Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1899-01-26
WEBB THE IDEAL SENATOR
KREUTZER'S STRONG ENDORSEMENT
HIS Integrity, Ability and Craftsmanship
Beyond Question. Would be an Honor
to the State and the Nation alike.

NJ. Webb for United States Senator
from Wisconsin. 1t was generally
conceded to be the most scholarly
argument and most eloquent address
made before the Republican caucus.
His friends were all proud of him.
We append it in full:
Senator KreutZer of WauSau said:
Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen of the
| CaucuS-We have met as republicans
| for the purpose of nominating Citl-
zen from this commonwealth for the
most important office within the gift
of the state. The names of a number
of excellent gentlemen have already
| been presented for your consideration.
Great responsibilities are resting
upon every member of this body, for,
under the present conditions Of our
national life it is of the utmost i'm
| pOrtance that this state, acting
through its representatives, select
man to the office of senator whose
ability and character as a citizen, and
whose standing in the party peculiarly
| fit him for the important duties Of the
office. There are grave and important
| questions growing out OF the late con-
| f1lct with foreign power to be dealt
with in the near future. which require
knowledge of history and the princi-
pies of international and COnStitu
! tiOnal law. The senate acts with the
| Executive department of the govern
ment as part of the treaty-making
power, and the man you select to
| represent this state should have the
necessary learning and ability and
experience to tit him for these impOr-
tant duties as we'll as those Of a
strictly legislative character.
perhaps there never was time in
the history Of our beloved state when
| her representatives were called upon
| to deal so calmly and diSpaSsiOnately
| with the situation as now; and to
avoid the influences of purely local
prejudice with an eye only on securing
| The election to the senate of the
| United States, man whose character
and ability and learning and whose
standing in the party are such that
each and every representative can go
| to his home and meet his constituents
and say we have selected man who
not only possesses all the necessary
| qualifications for an ideal senator, but
| whose election will harmonic the
different elements within the party
| 'Realizing the character and ability
Of all of the other gentlemen whose
| names are before this caucus, [ have
the pleasure and privilege to present
to you for your careful consideration
| the name of the Hon. Charles NJ.
| Webb, man who is big enough and
great enough to ill any position to
| which his fellow men can call him.
| and who, we believe is as we'll, if not
| better qualified to fill this exalted
| position than any other man men
| toned.
THE objection has been raised that
Judge Webb is disqualified under the
| constitution from occupying a seat in
| The United States senate by reason of
che fact that he is holding a judicial
| position in this state. This objection
is not a new one, and the question
seems to be SO well settled as to admit
Of no argument. 1t is hoary with age
md the surprise is that any man will
INSIST on using such an argument
against a candidate even for any poll
LlCal purpose. If there are any mem
OerS who have even a shadow of
| iOubt on this point | would respect
| FULLY request them to candidly inveSti-
| gate the matter and they will tind
| chat there is absolutely no ground for
It. This question was settled way
Oack in 1885 in the United States
enate in the Trumbull case, again
,ater in the cases of FOuk VS.. Trum-
| DULL, and Tourney vs. MARSHALL: again
N 1882 in the case of Wood VS.. Peter:
n fact we need not 60 outside of our
| tlt TO fnp
refer to the DOOllttle case. and those
Of Judges Cate and Humphrey, who
occupied seats in the house and senate
md were called there by the people
While holding judicial positions.
Judge Webb has been a lOval
member of standing and ability in
the republican party from its organi-
zation to the present time. He came
to this state in the early days of its
| infancy, and when he was but n years
Of age he at once became an important
| factor in moulding and shaping it's
development. He has testified his
| loyalty to the party and the nation,
| not only in civil life, but as a soldier
| in the war of the rebellion. When
| the call to arms sounded throughout
| this land he Joined Co. G of the
| Twelfth regiment from this state.
There are men in this body who have
stood shoulder to shoulder with him
on the battlefield and who will bear
witness to his yalOr and manhood as a
| soldier and citizen. The training
which he had at West Point served
TO intensity his love and devotion for
| MS country and made of him a noble
and Jealous defender of the Union.
He has had considerable experience
as q Legislators: he served in the state
senate OF this state in 1868 and 1869:
he was United States district attorney
| for the Western district from 1870 to
1874, In 1882 he was again elected to
the state senate from which he was
elected in 1888 to the position of
| judge Of the Seventh Judicial circuit.
which position he has filled with con
SpicuOus ability continuously to the
present time. There is probably no
| position, except that of discharging
the duties of United States senator.
which so well fits man for the office
in question as the judicial position
which Judge Webb has held and is
still holding, and, none that develop
mans general knowledge Of men and
business affairs in an equal degree.
LAWYER AND BUSINESS MAN.
1t has been said that we have now
an able lawyer in the senate from this |
state and that we should have as his
colleague a business man. What are
we to understand by the term business |
man when considered in connection |