Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-08-16

competition, restrain trade and create
monopolies which prey upon the consumer,
must De met with prohiOitory penalties by
boIh state and national legislation.
But, gsA.leA4en OF the convention, with
all OF Your good work. nothing which you
have done. nothing which has been done by
any convention III quarter of Il century.
VIII give TO every man who has had share in
tne WORK, such enduring honor when Il shall
nave rlpened into statutory law, Is the
declaration made here today for the noml-
nation Of all candidates by direct vote at a
primary election under the Australian bal
lot. The tests of experience will doubtless
be required 10 perfect all the working de-
tails Of primary election law. 1t would
be -,tange indeed II it were not So But
your great achievement is in having estab-
lisheu the principle and begun the over
throw of system that is undermining rep
reSentatIye government throughout the
land. No longer in Wisconsin will there
stand between the voter and the official
pulucGI machine WI complicated sys-
lem of caucuses and coavent. ons by the
easy manipulation of which it thwarts the
VIII of the voter and rules official conduct
No valid reason can be given for continuing
the caucus and convention another day If
the voter IS competent to cast his ballot at
tie general election for the Official OF his
choice. he is equally competent TO vote oil
rectly at Il primary election for the nOmi-
nation of the candidates of his party. 1t is
his right as citizen and taxpayer, and who
! Will dare TO gainSay or deny 1t?
| inspired with confidence by the great
| reformation accomplished in our general
! elections through the Australian ballot, we
/ advance the standards of reform and de.
! mand the application of the same method
| in making nominations. together with the
/ sovereign right that each citizen shall for
| himself exercise his choice by direct vote,
| without the intervention or interference Of
| any political agency.
Into the life of every generation comes
| some great opportunity for great public
good. 1t has come to YOU today, and with
| hign courage and patriotism you have
marked out the way 10 restore TO the people,
the pure form of representative govern
ment, given them by the fathers in the be
! ginning.
! 10 those who have, with mistaken conf
a fight with me, | may be permitted to
| make open ACKNOWLEDGMENT and express my
| lasting and affectionate regard. No one
| knows so We'll your diSintereSted loyalty to
| the cause in which You have never faltered,
| but gone forward from the first. Indifferent
| alike to political sunshine and to political
certainty l can turn TO you for support in
| discharging every political duty which may
come to me, with that largenesS of spirit
and breadth of view which shall unity and
, make strong our great party organization.
To the republicans who have StOutly and
manfully opposed me in this and other con-
tests l tender that respect ana admiration
due 10 every worthy opponent. Good fell
lowship and good fighting go together.
| Standing by our convictions, let us put the
differences that have divided us aside AS
| republicans we have now one common pur-
poSe-the triumph of our party in the politi-
cal battle that is on, and the right record
| which it must make for good government
after the battle is won.
To vHu. gentlement of the convention, and
through you, TO the people of this great COM
monwealth l here declare that If elected to
the high office of governor of Wisconsin: it
will be my purpose to maintain an efficient
and economical public service, and with
the cooperation and support of my assO-
ciateS in the state administration and the
Legislative department If the government,
rs best | can, endeavOr TO promote the
interest and honor of the state and com
mand the confidence of an intelligent and
patriotic public.
AS soon as Mr.. La Toilette concluded,
The convention adjourned at about
$50.