WISCONSIN BLUE BOOK


palities in most states of the union. Reactionary Republican and re-
actionary Democratic legislators have voted to deny municipalities
this right in our state.
                        Rural Electrification
  Progressives favor a rural electrification program. We point out
that Governor La Follette obtained a special grant of funds from
President Roosevelt after the reactionary state senate voted against
any cooperation with the Federal Government. This emergency grant
enabled Governor La Follette to begin a rural electrification program
in our state under the direction of Senator Loomis. In spite of the
obstruction, rural electrification has made steady progress in Wis-
consin. We highly commend this work and pledge our continued sup-
port for it.
                      St. Lawrence Waterway
  We favor ratification of a treaty to make possible the construction
of the St. Lawrence Waterway.


                    WORKING LEGISLATURES

  In Wisconsin Progressives pledge every Progressive legislature to
stay in session five days a week. The record shows that legislators of
the reactionary parties for many years have conspired to waste
the taxpayers' money and defeat legislation in the public interest
by endless delay. The majority of reactionary legislators are un-
willing to work in the legislatures more than an average of two
and a half days a week. This delay is particularly serviceable to the
lobbyists of the special interests. We commend the action of Governor
La Follette and the Progressive legislators in the Special Session
of 1937, who put a stop to these tactics by a unified demand for
action on important legislation. Democracy must offer an adequate
opportunity for a hearing but it must also display the capacity to
act when the occasion requires.


                            VETERANS

   Progressives stand and have always stood for fair and generous
legislation for veterans. We believe that the nation should count
the full cost of war (including the human cost) before it fights.
In accordance with this view our federal representatives supported
the payment of adjusted service certificates. We favor legislation
placing the burden of proof in disability cases upon the government.
We favor adequate hospitalization for needy veterans and adequate
support for needy widows and orphans of deceased soldiers.


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