Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1894-11-01
VOTERS ATTENTION.
To Tie Taxpayers cf Wood County.
Afarshfeld, Wis, Oct. 22d, IS


the other denying the same and paint
ing me as a local political monster
dealing in untruths and chronic alb
surdities.
am forced in this controversy tc
about the position of the fellow who was
between the deviland the dark blue sea
When a poor unfortunate lawyer is
made a football for two belligerent and
brainy editors, bis situation becomes
anything but pleasant, sleepless must be
his nights and gloomy be his days
In reply to the insinuations of the
News editor, would say that when a
view is taken of the record of the Dem.
ocratic party in Wood county, I feel
proud of the fact that lam Republican,
and as stated, member of the Republi.
can City Committee, and that | owe no
allegiance 10 the boss ridden party OF
shady record, whose political agents
now control the county machinery and
seek to veil their Interior motives under
the banner Of alleged Democracy.
A man is judged by his past record
SO is political party. If the past life OF
a man has been q record of shame and
dishonesty, its retrospect furnishes, as a
rule, correct index of what his future
career will be- If the political past Of a
party is roll Of honor, its future exist
ence can be looked forward to with con-
fidence and belief. If, however, its
past record has been corrupt, and brings
the blush Of shame to its political apollo
gists when referred to, then in such
event the people can only look forward
to It's continuation liz power with feel
ings of mistrust, uncertainty and doubt.
| regret exceedingly being forced by
the News in defense. to open up for
public inspection, the record Of the
Democratic party in Wood county, and
to turn upon this record the calcium
light of truth. I shall make no state
ment that | cannot substantiate by ab-
solute proof, and I challenge the Demo
cratic press and the Democratic leaders
to deny my statements or their truth.
Before referring to the underground
achievements of the Democratic party
in Wood county, [ wish to state that [
have no political mud to throw, no
consure and no words of reproach to
offer against any .nf.the present Demo-
cratic candidates for county Office in
Wood county. [ believe all the Demo
cratic candidates to be the same as I
know all the Republican candidates are,
good, capable and honorable men. All
the Democratic candidates, with per-
haps one exception, are my friends and
while we may differ in political views,
[ have no words of abuse or censure
to offer against any of them. Their
condition in belonging to a party
whose laws, reign, principles and their
practice have given birth to Coxey's
Army, hundreds of "soup houses and
business doubt and uncertainty, is one
that should awaken feelings Of pity and
compassion in every mans bosom and
not Of censure and blame.
It makes no difference to me whether
man or his ancestors first saw the
light of day in Germany, Ireland or any
other foreign country; we are all
Americans and the nationality matters
not. We are all oman equality, and the
narrow attempts of the News and
Centralia Enterprise to pose the Demo-
cratic candidates as Irish-American,
German and German-American, in
order to win votes, should be condemned
all are Americans and should be so
classed.
In our county politics 1t is painful to
witness the attempts Of the Democratic
leaders to hide from public view, the
past Democratic party record in Wood
county. 1t is distressing to notice the
painful silence of the News and the
Enterprise on this record of both the
remote and immediate past. Not a
word has been printed about the
defalcations of the late Democratic
County Clerk and County Treasurer.
What strange condition of county
affairs confront us. Men should lay
aside party prejudice and consider this
record of the Wood county Democratic
party fairly. 1t is no campaign lie or
idle statement, but fact that can be
proven from the records that on
January 1st, 1898, the late Democratic
County Clerk of Wood county was a
defaulter to the exact amount of
S3,253l1 of the taxpayers' mouey. 1t
is likewise a fact and can be proven
from the records that the late Demo-
cratic County Treasurer was a defaulter
on February 9TH, 1898, to the amount of
exactly $1,746.l3 Of the taxpayers
money, and which has since been paid
by himself and bondsmen, mainly by
the latter.
The above facts can be verified by re-
ferring 10 the printed proceedings of
the County Board of Supervisors of
Wood County for the year 1898 on page
IS.
On January 1st, 1898, said Democratic
County Treasurer was short exactly $6,-
3S1.11. The fact of this shortage became
quietly known to the Democratic lead
ers of the party, who, Of course, reside
in Centralia, but was supposed then to
be only about 100000. 4 hasty con-
sultation was had Something had to
Ioo