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WISCONSIN BLUE BOOK 1985-1986


1913     Mothers' pension law and workmen's compensation act enacted. Direct
election of
         U.S. senators approved.
 1915    Conservation Commission, State Board of Agriculture, and State Board
of Education
         created. Mothers' pensions made compulsory.
 1917 - Capitol completed, cost $7,258,763. Wisconsin sent 120,000 soldiers
to World War I
            losses 3,932. Wisconsin first state to meet draft requirements;
584,559 registrations.
 1919    Eighteenth Amendment (Prohibition) ratified.
 1920 - Nineteenth Amendment (woman suffrage) ratified; first state to deliver
ratification to
         Washington.
 1921    Equal rights for women and prohibition laws enacted.
 1923 - State Board of Education law repealed. Military training made optional
at university.
 1924 - La Follette won Wisconsin's vote for president as Progressive Party
candidate. Refores-
         tation amendment to state Constitution adopted.
 1925- Senator La Follette died on June 18.
 1929 - Professor Steenbock of University of Wisconsin patented radiation
of Vitamin D. Leg-
         islature repealed all Wisconsin laws for state enforcement of Prohibition.
 1932 - Forest Products Laboratory erected at Madison.
 1933 - Milk strike. Wisconsin voted for repeal of 18th Amendment (Prohibition)
to U.S.
         Constitution.
 1934 - Wisconsin Progressive Party formed.
 1942 - Governor-elect Loomis died; Supreme Court decided Lieutenant Governor
Goodland
         to serve as Acting Governor.
 1941-45 - Wisconsin enrolled 375,000 for World War II; casualties 7,980.
 1946 - Wisconsin Progressive Party dissolved and rejoined Republican Party.


                         The Middle Years of the Twentieth Century
  After the demise of the Progressives, the Democratic Party began a gradual
resurgence, be-
coming strongly competitive for the first time in over a century by the late
1950s. With the
decline in foreign immigration, the traditional ethnic differences became
muted, but significant
numbers of Blacks appeared in the urban areas of the state for the first
time. Discrimination in
housing and employment became matters of concern. Other important issues
included the
growth in the size of state government, radicalism at the university, welfare
programs and envi-
ronmental questions. Tourism emerged as a major industry during this period.
1948 - Centennial Year.
1949 - Legislature enacted new formula for distribution of state educational
aids and classified
         school districts for this purpose.
1950 - Wisconsin enrolled 132,000 for the Korean Conflict; casualties - 800.
1951 - First major legislative reapportionment since 1892.
1957 - Legislation prohibited lobbyists from giving anything of value to
a state employe. Mil-
         waukee Braves defeated Yankees in World Series.
1958 - Prof. Joshua Lederberg, University of Wis. geneticist, Nobel prize
winner in medicine.
1959 - Gaylord Nelson, first Democratic governor since 1933, inaugurated.
Circus World Mu-
         seum established at Baraboo. Frank Lloyd Wright, architect, died.
1960- Mrs. Dena Smith elected state treasurer, first woman elected to statewide
office in
         Wisconsin.
 1961    Legislation enacted to initiate long-range program of acquisition
and improvement of
         state recreation facilities. Federal supervision of Menominee Indian
tribe terminated
         on April 29; reservation became 72nd county.
 1962 - Selective sales tax, income tax withholding enacted. Kohler Company
strike settled
         (began 1954). Ralph Votapek of Milwaukee won Van Cliburn international
piano
         competition.
1963 - The 1961 Legislature adjourned when the hour for convening the 1963
Legislature ar-
         rived. John Gronouski, State Tax Commissioner, appointed U.S. Postmaster
General.
         State expenditures from all funds for 1963-64 fiscal year top one
billion for first time.