Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-04-30
REWARD ONLY THE FAITHFUL.

Madison Journal: Honest,
efficient and intelligent public
service is always entitled to recog-
milton and reward. The official
who has demonstrated by honest,
capable management his fitness to
hold an office, may legitimately
claim endorsement and reasonable
continuance in the position he has
acceptably filled. denominations
should be bestowed only as
rewards of merit Precedent
should count for nothing, meritori-
Gus service for everything.
We are led to these remarks by
noticing the many pleasant
mentions that are made Of the
name of Eugene S. Elliot, Of
Milwaukee, in connection with the
nomination for Governor. AS The
State Journal has before said, Mr..
Elliot is admirably equipped for
the gubernatorial office, and all
the kind words said of him are
fully deserved. But we do not
understand that he seeks the
office and there is a good reason
why it is not likely to be rendered
to him at this time.
1t is the custom, and it is a
polite one, to distribute the noml-
nations on the state ticket through
out the state. Milwaukee would
not claim, and would not be likely
to receive if she did, more than
one candidate on the ticket. In
surance Commissioner Fricke
comes from Milwaukee. He has
conducted the affairs Of his office
with such fidelity, intelligence and
business like methods that he IS
fairly entitled to the public endorse
ment by an election for another
term. It is safe to say that the
insurance Office was never in as
good condition as ne~s The
interests of the people have been
fully protected, bogus companies
driven from the state, and the
interests of the reliable companies
promoted. The amount of revenue
received and paid into the treasury
has been largely increased.
1t would be poor political policy,
detrimental to the PUBLIC interests
and an injustice to Dr., fricke,
after his excellent service, to
refuse him a denomination. The
same may be said of most of the
other state officers. They are all
right. They have satisfactorily
discharged the duties of their
several offices. They are entitled
to continued support because they
have fairly earned it. 1t would be
unwise and unjust to refuse them
the endorsement they are rightly
entitled to. We have no doubt
that the present state officers,
barring the Governor and perhaps
the Attorney General, will be, as
they ought to be, unanimously
renominated. They will not be
supported as matter of precedent
simply, but will be given a second
term because of acceptable service
during a first term. They are
'1ogicar' candidates only because
they have been honest and capable
officials.
The same line Of argument that
calls for the endorsement OF
faithful and competent officials,
demands the rejection Of those
who are shown to be unfaithful or
incompetent. By the same rule
that merit is rewarded must
demerit be rebuked. The Repub-
lican party cannot properly serve
the public interests and hold, or
deserve to hold, the confidence Of
the people Of the state, unless it is
honest and unhinching in its duty,
and goes bravely forward with the
earnest and single purpose of pro-
noting the public good in the
only way in which it can be best
promoted, endorsing public officials
who are deserving and repudiating
those who are undeserving.