Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-09-05
Highest OF all III Leavenng Power-Lates u Govt Report
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ABSOLUTELY PURE
Criticisms Upon Gov. Upham.

ing his earnest efforts to fitly discharge
the duties of his office and fairly repre-
sent the best interests of the people,
manages TO arouse a good deal OF
adverse criticism. Those who arc in
frequent contact and consultation with
him are thoroughly persuaded that he
seeks in all cases to do the right thing
But despite this honesty of intention
he frequently proyokes very determined
opposition. The State Journal believes
that he has been accused of many
things with which he is not Justly
chargeable, and that much of the criti-
cism he has suffered has been
undeserved. We did not agree with
him IN the treasury cases, or the deep
waterways matter, nor in all his actions
with reference to the appointment of q
supreme judge. But we are not dis
posed to find fault because his views
did not correspond with our own. 1t is
not possible for a Governor to please
everybody. If he is sincere, impartial,
and discharges his duties with reference
only to the public good, free from all
personal considerations and factional
entanglements, then he should be COM
mended and not condemned.
The last embarrassment" to which
the Governor has been subjected grows
out of the controversy concerning the
1oCitiar, NF+ 1o ~,
Fox river. We are not sufficiently
familiar with the situation to express
an opinion as to the merits of the case.
1t ought to have beenevident, however
to the Governor that he would get into
trouble if he mixed in the matter at all
He has no official jurisdiction in the
case. The general government controls
the matter, and the Assistant Secretary
of War has visited the Fox river valley
consulted the business interests.
personally inspected the situation and
reported upon 1t. Under these circum-
stances it would seem to have been
wise for the Governor to have refused
to interfere.
Here is what the Oshkosh papers
have to say about the Governors action
in writing letter to the War Depart.
ment making various suggestions.
The Northwestern Republican, says
The governor has simply yielded to
the lower Fox. His action is largely
haSp6 on rarcona1 o7,J ,1olitioo1 ,orocc,, W.
from that quarter, and he ought to have
been wise enough to have kept his
fingers out of this controversy. He has
only succeeded in reopening a sore that
was already fast healing, and would
have cured itself in few weeks if he
had kept his lacerating interference out
OF 1t. But the war departments better
posted on this subject than the COVER
nor preSumeS it is, and better informed
on the situation than the governor him
self. His letter will have no effect on
the department. Gen. Doe has looked
this matter up personally, and the
governors letter certainly supplies him
with no further information. The effect
of the letter will be immaterial, except
as an unfortunate exhibition of the
governor himself.
The Times, Democrat says:
Gov. Upham has shown poor judg-
ment. He is following wretched advice
or has allowed himself to be swayed by
the powerful influences of the Fox
river valley millmen. In either case it
is but another nail in his political coffin.
The letter is especially injudicious and
in poor taste since matters down river
are being rapidly installed, and the
mills will soon be in better shape than
they ever have been. But Gov. Upham
has now gotten outside his sphere and
is meddling with other peoples busi-
ness and polite information to that
effect from the war department will
probably be the only result Of his
extremely disinterested public spirited
letter-Madison Journal.