Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1895-02-07
John c. spooner's Mistake.

The Southwest Wisconsin was an
early and ardent advocate Of Judge
Clementson's becoming candidate
for associate justice Of the supreme
court. Ex-senator John G. Spooner
has positively committed himself in
favor of the recollection Of Judge
Winslow. This brings the S. w. to
the front with scathing arraign-
ment of Spooner as conspicuous
corporation champion, from which
the following are extracts.
There stands out from Inc ranks
Of the people Of Wisconsin one fig
ure futher removed thar any other
it is that Of John q. Spooner. He Is
the champion Of corporation infinen-
ces III our state. The position IL one
that indicates the possession Of in-
telIectual ability OF high order, and
also as we'll the power and grace Of
oratory. But it II not the position
for patriot.
1t has come to be the accepted doc
trine Of the plain people--and no
truer and wiser doctrine ever was
accepted--that a champion OF corr
porations Is ineligible to serve the
people. More than that he Is regard
ed. MS he should be, with profound
distrust He is held to have made
his election to serve with the impe-
realistic forces that in this country
make against democracy-ag against
- ? - 10 mi tho
people are right When John G.,
Spooner wrote the order, which Judge
jenkins signed, depriying the em-
ployes Of the Northern Pacific OF the
rights of free men, the same not being
good law, he gave at least the evil
dence that his mind was completely
dominated by what may be called
the corporation spirit. He Withdrew
entirely from the ranks Of the people.
He Is now, and from henceforth must
be held 10 be, an enemy to the peo
pile in that he has elected not 70 be
with and Of them.
What should the people do when
he advises the election Of certain
man for Judge? They must obey
the impulse OF their instincts. they
then are certain to be right
And Winslow IS defeated already.
The natural inference to be drawn
from this is that Mr.. Spooner'ssupport
of Judge Winslow is believed by the
editor to spring from an affinity be-
tween the Judge aud Mr.. Spooner
with relation to eorporations-that
they are both "ehampions Of corpora
tons and ineligible to serve the
people. But such view is untenable.
Mr.. Spooner's endorsement Of Judge
Winslow can be explained on far
more rational grounds, it seems TO
the TRIBUNE.
When Mr.. Spooner announced for
Winslow itappeared quite likely that
there would be no formidable oppo-
sition-that to be for him was to he
with the multitude. Mr.. Spooner Is
generally believed to strongly de
sire recollection tothe United States
senate. To accomplish this be must
convince the people that he Is with
them and Of them, An opportunity
or doing this seemed to offer in a
prompt and CONSPICUOUS espousal Of
what was apparently popular
for the recollection Of
Judge Winslow.
Had Mr.. Spooner foreseen the situ-
alton as it is to-day-the heavy tide
Of popular enthusiasm that promises
to carry Judge Clementson to the
court with an overwhelming
majority-it is hardly believeable that
he would haze been so Jealous in
behalf of Winslow. Practical poll
ticians will not ascribe Mr.. Spooner's
position ON the judgeship to any cor
poration instincts he may have.
They will only see that abe went off
at half cock