Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-06-07
A STATESMANLIKE MANIFESTO.
laFollette Puts Rumors to Rest by Clear,
Concise Statement.

laFollette Puts Rumors to Rest by Clear,
Concise Statement.
In answer to certain political rumOrS
set in motion by his opponents. Robert
NJ. LaFollette last week issued state
ment defining his position relative to
his candidacy for governor as we'll as
his attitude toward the party'S policy
in the state. 1t is an admirable docu-
ment, and clears the political atmos-
phere that has been very cloudy in
certain quarters since the advent of
our candidate for governor into the
race. MI. LaFollette says:
'Of course / have seen the state
ments in certain papers charging that
L am candidate for governor at this
time merely to secure a position of
power from which | can command the
United States SenatOrShip either for
myself or some other, and thereby
defeat Mr.. SpOoner's reelection two
years hence: to build up a personal
and political machine, punish individ-
ualS and perpetuate system of pOliti-
cal dictatorship.
"IheSe charges are representative
Of expressions by an element in Wis
cOnSin politics which / am glad to
believe is smaller than ever before, and
which is steadily diminishing in num-
bers and strength. Their manifest
purpose to force factiOnal fight in
this contest will, / am sure, utterly
fail. Whenever necessary during the
campaign | shall enter my denial and
protest, but further than that, so far
as L am personally concerned, this
contest shall be conducted on lines
which will leave the party in WiScon-
sin in full strength for the national
campaign to follow. At this time l
desire to say:
l. Il became a candidate for the
nomination because / believed it to
be the wish of a majority of the
Republicans of the state that | should
do so. The canvass has progressed far
enough to greatly strengthen that
belief.
"As such candidate, if nominated
and elected, l shall not be candidate
for United States senator at the close
of the term, but instead will endeavor
to make such record for the party
and myself as to insure denomination
and reelection. Any other purpose or
design would not be keeping faith
with those who support me at this
time for the office for which / have
publicly announced myself a candidate.
3. II have made and will make no
promise to support any man for United
States senator, or to use the influence
of the executive office to promote the
ambitions of any individual in that
behalf in order to secure support or to
avoid opposition to my candidacy now.
-Four years ago | was assured that L
could be nominated and elected
governor Of this state if | would make
such bargain. At that time, also, L
declined.
+. Il am opposed to political or
personal machine to control party
nominations and legislative action. |
am in favor of such legislation as shall
make it impossible for myself or any
one else to have or to operate such a
machine. / am in favor of political
organization that will enlist the inte-
| rest of every individual voter in the
| party. that will encourage research,
| stimulate discussion of measures and
men, and quicken the sense of Obliga-
tion and personal responsibility in all
| the duties of citizenship. There is no
likeness between a political OrganlZa-
tion that appeals to the intelligence of
every voter in the party and machine
that appeals only to the more skilled
and at the same time most unscrupu-
| lous workers of the party. An organ
| ization composed of great body of
the rank and file of the party will suS-
| tain no man in narrow, vindictlye
policy having for it's object the punish
| ment of personal enemies or the use
of any position of trust for mere per-
SOnal ends.
| 5. "In this connection it may be
as we'll to say something with refer
ence to my candidacy of two years
ago. My reasons for being a candidate
at that time were justified and empha.
sized by the convention in its plat
form. 1t has been largely the faithful
observance of the pledges then given
which entitle Gov. SchOfield's admin
istratiOn at this time to public
approval, in which | heartily join.
Some phases of that campaign not
within my control | should have been
glad to have seen omitted. For them
[ should not be held responsible any
more than my opponents in this cam
paign should be blamed for the per-
Sonal attacks now being made upon
myself.
6. "At least one newspaper has
attempted to make it appear that my
candidacy is cover to attack upon
| the present state officer who have
served but a single term. There is
absolutely no foundation in fact for
such statements and it could not have
been made for any purpose except to
stir up strife within the party. These
officers have served with especial credit
and earned the endorsement of renOm-
| inatinn and ra-alecti0n which | am