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

ison had, as all knew, been accepted
informally, and Delegate Bancroft Of
Richland moved that he be named by
reclamation. The suggestion was
adopted without dissent.
Mr. La Toilette still not appearing
Geo. n. Wiswall, known OF all capital
visitors and legislative callers, sang
Old Shady, whose rollicking meters
long ago brought him fame. He added
a stanza which evoked a storm Of ap-
plause, as it runs thus:
Don't you see the dust
Rising Ger the corn?
It's Bob La Toilette coming
Sure as you are born
La Toilette Speaks.
Mr.. La Follette's entree naturai- y
awakened the greatest applause of the
day. A really tremendous ovation was
accorded him, and when at last silence
prevailed he spoke as follows:
Gen -emen of the COnventiOn:-Fro your
committee | have received official announce
ment that you have nominated me as the
candidate of the republican party for GOV
ernOr of Wisconsin. Deeply Impressed with
the honor, | accept JnlS uOulndlIOu, Win
gratitude for the great confidence 1t I'M
plies and with profound sense OF the nlgn
obligations it imposes.
To the platform adopted here L promise
Ioval support and devotion. For years |
have with others advocated these principles
and rejoice with you to see the repu6ncan
party pledged to give them the force OF law.
\ presidential contest is before US. At
the proper time and place l shall give to Il
discussion Of national issues the cOnSldefa-
ton their importance demands IhoSe Is
at
public thought throughout the approaching
campaign; but your work here today VIII
appeal directly TO the intelligent judgment
and personal interest or every cltlZen OF
Wisconsin and | venture to make mention
of some OF its more important features.
Questions of immediate concern TO the
and you have here given assurance that,
in spirit Of fairness and justice to al,
these questions are to be met with sincerity
and settled with certainty.
Let no man be miSied. More must not De
promised then can be performed. Every
problem presented must be wrought out
with that care which shall work no wrong
to any interest, but with that thOrOughnesS
and earnestness which shall insure good re-
suits with reasonable prOmptncss. Pay
ments may be so long deferred as TO make
it preferable to cancel the debt. Remedies
ma be so slow as to be wholly worthless.
Investigation may be so expensive ana so
prolonged as to defeat its purpose. Fear
lessly, but always with due regard TO the
Importance of the work in hand, the repub-
lcan party must now address itself to the
full and faithful performance of all the
pledges made to the citizen.
Each individual and every corporation
transacting business within the state,-e1-
cept such fraternal and other assQclat Us
as are now expressly exempt from taxation
by laW-muSu pay neither more nor Tess
that justly prop0rtionate share OF me
taxes Selfish human nature in the indi-
vidual and in the corporation may resist,
but there will be no halt and no c0mpro,
mise. This question must be settled, ana
rightly settled, upon basis clearly SHOWN
to be just and equitable to all.
IL is to be remembered that whatever Is
gained by an intelligent and thorougn, re,
vision of the tax laws should rebound to
the general advantage of the taxpayer. Inc
contemplation of increased revenues must
not in any event be permitted to encourage
increased public expenditures. Efficiency IN
the service should be the highest ana most
important consideration, but with 1t there
must ever 90 a guardianship OF the puDhc
moneys under rules of the most flglQ anu
eXacing economy.
BY no touch Of magic, but step by step
shall we make progress, until the interests
lie stand alike before the official, finding
neither prejudice nor favor, but receiving
the same measure Of fair dealing that IS
accorded to either in a court Of justice.
Special interests will then no longer find
necessity for perpetuating the lobby system
that so prejUdices them with the public, and
the mercenary official with no talent except
for 'sand-bagging' will find private life far
more profitable than public life.
The, public official must owe no obligation
anywhere: excepting to the public He
must be free 10 pass iudicially. as it We're.
on all questions of conflicting interest
which come before him. Upon this plain,
self-evident proposition rests the reason Tor
the anti-pass legislation. the manifest JUS
tice and wisdom of which no unbiased cIti-
zen will question today. By its recorded
pledges. the republican party IS fully COM
mitted, TO consummate and perfect every re
quirement necessary, to effectually prohibit
public officers from accepting from any cor
pOration any pass, frank. or privilege OF free
TRANSFORMATION for himself or for his prop
erty. or from receiving reduced transpor-,
tation rates or mileage other than is offered
to the public.
If in the development Of commercial en-
tprprise combinations should be formed,
that cheaper production, in which the con
pIaipIy manifest Then will they win public
favor. and secure the sanction Of the law.
But combinations and trusts that destroy