Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1878-01-31
The R. r. Commlsslonereh1p.


incident to these latter times, has an
officer whose title is Railroad Com
missioner. The Governor appoints
man to fill the office the appointment
being subject to confirmation by the
State Senate. 1t is pretty good of
flee and there were several very prom
inent men applicants for it, when it
became understood that Governor
Smith would appoint some one to sue
coed the present incumbent. Their
several Influences were brought to
bear upon the Governor and while
they winked and hob nobed with each
other there was one thing they felt
sure of. That was that one Of them
would get it. The lucky one would then
exert himself to win favors for the
others. But, alas there's many a slip,
etc. One day last week, instead Of
the name of some one of this spirited
- 'hn Governor sent To the Sen.
ate the name of Gen. j. NJ. Rusk as
the man of bis choice for the position
What a Mortified squad these appli-
cants became all at once! G en-. Rusk was
away at Washington and they did not
know even that be was an applicant
for the office. What right had the
Governor to appoint him or how dare
he receive the appointment without
pulling at the usual wires or without
an understanding as to who was to
run him and his Office if he should be
appointed And besides, Gen. Rusk
Is only plain, blunt man, who would
not be sufficiently polite to the railroad
men, and who would look cautiously
at railroad pass before he would ac-
cept it, and who would not get up big
printing jobs for Madison offices.
There must have been something back
of Governor Smith, induced him to
| take Rusk-who was not one OF them.
Surely there was. 1t was Governor
lWashburn. He lately gave the State
of Wisconsin about hundred thou
sand doiiars towards occurring the big
gest telescope and founding the finest
observatory in the West This trick
of getting Rusk appointed Railroad
Commissioner shows he did it so as to
get himself chosen U. S. Senator.
Still later he gave the value of nearly
another hundred thousand to found
an industrial house for girls, when the
Sentinel wanted all the bad and neg
lected girls put into house in Mil
waukee, and this gift also is shown by
his selection of Rusk, to be another
silvered path towards the u. S. Sen
ate. Well, well! Aud so Rusk, bad
to be sent for. He came to Madison
and then it turned out that Rusk had
never thought of applying for the
place and did not know who asked
Gov.Smith to appoint him. And the
Governor, who ought to have slapped
the Madison Journals chops for Civ.
ing currency to the winnings of
squads of impudent fools, permits
that paper to publish the following:
We are authorized by Governor Smith 10
say that Col. James II. Howe did not ask for.
and did not advise, the appointment or nomi-
| nation of Hon. Horace Rublee, or any other
person, as Railroad Commissioner and that
Ex-Governor Washburn did not ask or advise
the appointment or nomination of Genei al
Rusk, and did not know that he would be
nominated.
The nomination of General Rusk was not
settled until Wednesday--the day before his
name was sent TO the Senate.
For some days previous 10 that time, the
expediency or deslrablity of finding some
man not prominently mentioned in connection
with the office was under consideration; and
this was repeatedly stated by the Governor TO
persons who called upon him. This was no
secret. lie dlsclaims most emphatcaly any
purpose or intention of making the Offices or
patronage at his disposal subsiervient to any
personal or ambitious schemes, either for The
advancement of himself or friends, as his
highest ambition is to honor the Office be now
fills, and 10 discharge his duties with fidelity.
We trust that Governor Smith will
go on with his "highest ambition"
We do not care. whether or not he
stands by the nomination of Gen.
Rusk, but we are very sure that Gen.
Rnsk would perform the duties of that
office as they ought to be performed,
and if the Senate rejects because of
the puppy cries that have been made
over his nomination the Senators will
bemean themselves. 1t is time that
the class of Republicans who by their
hypocrisy, their trading, their use Of
the offices of the people to win the Ia |
vor and the voices of thieves, were
given to understand that their abuses |
OF Republicans whose shoes they are |
not worthy to unloose, shall have none
effect
The Governor has withdrawn
the name of General Rusk.