Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1888-01-12
The Congressional Succession.

the politicians at such an early day
and as if by some preconcerted plar
should break loose all along the line a
once. The Chicago Tribune, Monro,
Sentinel and Patteville Witness in
rapid succession. announced the com.
ing man to be resident of Monroe,
Green Co., the information in each
case emanating from said city of Mon
roe. And last week the HERALD swung
into line with q very well written
communication on the same subject.
yet however we'll written. would have
to beg the use of the editorial glasses
TO enable nae to discern wherein 'some
strong reasons are presented why q
change is desirable" Still the writer
of the Herald article is more modest
in giving reasons than some of thu
others as he says it is "not on account
of the insufficency or inability of the
present representative" both of which
are broadly limited at in another paper
the Sentinel; but for the reason that
the present incumbent is resident of
Dane county, which has had the Con-
gresham for six successive years. II
might be of interest TO go back and re-
view the causes that combined to give
the first two out of the six years to
Dane county, and recall the acts of
some who contributed to that result.
1t is not improbable that he may find
that some of the Congressional aspir-
ants of to-day then joined hands with
the Boss and aided him in electing a
Democrat in strong Republican dis
trics, and gave Dane county its first
two years. He may also learn that at
later day the friends and relatives
Of an active candidate, one of the latter
being chairman of Il county Republican
committee, worked actively and voted
against the Republican nominee. But
though interesting history, it has nothing
TO do with tue succession nor the reas-
ons for change. Bet he tells US 1T
can but be conceded that the NOM
ination justly belongs to Green county"
In what way, please, did Green count Y
acquire the feeP Is there bill OF sale,
or deed, duly executed by the former
owners Of the sufrages of the Third
|
District? If SO, what was the
consideration? Was it simply the FAC
knowledged qualifications" of its can
didateP Or, coming down to business,
has there been a trade made whereby
Green county became the just posessor
of the right of succession? Tnat has
been loudly whispered, and it il is true.
is this to be mere delivery of the goodsp
Then, again, "next in turn To Green, La
Fayette Uoutd be entitled and should
hare Gr' Another title? What is the
meaning of such langusgep Is the man
made for the office, or the office for the
mane Have the people the control OF
the offices, or do the office-seekers own
the peoplee Do we v0te, or are NE Uoted?
And again: 1T would seem the part OF
lCiSdonl, therefore, to concede the nomi-
nation in the outset to Greenm Would
not the same wisdom" then tell the
dear people the usefulness of holding a
conventione But he tells US ''it is con.
ccdedby Grant. that Green and LaFayett,
counties are next entitled to the repre-.
sentative When did Grant make this
concession? have heard of no plebis
cite being taken. Or was the concession
made by the oUners of the suffrages o
Grant county? Then the people are not
sovereign Now, Mr.. Editor. THU
pompons claim smacks so much of boss
ism that one can almost imagine he car
see the ear-marks of the old Boss him
self. With such arrogancy of dictation
| am forced to take issue. deny tina
any county, any locality or any indvid
ual has any fright to the succession
or any right to any nomination or office
These rights are inherent in the peopl
themselves, yet they have so often su
pinely submitted 10 having them wiede,
by political traders that the latter nov
arrogate them TO themselves.
1t has often seemed TO me paradoxica
that a man can fill an Office so we'll tina
he is untitled TO fill il any more, We
many people seem TO act on this princi
Pile. Solar as | have been able TO learn
the present representative has given a
good satisfaction to the people of his dis
trict as any it has ever had. He is CIV
erywhere recognized as capable. indus
trious, and honest. No young man ha
ever won higher encomiums fro1
the older heads of the Hous
than has Robert NJ. LaFollettt
No duty has been shirked him, nothin
neglected that he should attend to. n
borrierS raised 6etween him and the mos
hunlble individual an his district, n
reference given to any locality. He
certainly the peer in every particular Q
any man for whom he is now asked t
step aside. When the Third Distric
was wrecked and lost by internal strife
he redeemed and solicited it. Will
his first term was considered an expert
ment, his consistent course, industr
and ability so attracted the attention
Of his district that from a plurality O
491 in 1884, despite the heavy increas
of the Prohibition vote. his plurality wa
raised to $50 in 1886. making his plu
rality in the Third District exceed th
average plurality of the State officers b
nearly 60 per cent.
This splendid endorsement seems t
indicate that the mooted desire for
change is entertained by the peopl
| ,.af Iao5 l.