Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-09-02
Robt. La FoIIette's Speech at Baraboo.

''The existence Of the corporation as
we have it today was not dreampt of by
the fathers. It isa modern creation, the
product of legislation. It has become
all-peryasive, has invaded all depart
ments Of business, all activities of life.
By their number and power and the
consolidation Oftimes of many into one,
corporations have rqctically acquired
dominion over the business world. The
effect is revolutionary, and cannot be
Overestimated. The individual as a
business factor is disappearing, his place
being taken by many under corporate
rule. The business man and artisan Of
the past gave to his business an indi-
yidual stamp and reputation, making
high mental worth an essential element
of business life. Gathered IN corporate
employ, men become mere cOgs IN the
Jheels of complicated mechanism. The
corporation is a machine for making
money, demanding of its employees only
obedience and service, reducing men to
the status of privates in the ranks of the
regular army.
1T is but Just to say that no legisla-
ture that has assembled in Wisconsin
for many years contained so many good
men as the last. But when a bill to pun
ish corrupt practices in campaigns and
elections is destroyed by amendment;
when measures such as the Davidson
bills requiring corporations to pay a ust
share of the taxes, 90 down to defeat;
when bills to compel millions of dollars
of untaxed personal property to come
out from its hiding places and help
maintain government, fail of adequate
support; when republicans and demo-
Gratis unite in defeating the Hall resolu-
ton to emancipate the legislature from
1l,cp TO
hibiting acceptance of railroad passes,
sleeping car passes, telegraph and ex-
press company franks; when these
things and many others oflike character
happen and are made matters of public
record, which no man may deny, then
that man is untrue to his country, his
party and himself who will not raise
his voice in condemnatiOn-not in con-
demnation of the principles of the polit
ical party i'll which he believes or of the
great body of its organization, but of
the men who betray it. and the method
by which they control, only to prosti-
tute it to base and selfish ends.
POINTS OUT THE REMEDY.
''The remedy is to begin at the foun-
dation and make one supreme effort
under and for victory over the present
bad system. Nominate aud elect men
who Will pass a primary election law
which will enable the voter to select
directly candidates without Intervention
of caucus or convention or domination
of machines. Thus may permanent
reform be accomplished, greater even
than reform effected by the adoption
of the Australian ballot which has so
reVolutIOniZed the conduct of elections.
Apply the method of the Australian
ballot as embodied in the Cooper law to
the primary election, and let it take the
place of both caucus and convention.
Furnish the primary election booth
with ballots as under the Australian sys
tenn, and print on the ballot for each
party the names of the different candi- |
dates proposed for its nominee as candi- |
dates for judicial offices are now pro-
posed; provide for the selection of a |
committee to represent each party |
organization and promulgate the party |
platform through such committee COM
posed of party committeeman elected |
by and for the voters of each party in |
every assembly district of the state. |
Provide severe penalties for any viola |
ton of the Primary Election law. Pro- |
hibit corrupt influences in or about the |
election booth, and insure an honest |
count and return the votes as cast. Pro- |
vide that each man receiving the high |
tSb uuDUcT VI NOlcS Cast III bu6 DdllOI |
box of his party for the office, for the |
nomination for which he is a candidate, |
shall be the nominee OF that party at
the general election to follow. In short, |
pass such a measure as the Lewis P"i |
mary Election bill. Under this svstt n |
you will destroy the machine, because |
you destroy the caucus and convention |
system through which the machine con-
trolls party nominations. You will place |
the nominations directly. in the hands |
of the people. You will restore to
every state in the union the govern
ment given to this people by the God
of nations"
Among the prominent republicans
present were Assemblyman John NJ.
True, Senator William T. Conger, J. A.
Stone and Paul Lachmund.