Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1901-03-04


talked of for the republican nominee
for governor, and Of the convention
itself when this man was told to ger
off the ticket "The man got off the
ticket" said the speaker, "and the
party went down to defeat But in
1894 this man was again the choice
of the people. This time he was NOM
mated, and he swept the state by
majority Of 100000"
OF the objection raised to the bill
because minority could nominate, he
said that this was no more true OF pr1-
mary elections than Of general cleo
tons. The law, he said, provides that
the man receiving the highest number
of votes shall be declared elected.
Then he referred to the fact that
Governors Rusk, Hoard, Peck and
Smith were all elected by plurality
from 10000 to LOO short of a major
ity.
Mr.. Chynoweth thought 1t strange
that the men who felt so alarmed
about taking the nominations out OF
the hands of the farmer. had never
done anything for the agriculturalist.
Under the caucus system the represen-
tative of the farmers in the legislature
had dwindled down to "a in the assem-
bly, and in the senate. This he
thought did not show disposition
upon the part Of the friends OF the
convention to do much for the farmer.
eff that is the kind of help they give,
he said, Il should, if ! were farmer,
cry out let us help ourselves and
take care Of cur own business. He
denied that Lincoln, Mckinley or La
Toilette were the products of the eau
Gus and convention system. And in
speaking of the nomination Of the
present governor he said that it had
been attained over the dead body Of
the caucus and convention system.
cts last kick" said he, shas been
heard on the floor Of this hall and be-
fore this committee in opposition to
this BILL"
During the course of Mr.. ChynO-
weth's remarks he took occasion to re-
fer to city government. and while
speaking of this subject. M. ]. Regain
interrupted to ask if the present sys-
TEN of nominating aldermen in this
city was not virtually the primary
election plan. II think not" said Mr..
Chynoweth. well the nominations
are made by direct vote of the peo-
ple," replied Mr.. Regain, "and | think
that makes primary election of It.
vxyhx dnnCYo'f IL Yf
Chiefly because it is all done at a
caucus" said the speaker. The audi
ence smiled and Mr.. Chynoweth con-
tinued his argument
Fink Against the Bill.
The afternoon session of the com.
mittee was also an interesting one,
Henry Fink of Milwaukee and H. H.
Hayden speaking against the measure.
f., Mr.. Fink said that he was opposed
| to the bill because it would not only
produce but would intensity the very
thing it seeks to abolish and destroy
He said that it was well known fact
that an Overwhelming majority of the
people who do the voting at election
time and determine the issues be-
tween the parties are usually very in
different with respect to the nomina-
ton Of candidates, for the simple rea-
son that the great mass of the people
of state or community are content
so long as public affairs are fairly,
honestly and efficiently administered
They come forth and participate in
the management of public affairs only
at times when great questions agitate
the people; and in support of this
statement, Mr.. Fink quoted statistics
to show that while at presidential
years later the vote fell off from 25 to
80 per cent, and that at primary cleo
tions, wherever the method had been
Etried, scarcely ever more than twenty
Of twenty-five per cent. Of the quail
fed voters took the trouble to go to
the polls and express their preference
for this or that candidate.
He declared that instead of bursting
machines, as the advocates of the bill
held it would, directly the opposite eff
feet would obtain. He showed in de-
tail how the candidates for state Of
fees in Milwaukee, the metropolis of
the state, would effect combinations
so as to practically control the whole
state ticket, and the very first thing
that would suggest itself to candi-
date for the Office of governor or any
other state Office in the city of Mil
waukee would be to effect combina-
lions so as to control the outside dis
tricts. Mr.. Fink ridiculed the idea
that this bill enacted into law would
convert the ambitious politician who
was after office into an angel, and
said that it would create among candi-'
dates who offered themselves, a ma
chine the like of which had never been
known in this or any other state.
Mr.. Fink dwelt somewhat at length
on the question of minority rule, and
showed how 1t was possible for very
small minority to dictate nominations
AGAINST thn will Of ma ioritv Ho rn-