Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1891-03-04
NO. ~.
Senator Voss Once More.

To the Editor: ''Fair Play started
out last week to vindicate Senator Voss
for introducing his charter amend
ment, and spoke of his career while
one OF our city fathers to prove his,
competency to legislate for the best in
terests of the city. Fair Play" does.
not desire to class all the gentlemen
who have held aldermanic positions as
unit for the responsible duties of al
dermanship, for very many able mem
have been elected to the council, men.
who would adorn almost any legislative
position in the gift of the people; but
Fair Play" does contend that many
men totally unfit have also been elect
ed aldermen of this city. By rather
lively experience, Senator Voss thor
Oughly understands our situation =
| hence his desire as one Immediately
interested in the city s welfare to inter-
pose preventive against pernicious;
legislation, at least legislation that
would compromise the city financially.
Much harsh criticism is INDUCED in re-
garding Senator Voss' letter to the
council ,and particularly by Observer
in last weeks REPUBLICAN, and cob
server" endeavors to sustain the point
that if the measure was just and neces--
sary it ought to have become a law
and if the contrary ought not to have
been introduced But Fair Play'' is
of the opinion that ''Observer' is un-
necessarily severe in his structures of
the senator for having written the
council a note proposing solution of
the matter. There is where Observer
falls into error. No matter how good
and necessary the law, the Board OF
Street Commissioners condemned IT..
AS there was no public demonstrations
in condemnation or approval, the SEN
ator, recognizing the voice of the COM
missioners as the will of the people.
readily yielded to their desires. And
right here is where Senator Voss de--
velops one of his strongest character
istics Some men CLEAN wisdom from
passing events and some do not. Self
aggrandisement and vain-glory destroy
many men, but Senator Voss' ship wiz
never 60 to pieces on those dangerous
rocks. If observer" will remember
the administration, resigned his seat in
the United States senate, and trusted
to the New York legislature for vim
dication. If Senator Conklin's wisdom
and prudence had kept pace with his
matchless mental attalnments. he never
would have suffered the modification
of a defeat at the hands of his own par
| ty. Senator Voss does not propose to
be caught In any such trap, at least in
one of his own making Perhaps SEN
ator Voss argued in this manner :
Common councils are not noted for
their special fitness to legislate for
cities as large and important as Water
town is; in the absence of conservative,
well-posted men to guide, unWise legis-
lation may result, and this law will be
protection to the people until such
time as WatertoWn can elect and main
tain full board of aldermen of we'll
known experience and capacity" But
as soon as Senator Voss saw the effect
his measure had on the Board of Street
Commissioners, he wisely retreated-
To have done otherwise would have
been political suicide. Senator Voss
knows, as does every man occupying
his position, the jealousy and intrigue
of small bore politicians, who would
leave no stone unturned to encompass
his downfall. Why should he jeopar-
disc his already bright prospects? To
have insisted on the passage of the
amendment would have provided the
envious politicians with ammunition.
and it is matter of qualification that
| he did nothing of the kind. The sena-
| tor has taken long stride up the lad
der of fame, and now in party councils
is more potential than is the combined
influences of all the would-be states
men of our section. His work in COM
mittee and on the floor of the senate is
| fruitful, and it is safe to prophesy that
| when the Wisconsin legislature adj
! iourns Senator Voss will rank with the.
best members of the upper house. The
day is coming when many who have
criticised him for performing a really
chivalrous act of courtesy will be charg
ing the sother fellow" as the critic. 1t
is to be hoped observer" will throw
aside all prejudice in the premises, and
come to more liberal understanding
ofsthe senator's position, the apparent
necessity for the course he pursued.
and thereby help deprive those polit
ically ambitious do-dos from the ac-
complishment Of an act that would ma
terially weaken the position we now
occupy in the political world. With
this parting injunction "Fair Play" de-
sires to tender to "Observer" his due
respect and great consideration.
FAIR PLAY