Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-04-25
GOVERNOR UPHAM.

1900 AiieANA~ many iii'SNeAF>~ ~ 'AiAG
is proving himself "too small" for
the position he occupies. This
was expected by those who knew
him intimately in Wood county.
They opposed his nomination
because they knew he did not
possess the ability necessary to
guide the ship Of state successfully
However, the majority of the
Republican party in convention
saw fit to nominate him as their
standard bearer. After his
nomination it was generally
supposed we would oppose his
election. We did not for the
Party's sake. In our files of
August 4th 1894, we said:
1T would be useless or worse,
to attempt to conceal the fact that
many republicans in Wood county
believed Mr.. Upham's candidacy
ill-advised; that his nomination, if
made, would be a mistake. This
opinion was freely and openly
expressed. 1t was the result Of
facts, the details of which are
we'll understood and have been
publicly discussed in this county
from time to time" x
The choice of the convention
under such circumstances, there
by became the choice and
candidate of the party, and as
such the representative of its
principles, which are greater than
any man.
That it will be his (Upham's)
purpose to give the State an able
and faithful administration is as
certain as that the human mind
acts from adequate motive. That
he will be elected by an over
whelming majority, and that all
interested men will receive at his
hands the full,,measure Of justice,
in which no trace of malice or i'll
will, will be discovered, is the
confident and sincere wish of the
REPORTER, and its humble voice
and service will be devoted to the
accomplishment of his triumphant
election"
After Gov, Upham's nomination
he came to Grand Rapids and
stated publicly and privately that
he would not lend his influence or
take any part as the executive of
the state in changing the county
lines Of Wood county unless it
was the wish Of the people of the
county. The people here took his
word and voted for him with full
knowledge of his faults and past
record in the county. AS a
result he received a majority of
1923 over Gov. Geo. w. Peck in a
Democratic county which usually
gives a democratic majority of
500 for its party candidates.
The legislature was in session
but a few weeks when his private
executive clerk, Chas. A. Coon,
drew up bill No. 522 A. creating
the county of Rivers and to change
the boundaries of the counties of
Clark, Marathon and Wood.
Had the bill not received the
sanction of his excellency the
Governor, it would never have
been born in his office. This is a
sample of his integrity. The bill
was killed not because the
Governor opposed it but because
it was unconstitutional and con-
tanned other defects.
Assembly bill No. 5o2 A. to
create a municipal court for Wood
county, simply because it contain
ed provisions which would force
the appointment of judge from
the county seat after it had passed
both houses he allows it to die.
He signed bills of the same natuer
and character for other counties,
why not this one?
There are many other items and
facts which we could mention, but
which We will preserve for later
issues, in which he uses his
position as Governor to promote
his individual and sectional
interests in this county.
We find that his mistakes are
not alone confined to this county.
The Sunday Sentinel contains the
following short editorial:
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