Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1898-10-20
Gov. SCoiied and His Record.

dignified course during this summer!
campaign that should commend him
to all citizens. He has done nothing
TO further his own interests save To
attend faithfully and periodically tc
the many and 0arduous duties oi
his high office. His record as he says
is an '.open book" and on that he is
willing to stand or fall without re-
sorting to any Of the wiles of The pol
itician.
A fair perusal of that record should
convince every republican in the state
OF Wisconsin Of his duty to give
Governor ScofieId unqualified en-
dorsement on election day.
l. Governor Scofield INTRODUCED
business methods into the manage
ment Of state affairs and through his
influence best business principles are
being applied to the conduct of all
the offices of the capitol. In his first
message the governor recommended,
"A classification OF the employees,
fixing the salaries and limiting the
number to the actual need of each
department" This recommendation
was followed by the pas sage of sal
airy law intended to systematic the
state seyice and which should effect
considerable saving to the taxpayers.
,. Through the influence of the
present governor and under his adj
ministration a Tax Commission was
appointed having for its object the
establishing Of fairer system OF as
sessment and taxation in the state.
On this question the governor has
said:
II do not for one moment think
that the inequalities so apparent in
our system of taxation can be sudden
~ righted even by the combination
of all classes or industries, or by the
people engaged in them. But there
can be much done and an honest, in
telligent effort will eventually bring
order out OF the unfavorable condi-
tions which now exist
3. Governor Scotield put an end
to the practice of getting advances
from the railroads and of borrowing
money from banks in order to meet
the current expenses Of the state. 1t
took courage on his part to pursue this
course of temporary increase in the
tax levy, but it was course every
self-respecting citizen must approve.
4. The governor has abolished po-
litical dictation in appointment to
places in the penal. reformatory and
charitable state institutions His in
structions are that competency to
fill the position sought must be the
first and chiefrecommendationof every
candidate, ! There.is no dlseharging
Of employees to give place to political
fayorites as there has been in past
years especially during Geo. Peck ;
administration. Scofield is a reform
governor that has really reformed
something.
3, Gov. Scofield's splendid record
in handling the Wisconsin troops
called into service aud his efforts in
behalf % he soldiers even after they
had left the state are undisputed. Ii
the choice for governor were left t.
the votes Of the Wisconsin troops
there woul3 not be enough against
Scoheld to be worth counting.
6. BY his vetoes the governor ha,
shown his independence, conscien
tiousness, and freedom from dictation
His friends warned him that to veto tn,
sleeping ear and express bills woul,
DO him great political harm But h,
believed the bills To have been illegal
| " passed and that to sign them woulc
only aggravate the evil they were in
tended to correct and he replied
Il have no desire to continue as tn,
governor Of Wisconsin il to retain
that Office | must sink my own judg
ment and my own conscience. w eth
err have the respect Of other people o
not / must retain my self respect an,
can only dc that by performing m,
duty as see il.
That is the reply Of man; it ha
the ring Of genuine and fearless hon
esty in il. No quihble about whethe
the governor was correct in his posi-
ton ought to turn a single vote iron
him,
= The promptness and activity 8
the governor in giving aid aud assist
, lance 70 he destitute fire sufferers il