The Fifty-Third Wisconsin Legislature convened from to in regular session, and re-convened in two special sessions in February and September 1918.

During this session, the new Wisconsin State Capitol was completed after 13 years of reconstruction following the 1904 fire. The official dedication ceremony was postponed until the end of World War I.

Senators representing even-numbered districts were newly elected for this session and were serving the first two years of a four-year term. Assembly members were elected to a two-year term. Assembly members and even-numbered senators were elected in the general election of November 7, 1916. Senators representing odd-numbered districts were serving the third and fourth year of a four-year term, having been elected in the general election of November 3, 1914.

The governor of Wisconsin during this entire term was Republican Emanuel L. Philipp, of Milwaukee County, serving his second two-year term, having won re-election in the 1916 Wisconsin gubernatorial election.

Major events January 11, 1917: The Kingsland explosion destroyed approximately 500,000 rounds of artillery ammunition in Lyndhurst, New Jersey. February 1, 1917: The German Empire announced that it would resume unrestricted submarine warfare, rescinding the Sussex pledge. February 3, 1917: The United States severed diplomatic relations with Germany. February 24, 1917: British intelligence shared the Zimmermann Telegram with American Ambassador Walter Hines Page, in which the German Empire proposed a military alliance with Mexico if the United States entered the war against Germany. March 4, 1917: Second inauguration of President Woodrow Wilson. March 15, 1917: Following the February Revolution, Tsar Nicholas II abdicated his throne, bringing an end to the Russian Empire. April 3, 1917: Walter C. Owen was elected justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court, defeating incumbent justice Roujet D. Marshall. April 6, 1917: The United States declared war on the German Empire, beginning their active participation in World War I. April 26, 1917: The Wisconsin Senate voted to expel senator Frank Raguse after he refused to affirm his allegiance to the United States. Raguse remains the only member of the Wisconsin State Legislature to have been expelled. May 18, 1917: U.S. President Woodrow Wilson signed the Selective Service Act of 1917, giving the president the power of conscription. June 15, 1917: U.S. President Woodrow Wilson signed the Espionage Act of 1917, to prevent interference with U.S. war activities or promoting the interests of U.S. war opponents. July 18, 1917: Regiments of the Wisconsin National Guard were activated and organized into the 32nd Infantry Division for federal service. October 6, 1917: The first University of Wisconsin football game to be played at Camp Randall Stadium. October 21, 1917: Wisconsin's junior United States senator, Paul O. Husting, died in a hunting accident. November 7, 1917: Amidst the October Revolution in Russia, workers stormed the Winter Palace and destroyed the Russian Provisional Government, triggering the Russian Civil War. November 24, 1917: A bomb killed 9 members of the Milwaukee Police Department in the most deadly single incident for American police until the September 11 attacks of 2001. January 1918: First known cases of Spanish flu were observed in Haskell County, Kansas. March 3, 1918: The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk was signed between the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic and the Central Powers, ending Russia's involvement in World War I. April 2, 1918: Irvine Lenroot was elected United States senator from Wisconsin in a special election. May 18, 1918: Wisconsin's mobilized regiments in the 32nd Infantry Division arrived at the western front of World War I and continued on the line until the end of the war. November 5, 1918: Emanuel L. Philipp was re-elected Governor of Wisconsin, his third term. November 9, 1918: Kaiser Wilhelm II abdicated his throne, ending the German Empire. The German Republic was proclaimed as successor state. November 11, 1918: The German Republic agreed to an armistice with the Entente, effectively ending major combat in World War I. December 4, 1918: U.S. President Woodrow Wilson departed to attend the Paris Peace Conference, becoming the first sitting U.S. president to visit Europe.

Major legislation 1917 Joint Resolution 20: Joint Resolution to amend sections 6 and 7, of article VII, of the constitution of the state of Wisconsin, relating to circuit judges, 1917 Joint Resolution 20. First legislative passage of a proposed amendment to the constitution to allow the legislature to reduce the number of judicial circuits and assign multiple judges to single circuits. 1917 Joint Resolution 23: Joint Resolution to amend section 21 of article IV of the constitution, relating to compensation of members of the legislature, 1917 Joint Resolution 23. First legislative passage of a proposted amendment to allow legislative salaries to be set by law, rather than fixed by the constitution. 1917 Joint Resolution 24: Joint Resolution to provide for the appointment of a joint committee of the legislature to investigate the subject of "Social Insurance", 1917 Joint Resolution 24.

Party summary Senate summary

Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) Total Dem. S.D. Rep. Vacant End of previous Legislature 9 1 20 30 3 Start of 1st Session 6 3 24 33 0 From April 27, 1917Socialist Frank Raguse (District 8) was expelled after refusing to sign a statement affirming his allegiance to the United States. 2 32 1 Final voting share Beginning of the next Legislature 2 4 27 33 0

Assembly summary

Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) Total Dem. S.D. Rep. Vacant End of previous Legislature 29 8 63 100 0 Start of 1st Session 13 7 80 100 0 From Feb. 14, 1917Republican Isaac J. Kvam (Barron County) died February 14, 1917. 79 99 1 From Apr. 10, 1917Democrat Charles A. Beggs (Barron County) was sworn in to replace Isaac J. Kvam on April 10, 1917. 14 100 0 From July 1, 1917Republican Edward A. Everett (Iron & Vilas counties) resigned. 78 99 1 From Dec. 10, 1917Democrat William Arnemann (Winnebago County) died. 13 98 2 From Dec. 25, 1917Republican D. S. Burnett (Marathon County) resigned. 77 97 3 From Jan. 3, 1918Democrat Carl Hansen (Manitowoc County) died. 12 96 4 From Feb. 19, 1918Democrat Walter Wittman (Manitowoc County), Socialist Herman Marth (Marathon County), and Republicans Griffith Thomas (Iron & Vilas counties) and Publius Lawson (Winnebago County), were sworn in to fill vacancies. 13 8 79 100 0 Final voting share Beginning of the next Legislature 6 16 78 100 0

Sessions Regular session: January 10, 1917July 16, 1917 February 1918 special session: February 19, 1918March 9, 1918 September 1918 special session: September 24, 1918September 25, 1918

Leaders Senate leadership President of the Senate: Edward Dithmar (R) President pro tempore: Timothy Burke (R–Green Bay)

Assembly leadership Speaker of the Assembly: Lawrence C. Whittet (R–Edgerton)

Members Members of the Senate Members of the Senate for the Fifty-Third Wisconsin Legislature:

Dist. Counties Senator Residence Party 01 Door, Kewaunee, Algoma Rep. 02 Brown Green Bay Rep. 03 Kenosha Racine Rep. 04 Milwaukee Milwaukee Rep. 05 Milwaukee Milwaukee Rep. 06 Milwaukee Milwaukee Soc.D. 07 Milwaukee Milwaukee Soc.D. 08 Milwaukee Milwaukee Soc.D. --Vacant from April 27, 1917-- 09 Milwaukee Milwaukee Dem. 10 Buffalo, Pepin, Pierce, River FallsRep. 11 Burnett, Douglas, SuperiorRep. 12 Ashland, Bayfield, Price, Rusk, BayfieldRep. 13 Dodge Mayville Dem. 14 Outagamie ShawanoRep. 15 Calumet Chilton Dem. 16 Crawford, Grant, FennimoreRep. 17 Green, Iowa, HighlandRep. 18 North Fond du LacRep. 19 Winnebago OshkoshRep. 20 Ozaukee SheboyganRep. 21 Adams, Juneau, Marquette, Mauston Rep. 22 Rock Beloit Rep. 23 Portage Dayton Rep. 24 Clark Grand Rapids Rep. 25 Langlade Wausau Dem. 26 Dane Stoughton Rep. 27 Columbia Caledonia Dem. 28 Chippewa, Eau Claire Rep. 29 Barron, Dunn, Menomonie Rep. 30 Florence, Forest, Iron, Lincoln, Oneida, Taylor, Rhinelander Rep. 31 Jackson, Monroe, Viroqua Rep. 32 La Crosse Galesville Rep. 33 Jefferson Dem.

Members of the Assembly Members of the Assembly for the Fifty-Third Wisconsin Legislature:

SenateDist. County Dist. Representative Party Residence 21 Adams Rep. Friendship 12 Ashland Rep. Ashland 29 Barron Rep. Rice Lake Dem. Rice Lake 12 Bayfield Rep. 02 Brown 1 Dem. Green Bay 2 Dem. De Pere 10 Buffalo Rep. Mondovi 11 Burnett Rep. Grantsburg 15 Calumet Rep. Charlestown 28 Chippewa Rep. Bloomer 24 Clark Rep. Neillsville 27 Columbia Rep. Leeds 16 Crawford Rep. Wauzeka 26 Dane 1 Rep. Madison 2 Rep. Christiana 3 Rep. Fitchburg 13 Dodge 1 Rep. Neosho 2 Rep. Elba 01 Door Rep. 11 Douglas 1 Rep. Superior 2 Rep. 29 Dunn Rep. Menomonie 28 Eau Claire Rep. Pleasant Valley 30 Florence, Forest, Rep. Ross 18 Fond du Lac 1 Rep. Empire 2 Rep. Brandon 16 Grant 1 Rep. Platteville 2 Rep. Boscobel 17 Green Rep. New Glarus 18 Green Lake Rep. Berlin 17 Iowa Rep. Dodgeville 30 Iron Rep. Eagle River Rep. Hurley 31 Jackson Rep. Alma 33 Jefferson 1 Rep. Johnson Creek 2 Dem. Lake Mills 21 Juneau Rep. Camp Douglas 03 Kenosha Rep. 01 Kewaunee Dem. Franklin 32 La Crosse 1 Rep. La Crosse 2 Rep. Greenfield 17 Lafayette Rep. Wiota 25 Langlade Dem. Polar 30 Lincoln Rep. Corning 15 Manitowoc 1 Dem. Manitowoc Dem. Manitowoc 2 Dem. Rockland 25 Marathon 1 Rep. Holton 2 Rep. Soc. Wausau 01 Marinette Rep. 09 Milwaukee 1 Rep. Milwaukee 2 Rep. Milwaukee 3 Dem. Milwaukee 05 4 Soc. Milwaukee 08 5 Soc. Milwaukee 05 6 Rep. Milwaukee 7 Rep. Milwaukee 08 8 Dem. Milwaukee 06 9 Soc. Milwaukee 04 10 Soc. Milwaukee 08 11 Soc. Milwaukee 12 Soc. Milwaukee 04 13 Rep. Milwaukee 07 14 Dem. Milwaukee 05 15 Rep. Milwaukee 16 Rep. Wauwatosa 07 17 Soc. Milwaukee 04 18 Rep. Milwaukee 07 19 Rep. West Allis 31 Monroe Rep. Tomah 02 Oconto Rep. 14 Outagamie 1 Dem. 2 Rep. Kaukauna 20 Ozaukee Dem. Cedarburg 10 Pierce Rep. River Falls 29 Polk Rep. Laketown 23 Portage Rep. Plover 12 Price Rep. Kennan 03 Racine 1 Rep. Racine 2 Rep. Racine 28 Richland Rep. Cazenovia 22 Rock 1 Rep. Edgerton 2 Rep. Beloit 12 Rusk Rep. Grant 27 Sauk Rep. Baraboo 14 Shawano Rep. Birnamwood 20 Sheboygan 1 Rep. Sheboygan 2 Rep. 10 St. Croix Rep. Hudson 30 Taylor Rep. Medford 32 Trempealeau Rep. Whitehall 31 Vernon Rep. 23 Walworth Rep. Darien 13 Washington Rep. Richfield 33 Waukesha 1 Rep. Waukesha 2 Rep. Sussex 23 Waupaca Rep. Clintonville 21 Waushara Rep. Wild Rose 19 Winnebago 1 Rep. Oshkosh 2 Dem. Neenah Rep. Menasha 3 Rep. Oshkosh 24 Wood Rep. Arpin

Committees Senate committees Senate Standing Committee on CommitteesM. W. Perry, chair Senate Standing Committee on Contingent ExpendituresC. H. Everett, chair Senate Standing Committee on CorporationsW. M. Bray, chair Senate Standing Committee on Education and Public WelfareM. W. Perry, chair Senate Standing Committee on the JudiciaryJ. H. Bennett, chair Senate Standing Committee on Legislative ProcedureT. Burke, chair Senate Standing Committee on State AffairsW. T. Stevens, chair Senate Special Committee on Conservation F. H. Hanson, chair Senate Special Committee on HighwaysL. E. Cunningham, chair

Assembly committees Assembly Standing Committee on AgricultureH. J. Grell, chair Assembly Standing Committee on Commerce and ManufacturesC. F. Hart, chair Assembly Standing Committee on Contingent ExpendituresR. B. Melvin, chair Assembly Standing Committee on EducationS. A. Schindler, chair Assembly Standing Committee on ElectionsG. Carpenter, chair Assembly Standing Committee on Engrossed BillsW. R. Chipman, chair Assembly Standing Committee on Enrolled BillsH. Freehoff, chair Assembly Standing Committee on Excise and FeesJ. M. Engebretson, chair Assembly Standing Committee on Fish and GameJ. A. Chinnock, chair Assembly Standing Committee on Insurance and BankingJ. C. Chapple, chair