by a vote of 16 to 14, after the Assembly had passed the resolution 62 to 13...
...Such a record has been prepared, a copy of which will be sent to anyone on receipt of five cents in stamps to cover cost of mailing and printing...
...Perhaps the maiden who believes she can work out a professional career—be a lawyer or an artist,—is as mistaken as the one who dreams she will marry and live happy ever after...
...Tea bills, which appear to have been of the most vital concern to the people of the state, have been selected, and a record prepared, which appears on the following page...
...If the people of every state in America could have available a similar record on the ten or a dozen tills, which most vitally affected the public interest, the problem of "making America safe for democracy" would be made immeasurably easier of solution...
...Privilege is Absolutely Nonpartisan in Working to Obtain Its Ends THE RECORD discloses most vividly, among other things, that privitege is absolutely nonpartisan...
...A constitutional amend-1...
...Had it passed the primary might as well ha^e been abolished...
...The Biblical mandate as to hiding a.talent is for women as well as men...
...Those voting for the resolution are marked X. Those opposed are marked O. VIII The Assembly by a vote of 53 to 30 defeated a constitutional amendment, which would have per* mittcd local taxing units to exempt different classea of property from taxation...
...If Democracy is to be made safe in Wisconsin Assemblymen, and Senators, whose record is made up largely of a collection of Zeros, must be supplanted by other members either from their own party, or from some other party...
...A vote against the bill was a vote of lack of con-ful-nce in the people to decide this important issue for themselves...
...Every real believer in democracy voted for the resolution and is marked X. Those voting against the reao lution constitute the Iron Brigade of Autocracy in Wisconsin, and are marked 0. VII A constitutional amendment, permitting the state, if it sees fit, to own and operate grain elevators, and terminal warehouses, was defeated in the Assembly 46 to 31 against, 51 votes being re-quired for passage...
...Make the most of that which is yours...
...Those voting for the bill are marked X. Those opposed are marked O. VI - The roll call on the constitutional amendment providing for the initiative and referendum fur nishes the best index to the character of the members of the legislature of any vote recorded...
...The record of the present legislature is made on tho following measures: ASSEMBLY RECORD I The record given is on the vote by which the bill submitting tho question of statewide prohibition to a vote of the people was ordered to engrossment in tho Assembly...
...Those voting against the bill voted to save the public from the extortionate rates charged by I rlvate fire insurance companies, and are marked X Those ¦voting for the bill voted in the Interest of these same oorm>anics, and are marked 0. SENATE RECORD I The issue here was Identical with that presented In No...
...Public service corporations, food gamblers, land speculators, fire insurance companies, and labor exploiters are unanimous for Democracy in Europe, but they were almost uniformly successful in defeating every proposal in the Wisconsin legislature, which would have shaken, or broken their grip upon the people of th<j state...
...Remembering that Zeros represent votes FOR Privilege, and AGAINST Democracy in Wisconsin, it will be noticed that one Republican votes consistently in the public interest, while another has just as consistent a record voting the other way...
...The bill was sponsored by Fire Insurance companies, because the Btate insures public buildings at 25 per cent less than private companies...
...Never let yourself think your own highest development is in conflict with the elemental joys of home and children...
...Senators voting for the bill are marked X. Those opposed are marked 0. A standard weight in the loaf of bread sold the public is the only method by which the people can be protected against short weight bread loaves...
...Wisconsin was mado safe for them, but not for De* mocracy for at least two years to come...
...JUST as Democracy in Europe Is becoming so popular with the Autocrats of America, it behooves the people of the nation, and of every state to take stock of what is being done for and to Democracy in America...
...Senators voting against the bill are' marked X Those voting for it are marked O. VII The senate by a vote of 20 to 8 defeated a bill, ;whicli would have permitted cities to mortgage utilities, already owned, and buy other utilities with the proceeds...
...It has been well said that good health and abounding vitality are the foundation of all excellence...
...A bill requiring railroad companies to bear the whole cost was killed 17 to 13...
...If the eight hour dry is necessary anyvbere, that place is a printing office...
...Those voting for the bill voted in the public interest, and are marked X. Those opposed arc marked O. V A bill fixing eight hours as a day's work in print-ing shops securing state printing contracts was defeated in the Assembly 47 to 41...
...zt increasing the debt limit for the purpose of acquiring public utilities was defeated by a vote of 47 for to 30 against (51 votes being required for passage...
...Goose Egg legislators produce zero in results for the public...
...Fqi-letts's 1&*.'«OTE knouts of no more effective method of shoxcing the people of Wisconsin the record of their public servants than in the article and charts following...
...Those voting for the bill are marked X, and those opposed are marked 0. III Wisconsin has for many years occupied an epvlable position among American commonwealths for the advance made in legislation for the protection of labor...
...I of the Assembly record...
...Senators voting for the bill are marked X. Those against are marked 0. Ill The record made .here Is on the same issue presented in Assembly Record No...
...The motion was lost 41 to 40...
...GIRLS be ready...
...If a member is absent on this vote, his vote is given on some other roll call on the same bill, if one was had, to indicate bis attitude on the measure...
...Every friend of labor voted for reconsideration and the increase, and is marked X. Every enemy of labor voted the other way, and is marked O. IV The most effective form of relief from the extortionate charges which are being Imposed on the people for coal can be secured by giving cities the right to operate municipal fuel yards...
...A bill establishing a standard weight in Wisconsin was killed in the senate IS to 13...
...Senators voting for the bill are marked X. Those opposed are marked 0. V The cities and towns of the state are required under the present law to pay a portion of the cost of removing dangerous railroad grade crossings...
...Those voting for the resolution are marked X. Those voting against it denied to the people the opportunity to pass upon a fundamental change in taxation policy, and are marked 0. IX The Wisconsin public utility law gives cities the "right" to purchase public utilities...
Vol. 9 • June 1917 • No. 7
