Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1896-07-23

prefer from among the residents OF
other counties to head the republican
state ticket. That decision will be
registered by the nine delegates that
are to be chosen TO represent the
county in the state convention on
August 9Th. Therefore, the impor-
lance of seeing that the people are
fully and fairly represented In the
county convention on the 18th, is APP
parent. Expressions heard from al
most every town in the county indi-
cate most clearly that LaFollette is
easily first choice Of this people, and
that II he Is not earnestly supported
by our representative in the state
convention, twill be because Of fail
ure on the part Of his friends to at
tend the primaries and send dele
gates to the county convention who
are in harmony with the general
sentiment.
Why this county favors LaFollette
is easily explained. Heis personally
known to a greater number of our
people than any Of the other men
named as candidates; in fact, ne is
better known to this people than any
one ever nominated or mentioned for
the goyernorship since the organiza-
ton Of the county. This comes
from his having been our congress-
man, when he canyassed the county
thoroughly through three cam
paigns, and when he won his way to
the hearts of our people by his ge-
NAL manners as much as by his excel
lent services and splendid speeches.
To him the people were not merely
the eustodians of votes which he
wanted, they were his friends and as
sociates, wherever met. On the
steets, on the trains, in the crowded
audience room, after election as be-
fore, he had for them the same cord
ial greeting. Between him and this
people there was no formality, they
felt and still feel that he was OF them
and for them; and all considered it
entirely safe to hail him anywhere
with, How are you Bob
When the political tidal wave Of
1890 swept the republican party out
of power, the fact that Bob LaFollette
was engulfed with the rest, was the
most regretted incident of the calam-
ity, as felt in Iowa county, When
later he became involved in tire con-
troversy with Sawyer, and was laid
under the crushing ban Of the con-
trolling forces with which he had
come in.conflict by resenting what he
regarded TO be an attempt to use him
improperly, this people suffered with
him, and with him have pinned in the
shadow of unjust Gesture which has
so perslstently surrounded him. At
every promise of a dispelling of the
clouds enveloping him, this people
have rejoiced, confident in his purity
and that time would right the wrong
OF which he was n victim.
Now, it having been determined
that the time has come for Mr.. La
Follette's return to his heritage--a
front seat i'm the councils of the party
this people should rejoice in the
privilege Of being called to assist In
placing hlm there. Events and evil
dences have been accommodating
steadily until ii is believed that now
the people of the state must be con-
WINGED as we have long been, that
nothing in Mr.. LaFollette's conduct
public or private, merits the censure
TO which he hns been subjected, but
against which 1t seemed useless to
contend, the forces behind the wrong
being too strongly intrenchod.
In these years since his retirement
from congress, and during which ht
has met only rebuff at the hands OF
republican leaders, been cruelty
turned down and persistently eX.
cluded from party councils, Mr.. La.
| Toilette has never wavered in his
loyalty to republican principles
Despite discouragement and almost
insult from the chiefs of the organi-
zation in the state, he has in these
years of trial given the party the
benefit of his splendid oratory OF
/ different occasions, and in the cam.
paign II 1894 contributed his fun
share toward the grand victory then
secured in the state, 1t is truly said
Of him that he never voted against
Il nominee ~ his party contributed
to Il party defeat As a candidate
he never ran behind his ticket, and
as an official he was never found in
opposition 20 any measure for tile
public good or faithless to the cause
Of the people. La Follette's name at
the head Of the state ticket will ms
prove hy scores Of votes the chance
~ success for every nominee on