Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1898-05-25
] From the MIlwnukee sentinel Of Monday ]

announcements of his candidacy for renomi-
nation In this announcements he apDeals to
the people on his record in the following
my record is an open book to be read by
all. IL 1t is satisfactory to the people OF the
state, and they select me again to fill the
office. shall Try as earnestly to do my duty
as | have during this administration"
If the governors record is satisfactory to
the people, when it is nown. he deserves and
should receive an endorsement If it IS not
satisfactory, some other republican should
be elected in his stead. We have nearly three
months In which to scar closely the record of
al candidates. This shrnld be done before
the convention in order that IA united party
may rally around strong tic tet
can not agree with the governor when he
says, my record as governor Is an open book
to be read by ALL" The fact Is that the
greater part of his record of vital i'm oortance
to republicans in considering his Candidacy
for denomination, is a closed book 10 a large
majority OF the citizens of the entire state.
That there may be a better understanding
OF his record, desire, as briefly as possible,
to submit for the consideration of the citi-
zens of the state a few facts touching on both
the open and closed book record of our gov
ernor.
Mr.. Scofield was nominated by the republi-
can convention which assembled Ia Milwau-
kee in August 1896. The convention, among
| other declarations, adopted the following
Resolved, That it Is the sense of this con-
ventiOn that the granting of free railroad
| passes, express and telegraph franks, ana
this state, TO public officers, Is against public
| policy, and we favor such laws as VIII pre-
| vent the same"
Mr. Scoield in accepting the nomination,
used these words: II pledge you that will
not only stand upon that platform during the
campaign for the election, but. IL elected, Will
stand firmly upon it during the full term of
| the Office
| The campaign was made, and hc was elect
ed governor of the state. In view of the fact
| that an expression OF the sentiment OF the
people at the town meetings IN 1895 was OBJ
| tanned. resulting in a vote of more than $1,000
| in favor of the abolition of the free pass sys-
| tenn to less than 100 against Its aDoItlon;
that the republican state convention prom
| ised the people to abolish the system; that
| the entire state press, regardless OF party;
with perhaps one or two EXCEPTIONS Favored
| the enactment of laws to prevent the grant
| ing of free passes, and the governor promised
| in his acceptance of the nomination, to stand
upon the platform of dis party to the end OF
| his term the people of the state had "a right
| to believe that the governor would, In his
message to the legislature, voice the Dracti-
| cally unanimous sentiment of The people and
| the press, by calling Its attention to the evils
| of the pass system, and urge upon the legis-
| lature the wisdom of enacting laws that
would meet the just expectation OF the peo-
Pile upon this question. and thus fully redeem
| his pledge to the party. Instead of making
such a recommendation to the legislature he
was pleased to inject into his message the
| following:
"Railroads-The railroads of our state are
closely identified with the development or
our AGRICULTURAL commercial anu HiduuidC-
turing interests. Farmers merchants, man
ufacturerS miners, and all classes or our
people come daily into business relations
with Them ahd IL is "A cause for congratula-
| ton that the relations existing between
| twenty or more railroads doing business
within our borders, and the people OF the
state are so generally harmonious"
Before commenting on this paragraph, de-
sire to call attention 10 the striking similar
ity Of the language here used by Governor
Scofield, and the wording of petition pre-
tGaD a6 ~ ba lori la n pp n
road lobbyists This petition was sent by the
railroad corporations to nearly every rail-
road agent in the state, in order to get sigma
lures In opposition to measure then pend
ing in the legislature, to bring the railroads
| of this state under state control, as in lii
nois, Iowa, Minnesota and other states. The
governor said: ut is cause for congratula-
ton that the relations existing between the
twenty or more railroads doing business
within our borders, al the people OF the
state are so generally harmonious. The
railroad petition reads: Your petitioners
| represent that the relations between the rail-
ways and the people are harmonious ana
this similarity of thought and wording Is &C
cidental, but this seems hardly probable
But be that as il may, it is certain that the
statement of the governor and of the rail-
roads that harmony exists between the peo-
| pie and the railroads is not in keeping with
| the facts; none will dispute, however, that
| there is a wonderful harmony of opinion on
| this question between the governor and these
corporations.
|
| sage, it may be said that had the presidents
| of the railroads themselves dictated TINS
| part of that official document they could
hardly have made it more favorable TO their
corporation interests, or better calculated to
| influence the legislature against the Iegsla-
| ton which had been promised the people
1T not only ignored the party plank, pladg-
| ing the enactment of laws to prevent the
granting of passes, telegraph and express
! franks and sleeping-car permits, but went
| further. 1t sought to discourage all legisla-
| "A favored these CORPORATIONS,
tending in any degree to disturb these so
! generally harmonious" conditions. The
meaning of the governors language Is I'M
mistakIbe. He approved OF existing rela-
| tiOnS," AID spoke of them as a matter for
congratulatiOn." 1t signifed his wish not to
| have existing relations disturbed i'll any
way
| At this time | propose to set forth but one
| of these existing relations" and the attitude
| of the governor with respect to it, and that Is
| the granting by the railway companies to the
governor, members of the legislature, and
other public officials of free passes. This
| existing relation" which the governor IN
| formed the legislature was cause for con-
graduation" by the people-the people them
| selves, the press, and the republican state
| convention denounced as against public
policy" and his eNcellency promised to give
his support to secure its abolition.
After the action of the governor, as herein
| stated, it will not be surprising to any one
| to learn that heOppDsed the passage Of the res
| otdiOn introduced in the assembly, which
| simply prOUided for submitting to the people
for their decision constitutional amendment
prohibiting the granting of free passes, franks
and permits to public officials by the corpor-
/ atoms, and which was intended to carry out
/ the promise of the party made by the repuD-
| lican state convention on the pass question.
| That Gov. ScofeId is responsible for the
1 defeat of the pass legislation, many familiar
/ with the facts, firmly believe. 1t is known
that he used his influence with members to per
/ sltGde them TO cote against the resolution and
| that he denounced 1t as q d humbhg. Nor is
this all. When the state convention by reso-
| luton declared the granting Of passes to pub
| lie officials to be against public policy, a
| proper sense of propriety would have de-
| ferred most men, had they been honOred with
the high distinction of being selected as the
standard bearer of the party, from accepting
| these favors Not so, however, with our gov
| ernor. There is proof, humiiating to every
citizen, that the governor of our state, in yto-
lation of his party's platform pledge, ana In
| the face of his veto of bill taxing express
| companies, did himself use an express frank
/ to ship goods; nay more, that he even in
/ fringed on the rules of the express company
| by expressing his c0U from OcOntO to Madison
| on q frank. Language fails me in properly
characterizing such an act on the part Of the
chief executive of the state, and the official
head of great party, and l shall not attempt
There are other existing relations be
tween the railroads and the people of the
| state of vital Importance to every citizen
| which are not cause for congratulatiOn.
view in another communication.
| Briefly referring to some of the professions
1 OF UON. ECODHIG as SET IOfJlI III Ills SpcCCH az
the md-winter fair held in Nanesvllle, the
latter part of the winter, and has action prior
| to the adjournment of the legis AZURE, will
| close this communication.
| In his GAINESVILLE speech he informed the
| farmers that there are corporations doing
business in Wisconsin that are not paying
| their just share of taxes and he 1nStanced
trust companies. the palace, drawing-room
| and sleeping-car companies, the express ana
| insura nee companies. The governor Is GER
| tainly correct in this and it is to be regretted
that Ii did not occur to him when the legisla-
| ture was in session, and when he had the OPP
portunity of urging upon the legislature the
necessity OF enacting laws to tax these cor
porations.
| If in place of sending a message to the
Legislature, recommending the passage OF
property of rhe state. which does not in
clude the property Of railroads, express,
Iseeping-car, telegraph or telephone prop
| erty, he had sent an earnest and forceful
message stating the facts as he stated them
| to the farmers of Rock county year after
wards, and in addition had recommended the
| Increase in the amount to be paid by rail-
| roads whose gross earning exceed 5000 mile
per annum, to per cent. he might nave re-
| ceived favorable response from the iegisla-
ture, and thus avoided the necessity of a
direct tax. IL was the general Deilef or the
members with whom | converSed, VINO were
| favor of taxing these corporations, that Gov.
Scoteld was not at all anxious to see any
| changes in the law. We all felt that his hand
| with the lobby who were intent upon defeat
ing all these measures and who did render
them of little value TO the people, before their
final passage. ana who finally succeeded in
| securing their veto.
Another gem in this now celebrated James