Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-09-03
John c. Spooner fer Senator.

AS the Milwaukee Telegraph has
claimed ever since he entered the
United States Senate, Wisconsin never
had an ADLER, more faithful or more
successful senator than Col. John G..
Spooner. During his term of six years
III that, the highest legislative body in
the world, no one, whether friend or
foe, political or otherwise, could saw
that he did not devote himself untir-
ingly, whole heartediy, to an intelligent
and statesmanlike performance Of his
duties. Before entering upon that
public service he laid aside all work
that was not i'll the direct line of sena-
tOrial effort. Let us repeat, while
Wisconsin has had able men in that
body, no one who is familiar with the
record of John c. Spooner from 1885 to
1891 will claim that the state ever had
his superior, all things taken into con-
sideratiOn, in the upper house of Con-
greSS. This is saying much when we
think of Howe, Carpenter, Cameron
and DoOlittle, all Of whom were orators
above the average, men who won more
than national regulations, who were
reelected, and who stood high i'll their
professions, In their party, and in the
nation as men of brain. great capacity
craftsmanship, but it is not claiming too
much. He was a match for the work
ing Senator Sawyer. Nor is it claiming
too much to say that WiscOnsin's young
senator had not been two years on duty
III that body of great men before he
ranked as an orator, as q statesman, as
Republican leader with the best men
III the Senate. Among all of the pOliti-
cal defeats III Wisconsin there never
has been one that caused so much re-
vp4t Ia f,,l r
reelected in 1891. 1t may be doubted
If any Wisconsin man who ever en-
tered the arena Of politics had a greater
number of staunch, enthusiastic friends.
These friends are raliying in every
county of the state. The day has come
when they can lend aid in restoring
HIM to that high rank in official life in
which he won such distinction for his
party and his state. The LegiSlat IRE
that Will convene in Madison next Jam
uary will be called upon to choose a
senator. There is reason to believe,
and certainly ground for hope, that the
only name that will be thought of in
connection with that high office will be
that of John G. Spooner. Is there a
man IN the state, has there ever been a
man III the state, better fitted and more
thoroughly equipped, in all respects for
senator?
\ state that has such men as John G..
Spooner cannot afford to allow them
freedom from public duties They are
too valuable in the service of the state
and nation to be permitted to remain in
private life. AS Massachusetts chung to
Webster and Sumner, as Illinois stood
by Douglas and Ohio by Sherman, so
should Wisconsin cling to and stand bv
John G. SpOoner, for he Is to Wisconsin
what they were to Massachusetts, Ohio
and Illinois.
This is written without knowledge
that Col. Spooner desires or will seek
election to the Senate. 1t is written IN
the belief that now, when the Republi-
can party has a chance to give to the
state and the nation the benefit of his
great mind and good heart, it cannot
afford to do otherwise than elect him
whether he desires the office or not. A
man that is so useful to the public and
has been honored by his party as
Spooner has, will not decline TO be re-
mustered into the service. Let that
muster be unanimous, generous. enthu-
siastic. And when he has again as
sumed the rank and the duties of the
senator in Congress let Wisconsin see
to 1t that he remains there, as Webster
did, as Sumner did, as Douglas did. as
Sherman will, until he is mustered out
OF service on earth.