Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1875-08-26
RefOrmers in Trouble.


There is trouble in the Reform
camp. The grand sachems of the par
ty calling itself Reform have been
resting quietly in the belief that the
public pulse was beating in unison with
the general health of the body polite,
when all at once it is discovered that
the reform pulse was beating funeral
march for the reform body to a politi-
cal grave. When the crieIs in the
camp have called aloud :: "Watchman,
what of the night ?" expecting to hear
the response: every near election
morn, and all is WE'LL" they are dumb
foun ded by the reply from all the
watchtowers, "All is not well, by -
sight" In short, on Friday evening
last choice company of the repre-
sentative men of the Reform party not
liking the running gear of the reform
machine arranged to meet at the
Plankington House in Milwaukee,
there to give expression to their opin-
ions relative to things pertaining to
party management. All were at heart
anti-Taylor men, and heartily sick of
the figure head automaton, who is ev-
erything to everybody, and who has
played Governor for nearly two years.
These choice souls we're:
j. D. Gurnee, Madison.
Philo Dunning, Madison.
T. e. Bird, Madison. !
B. r. Hinckly, Oconomowoc.
R. E. Davis, Middleton.
Sat Clark, Horizon.
D. C. Fulton, Hudson.
Ed. S. Bragg, Fond du Lac.
H. H. Gray, Darlington.
Walt. S. Green, Neilford.
w. w. Corning, Portage.
Philo Orion, Lafayette County.
Joe Rankin, Manitowoc.
Sam Burchard, Beaver Dam.
Dave Gowdey. Beaver Dam.
Austin Kellogg, Jefferson County.
Frank Willard, Jefferson County.
The meeting was clandestine, but
somebody "blowed." and the "Gov."
sent his private Secretary, Geo. W.
Bird, to learn what was in the wind.
But another, wary Sentinel reporter
got wind of the conclave, and not hav-
ing the fear Of the great reform god
before his eyes, he managed to secrete
himself upon the verandah where he
could see and hear the choice utter
ances of the leading democrats of the
state upon a matter vital to party in
terests.
What they said we condense from
the Sentineps report:
Mr.. Gurnee, chairman of the meet
ing, said they wanted to throw Taylor
overheard because of his incapacity
and want of strength. lie said his
nomination would throw away all
hopes of a majority in Milwaukee,
Dane, Dodge, Sank and Green.
Sat Clark said the opposition to lay
lor was growing in strength among the
most able and influential Democrats,
that he, Taylor, was unfit to be Cover
nor because of incapacity, that he was
dishonest and false to his promises,
and that he had appropriated SoOO OF
the funds of the State Agricultural So
ciety for which he failed to account as
President.
Sam Burehard, Member of Congress,
said chat he did not think there was
man In the room but would make a
better Governor than Taylor, and bitter
as the pill might be, he thought he
would have to swallow him as a politi-
cal necessity.
Mark Fulton, Greeleyized Republi-
can, said Taylor was weak man who
has been false to his friends and his
principles
Joe Rankin, the Democratic wheel
horse of Manitowoc county, spoke ably
against Taylor. But work was neces-
CORY 70 heat him In convention. His
agents were at work all over the State,
and ''his private secretary is now watch