Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1901-01-29
To the Editor of the Sentinel:

To the Editor of the Sentinel:
| have carefully read Gov. LaFol-
lette's recommendations regarding
Primary Election law, contained in his
recent message to the legislature, and
am moved to make a few comments
thereon. Not, l hasten to say, by way
of criticism of that proposed panacea
for all political ills. For has not The
Sentinel announced that every loyal
Republican is estopped from express
ing the slightest doubt of the wisdom of
such an enactment, by the action of the
last state convention Moreover,
find Gov. LaFollette, after treating of
of the subject in his message at what
seems to be undue length, considering
that it is a question that admits of no
controversy-I find him summing up
the matter in the following modest
words: ut is obvious that any fair,
candid consideration of this question
removes every objection that can be in
terposed." After that, what am | to
approach such an inviolable subject
save in reverence : No, simply desire
to call attention to the following state
ment which occurs in Gov LaFollettes
discussion aforesaid: "When it is taken
into account that, under a Primary
Election law, men of the highest talent
and especial fitness for public life will
readily consent to- become candidates
for public office-men who can scarcely
be tempted to stand as candidates under
the present system"
The implication contained in the fore
going is what feel called upon to re-
sent; primarily because in two instances,
under the present SYSTEM" l have
yielded without struggle to the temp
tation to be a candidate for public office,
being fully persuaded of my high talent
and especial fitness in the premises. l
may add, in confidence, that the voters
did not wholly share in my sentiments,
for the other candidate was elected each
time. But, during the same PERIOD
the past twenty years,-my friend La
Toilette, of whose high talent and es-
pecial fitness for public office there can
be no shadow of doubt, has likewise
yielded to similar temptation under
the present SYSTEM, on several oc-
caSions and without visible reluctance.
Is there anything in the history of
political candidature in Wisconsin to
warrant the assertion that it is difficult
to get fit and able men to become can
didates for public office in the state
because that candidacy must come
through caucuses and conventions of
their citizens =? To bring the matter
nearer home. How did the gentlemen
of the state Legislature relish this soft
impeachment of their talent and fitness
for the positi ons which they occupy?
What explanation can be offered for
this gratuitously preposterous and I'M
warranted statement by gentleman of
high intelligence, distinguished for his
honesty and candor? l can conceive of
none except that much contemplation
of his scheme for reforming political
human nature has so distorted his men
tai vision that he is incapable of seeing
things pertaining to his project in their
just proportions. Then, too, the pri
mary election is offered as a cure for
certain alleged evils and hence it be-
comes essential to paint those evils in
the blacklist cOlors. Thus it is that eau
Gus and convention, which being human
devices have their faults and defects,
are pictured as veritable Frankensteins.
And here again | protest. Ihave taken
part in good many caucuses and con-
ventions, and, and in the words of the
author of Rosamund Gray, object ito
find myself become an indecent charac-
ter for that reason" Although, like
church choirs, they have not been
wholly harmonious, none of the eau
causes nor conventions that / have at
tended have been, as Gov. La Toilette
insists they must be: Scenes of
wrangling, dispute and disorder, where
weak men are badgered and corrupt
men are bought" By the way, did it
ever occur to Mr.. La Toilette that Il cor