Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1901-02-28


away by his own enthusiastic admira-
ton of the farmer. he exclaims
Woe to the rider. and woe to the
steed,
Who falls in front of their mad
stampede"
Ny distinguished friend is basing
his objection, to the practice which
now obtains, under the system as it
now exists, rather than upon the prac-
tee proposed by the primary election
Iaw. have never discovered any indlf-
ference on the part of the farmer in
politics, and especially clean politics,
believe the fact to be quite the con-
trary, that the people Of the rural dis
tricts take more interest in politics,
than the people in the cities. Under
stand, said the people,-not the pol
ItIclans. We hear vast deal about
the indifference of the business man
IN cities, and we are told that there is
great need of some remedy which will
induce him to take an active interest
IN politics, for the accomplishment of
needed and necessary municinel 70.
form. In my Judgment the cause of
the evil is apparent, and is the direct
outgrowth of the present caucus and
convention system, with its suscepti,
5Ility to manipulation, and which com.
pels the farmer and the business man
10 resort to practices of which they
10 not approve, or refrain from any
participation in primaries. In nv
Judgment the remedy is to be found,
only in the abolition of that system for
which my friend is contending.
For example, suppose a caucus is
called in La Fayette county for the
election Of delegates. In order that
the farmers may not become too act
lively interested therein, the notices
are posted on the backs of trees op-
Dosite to the highway, in order that he
who runs may not read. The caucus
is called to meet at Z o'clock p. m.
Promptly at the appointed moment
(and If their watches are a little faster
man the farmers clock so much the
better) the post master and the col,
lector of internal revenue are on the
spot. The meeting is called to order
by the collector of internal revenues.
This official prominence making it
proper and imperative that he should
take the lead in such matters). and
upon motion of the post master, he is
chosen to preside. Somebody who is
there for that purpose, requests the in
diligence Of the gentlemen present in
order that he may perform an act of
simple justice due to those distinguish
ed citizens who have honored the peo-
pie by their presence at the caucus,
and as a deserved recognition of their
distinguished and unselfish services to
their country, he moves that the rules
be suspended and the collector of in.
ternal revenue and the post master
be unanimously declared elected as the
delegates to the convention. The mo-
ton is carried of course. Where is
the man who could muster the courage
to oppose a motion of such a nature.
The meeting is adjourned, and the
boys" are requested to go over and
NS&AAS % III LIN AdCCLuIIlu0 IuG ulCI
has performed his nightly chores, and
tired though he may be, believing that
he owes a duty to good government
and is under obligation to take an in
terest in the administration Of it's af-
fairs, he drives to the appointed place
for the purpose of taking part in the
election of the delegates, with the
understanding that the caucus will
hold open for one hour. OF course
he arrives a little late. The caucus
has only lasted about ten minutes. The
lights are out, the doors closed, and
the business done, and incidentally, the
farmer is done" also. He finds upon
inquiry that the collector of internal
revenues and the post master have
been elected delegates, and that the
boys are over celebrating the vic
tory. If he makes a protest he is de-
nounced as Reuben" and 'popu-
list" Amy candid man must admit
that years of that sort of experience,
has a tendency to discourage those
who are ''up against it." The ex-
ample given is no exaggeration upon
the actual facts in cases innumerable.
Instead of depriVing the farmer of his
voice in politics, this bill is designed
to secure his right to register his vote,
and have it counted. 1t is designed to
prevent these snap judgments" 1t
makes it a matter of law when, and
where the election shall be held, and
the polls will. as matter of law, re-
main open for a stated time to enable
all the people to register their votes.
In sunshine or in storm. the rural dis
tricts on election day register their
full vote for good government. There
is no Indifference then. Give them
but the opportunity to cast their ballot
knowing that it will count for good re-
suits, and l promise you that good
government will never suffer from IL
difference on the part of the ,stalwart
and patriotic manhood of the WisCon-
sin farm.
Mr. Monahan's third objection is be-
cause of the alleged expense, and he
prefaces his argument on that point
with the truism, Unnecessary taxa
ton is unjust taxation" No one will
dispute his major premise, and on the
other hand, no one can accept his con-
clusion. There is absolutely no foun-
dation for the charge made by Mr.
Monahan, that it will cost the state
S15O,000 to conduct primary cleo
ton. 1t is simply a bare assertion.
He might just as well have stated it at
$1,000,000 so far as any basis for the
assertion is concerned.
On the other hand Mr.. H. G. Adams
has given to the committee a careful