Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1901-11-02
A Little Political History.

cerpt from communication to the Mil
waukee Sentinel from the pen Of Hon.
Henry Fink is reprinted here as a mat
ter of recent political history. Omit
ting the Introductory matter and coming
down to the campaign Of 1900, MI Fink
says:
in 1900, still bent upon gratifying
his ambitions, Mr.. La Toilette again
came forward as candidate for govern
or. The nomination was also sought at
the time by several other Republicans OF
high standing and with good claims on
the party. 1t was evident that the con
test for the nomination would be spiT-
tied. Mr.. La Toilette, who had met with
defeat in every Republican state c0nyen-
ton since 1894 evidently did not wish
to again take chances. Sc to the sur
prise of everybody he began early open
ing negotiations with his opponents rep
resenting a majority Of the paTty-the
s0-called machine and with the cor
porations. Weary Of the bitter faction
al discussions which had kept the party
in turmoil and discord for eight years,
and longing for harmony, and placing
faith in his pr0testations in that regard,
the leaders Of the majority yielded, and
gave him a clear field. Party harmony
was thus restored. He was nominated
by reclamation and received the united
support Of his party at the polls. He
was elected by a large majority and the
Republicans felicitated themselves upon
what they had reason to believe meant
the permanent restoration of harmony.
The import of the large majority at that
election is often enormously construed.
If, instead Of Mr. La Toilette, Colonel
Hicks had been the Republican candi-
date for governor, and if instead Of rec
Ommending or demanding the enactment
Of primary election law the RepHbli
can state platform had recommended or
demanded law regulating the wearing
Of cOrSets, the result would have been
just the same. That election turneden-
tirely upon national issues whether the
splendid administration Of President
Mckinley should be endorsed and con-
tinued, or whether populism should be
enthr0wned in the national government.
Mr.. La Toilette was inaugurated under
the most auspicious surroundings. Sue
ceeding to the successful administration
Of Governor Scofieid, and with a strong
and united party behind him, willing
and ready to support him in every effort
to make his administration a success, an
opportunity presented itself to him, as
seldom falls to the lot Of an ambitions
man in public life, Of demonstrating his
capacity for party leadership. The Re-
publicans in the legislature met the
governor in the same spirit that brought
about the harmony which led to his
nomination and election. Even Mr..
Haugen's appointment as tax commits
sioner, although Objectionable to a ma
j0rity Of the Republican senators, was
unanimously confirmed upon the ground
that the governor was justified in taking
care Of his friends.
Unfortunately, the cOnciliatOry atti-
tude Of the Republican Legislators was
not recipr0cated by the governor. I'm
like his Republican predecessors, he
repealed those who could not agree with
him in everything, and chose his advisors
and cOunselors exclusively from, his
partisan following, and in general inau-
gurated new departure in the custom
airy and constitutional relationship be-
tween the legislature and the executive.
The anti-electi0n harmony which
Governor La Toilette had so stTenUously
sought, and which had made his n0min-
alton and election possible, had served
It's purpose. For his post-electi0n pur
poses, which among other things, en-
braced combination aiming at the
seats of Senators Sp00ner and QuaTles,
he preferred the harmony which charac-
teriZed the relations between the tribes
OF the original Americans the harmony
with t0mahaWk in the other fellows
head.
In this spirit he framed, or caused to
be framed under his immediate diTec
ton and in absolute seclusian, the So
called Stevens primary election bill.
With its introduction in the legislature
the broad hint went forth that its pas
sage without change or modification in
any one Of the tilirty-nine sections, in
any material point, would be insisted
upon. A majority Of the Republican
members Of the legislature looked upon
this unprecedented proceeding in amaze
ment. Ihey'l0oked upon many Of the
features Of the bin as being unWise, i'm
practical and as tending rather to ag-
graVate than lessen the evils the bin
pretended to abate. With a sense of
responsibility to their party and the
people they exhausted every means In
their power to reach an honorable IN
derstanding with the governor, which in
good faith would redeem the DaTtv'S
pledges and have the united appreciation
and support OF the party. Every pyopO-
sltion in this direction the governor
rejected; even that Of submitting the
question &C. vote Of the people. In
their opposition to the bill the members
OF the Legislature but Tindicated their
constitutional per0gatews, and their own
sense Of duty.
The substitute bill which they finally
passed was returned by the governor
With veto message which has no par
allei in the history OF legislation. A
majority Of the Republicans in the
Legislature, believing the course Of the
governor revolutionary and contrary to
the traditions of the party and majority
rule, entered their protest and gave their
reasons therefor. They believed the gov
ern0r's course to be in emulation Of
Andrew Johnson rather than OF Lincoln
and Mckinley. Andrew Johnson. be
Heying himself Moses, had q policy Of
his own which he sought to force upon
the country. He boldly antagonized and
defied congress and the almost unani-
nous sentiment Of the Republican party.
which had elected him. His party caused
his impeachment and he would have
been ousted out Of office but for the atti-
tnde Of seven out of forty-two Republican
senators. Johnson was one Of those nlen
possessed of the illusion that they are
wiser than their contemporaries and,
mistaking himself for a principle, passed
into oblivion. Did the term faction"
at that time apply to the Republican
majority in Congress or to johnson and
his following? On the other hand, the
Republican league. like Lincoln, Nc
kinney and Roosevelt, believes in the
party and that the way to serve it is not
to attempt to destroy It, that in every
constitutional government parties and
net men rule 1t stands for the tradition
as exemplified by the great leaders Of
the party. Lincoln chose his rivals as
his cabinet. and counseled as freely and
readily with Simon Cameron and Thur
low Weed as with Charles Sumner and
Horace Greeley. Following the example
OF his iilustrious predecessor. the la
mented Mckinley also CONSIDERABLY
deferred to every shade Of opinion in the