Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1876-05-03
Our Late NRefOrm'' Governor.

Uur Latt ''hclOTW| UOHerHOrs
The cry Of reform, reform" has
been filing the ears of the people of
Wisconsin for several years past.
From one of the secluded spots in
Dane county came forth William r
Tay Tor, who was vouchsafed by the
democratic party to be the very beau
ideal of reform" with all its accom-
panying blessings, and was elected the
reform Governor of the state in
1873 by an overwhelming majority.
This same original ''reformer" was
candidate for reelection against Har-
rison Ludington last fall. Two years
of the Taylor Democratic Reform"
administration were not passed without
the republicans and here and there a
conscientious democrat detecting a
hollowness and spnriousness about the
kind of reform which had been dealt
out to the dear people" In the
canvass facts came out in the history
of Mr.. Taylor, which showed that IL
accepting him as rep resentative of
reform" the people had been fearful
ly and wonderfully deceived Cor
rupt practices of the most disgraceful
character were charged and proven
against tits man, and yet he sought
the suffrages of the people, and was
strongly pressed for reelection by his
';reform" hackers, on the ground of
the great purity of his character and
the needed political reform" that in
some way was identified wi tn him. A
most bitter and heated campaign was
the result To have doubts as to the in-
fallibility of the "reformer Taylor"
was deemed persecution of that
democratic saint, and his friends got
quite beside themselves in advocating
his reelection. Ludington was elected
by 800 majority, while under the cir
cumstances his majority should have
been $4,000. And now who was cor
rect IN their estimate of the man
Last winter matters leaked out which
led some to believe that .crook edness'
might be discovered In the executive
Office during the reform administ ration
If an investigation was made A Joint
investigating committee was appointed
from the assembly and senate, compos-
ed of both parties, to enquire into the
gubernatorial accounts. The commit
tee are now performing their la bors at
Madison and facts have been develop
ed and admissions forced out of Taylor
which must make every citizen Of the
state hide his face 10 shame. In a
most painful and humiliatipg man ner
have those persons been vindicated
who charged Taylor last fall with
being corrupt and depraved and wholly
unworthy to hold the Office of chief
magistrate of the state. And the
over Jealous advocates of his election
must feel deep sense of modification
at the petty larceny transactions that
have been brought to the very door of
| him who with them was the embodi
ment of all that was good and virtuous
And the taxpayers will see by the in
vestlgation how in one case at leas
they were hoodwinked with the CRY
of $500 day saved" Taylor drew
this amount to line his own poke
with. and finally disgorged to Sloal
when the fear Of the investigator,
committee had overtaken him. Thi
whole disgraeeful business goes to shov
that stealing and official corruption
can 60 on as well in the name Of "dem
ocratic-reform IS under any othe
name, and that the sweet sounding CT
of reform" is, in too many instances
these days, delusio and snare.