Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1871-06-14
PRESCOTT JOURNAL
WEDNESDAY. JUNE 1871.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES.

other officers. In practice, il is not rs
much so as it should be. True, under
the constitution, no man can be Governor
save through vote Of the people. But,
the real Goyerncr-nakers are less than a
1.-THE of the voters. 1t is the practical
politicians in all towns and cities, who Sc.
Iect candidates for 1.-THE people" 10 vote
for; sud it is safe TO say. without dlspar.
agemeut to the popular intelligence. that
not tenth of the voters in any State
have any personal knowledge of the fit
ness of nominees for any State office
Speaking of this fact once with then
Member of Congress, he remarked:
give me three men whom | will select
in each town anil election precinct in the
State, and can be Governor next win
ter. Whereas now couldn't get one
sixth of the votes of the convention to
nominate the candidate"
These real Governor makers are de-
nominated wire pulers. They know
public men, aud attend primary meetings
from caucus to county and district con,
yentions. There are several grades there
Of ranking from the small politicians
of towns aud eren school districts, 10
rings AMI cliques at county seats, up to
congressional district champions, even
unto heavy thunderers at Capitals. Even
editors, in expressing their preferences,
(ofenest pretending TO portray the senti-
meUts Of their thinking readers,) have
come 10 be denominated "slate-makers, :"
an order whose function it is to write
lists Of those who ought to be nominated
None will deny that these things are
true, we think,-that asp;ran!s for all
State offices, and county and town Off
ces in less proportion, rely on very few
Workers, for their success in securing
nominations, more than anything else
True, nominees are often beaten at the
polls; but usually by other nominees of
other caucuses and conventions run by a
very few opposing wire puIlers.
Whether this state of things is right or
wrong, it is the way things are,-uot in
Wisconsin alone, but "lhe way of the
world" so to speak, everywhere where
the elective franchise is in vogue; and
will remain so perhaps forever. Politics
is as much "trade" as printing. or any
other crnfwork; and the very nature Of
printing makes publishing prominent
part of the craft of Governor makiug..-
Let the press but unite on any one man
for State Office. and that man stands
90 of 100 chances of being elected.
The purpose of this article is not to
berate the present plan of Governor MAX
ing altogether,-though we fain would
have more of the intelligent voters, in
city, hamlet, and on farms, take greater
interest in selecting candidates for all of
fees. But, there is one variety of Gov
ernor makers whose officiousness we wish
10 rebuke. The following extract will
introduce them;
A Washington dispatch appears in the COL
umns of the New York Tribune:
Wisconsin friands NJ nv ION.
GresS g C. Washburn in this city are putting his
name prominently forward as candidate for the
GOvernOrship OF Wisconsin No fault Is found
With the present able and popular Gov Fairchid
who Is now serving his third term. but Mr.. Wash
burn iriends claim To have Information th9l
Gov Fdirchiid will not be a candidate for renom
inatiOn.
Now if the friends of Mr.. Washburn
in Washington will stand by him anil
vote for him for any Office in the District
of Columbia, we commend their devo
ton. But if the lobby ISIS. officers. clerks,
ard siuecIres who have blest Wisconsin
by removing 10 Washington, will have the
decency 10 let Wisconsin select their own
candidates. every republican in the State
will tally one to their credit When
government pap suckers in Washington,
or New York, or elsewhere, will bring
the telegraph into requisition to advertise
aDyboiy's ''clalms' for Office. it is time
that every press anl politician inveigh
against that way Of 'patting prominently
forward" any such thing. If any body
has ''claims" for the Goyernorship oil
Wisconsin, it is not necessary to curry
him down aud start him on the course
clear in Washington, and run him by
telegraph via New York, clear TO the
''home stretch" And we can assure
Gen. Washburn and everybody else. that
if Washington friends" go thus to dab
bling in matters, by telegraph advert;s.
ing, or by drawing" on friends at home,
by private or public correspondence, that
it vii! injure his interests-if it be for his
interest to run for Governor. 1t is abso.
lutely insulting for them to presume to
do SO. If every former Wisconsin man
in Washington should wish to keep Mr.
Il l..