River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1881-09-29
MADISON. Sept. %, 1881.

MADISON. Sept. 20, 1881.
EprroRs JOURNAL:
/ With your permission will offer a
few suggestions upon political topics
just now near the hearts Of the peo-
pie, which may prove entertaining to
those of your readers who do not
share in the opinion that the inter-
ests of the general public shonld be
subordinated to those of faction Of
the Republican party. All who are
attentively watching the signs of the
times can see, if they will, that corpo-
rations and the money power Of the
country are uniting to secure control
Of the Republican patty as the most
available instrument with which to
advance their own selfish schemes.
The elections OF United States Sena-
tors throughout the nation held last
winter abundantly prove this to be SO,
and we need not go outside of Wis
| consn for a conspicuous illustration
of the truth of this assertion. The
combination formed for the election
of wealthy railway official to Uhe
| Senate of the United States in this
city during the legislative session of
the present year, not content with
that achievement, has formally as
sulned control of the Republican party
| in this State, as attested by the ac-
ton of the State convention held here
| last week, where it rode rough-shod
over most who dared disobey its be-
hests. The convention adopted a
string of resolutions which taken by
themselves make very neat party
platform, but when contrasted with
the influences that controlled the as
sembly by which they were adopted
they present pleasing comedy. They
constitute very cleverly built plat
form upon which to catch votes for
corporation-ring ticket. Those who
belong to the regency, or are in SYM
patty with it's purposes, will tell you
that it is all a myth, but it has quite
recently given ample evidence that it
contains vitality sufficient to enable it
to dictate the greater portion of the
State ticket, and owes no small degree
of it's power to the fear of many who
do not deem it prudent to oppose it,
lest by such opposition they may be
kept in oblivion--or out of office. In
view of the expressed solicitude of
Republican organs and stump orators
for the interests Of the ''deal people, >
and especially of the agricultural
class, it may seem strange that not a
single yeoman, worthy the title as a
representative of his class, was placed
in nomination, yet Republican farmers
are expected to pocket the snub and
''vote the straight ticket. For the
benefit Of your agricultural readers i
will jot down the professions and occu-
pations OF candidates on the State
ticket: Rusk is a banker Mr.. Fifield
is a newspaper man; Captain Il nme
| is a disabled soldier and county clerk,
was not member of the ring but so
strong that it was not deemed expedl-
ent to make any serious efforts to de-
| feat him; Mr.. MeFetridge is manu-
facturer of wooden goods; Mr.. Frisby
| is a lawyer; Mr.. Graham is teacher;
Mr.. Haugen is lawyer; Mr.. Spooner
was an insurance agent but is now
commissioner of insurance. These
professions are all honorable ones, and
not enumerated for the purpose of de-
tracing in the least from the personal
worth of the gentlemen named as be.
longing thereto, but simply to illus
trate the OVERLOOKING affection () Of
those who are running the Republic
| can machine for the tillers Of the soil.
The farmers would have been, as a
class, especially gratilied to see some
honorable gentleman of their number
nominated for the Office of Railroad
| Commissioner, but instead, the re-
gency decreed the nomination of a
| lawyer, and lawyer, too, who is IN
full fellowship with the Senatorial
| combination, and it is understood he
was here last winter as a lobbyist in
its interest and consequently known to
be its man. 1t is true the Repub-
lican press asserts that 'all is love, -
the lion and the lamb have lain down
together--though the latter is inside
and "points with pride" to the melt
ing harmony that prevails within the
party; but this pretense is a sham so
far as it applies to the present, though
1t is confidently expected that recall
citrantS and kickers will quite gener-
ally be whipped into the traces in due
time. The Scandinavians in this vi.
entity, as rule, make no attempt to
conceal their disgust at the treatment
of that nationality by the convention.
After the slaughter of Warner, John
son and Steensland in the order named,
most of the Scandinavian delegates
united upon Hon. J. J. Rasmussen, a
Danish farmer of Brown county, for
Railroad Commissioner but the re.
gency had set the seal of its approval
upon Lawyer Haugen and he was nom.
mated. A Herculean effort is now
being made to 'fix up with the strong
| scandinavian element Of the party,
with what result remains to be seen.
There are thousands of people in
Wisconsin representing the better ele.
ment of society, whose appeal to the
legislature for the submission of a
certain proposed constitutional amend
ment to vote of the people has been
persistently ignored, and who through
/ an accredited representative asked the
convention TO reiterate the principle
in which is involved the right of Pc
titiou. Though representing an ele-
ment nine-tenths of the voters of
which are Republicans, the conven-
ton promptly sat down upon them,
FOR fear Of alternating the German
vote-thus sacrificing principle to the
!, demand of policy. so considered. The
temperance Republicans are evil
IDENTIFY determined to vote in support