Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1901-10-31
LaFollette as a Factionist.

I
the Republican party Of this state APP
pear consistent with its course in the
past
1t has called the dictionaries to its
aid in order 20 make il appear that the
Republican league. and not its oppo-
nents. constitute faction" OF
course. nobody will deny the right of
the Northwestern to apply the detini-
tion Of the term faction as it sees fit,
but it is very doubtful whether its APP
plication in this case will be accepted
as correct by unbiased persons who un-
derstand the import Of words and are
capable Of distinguishing between cause
and effect
IN recent issue the Northwestern
stated the definitions of the word fac
ton and applied them as follows:
The Milwaukee Sentinel is in the
habit of referring to the pro-adminis-
tration Republicans in this state as
'factionists, the intimation being Civ
en- that they are the only ones of that
class and therefore the objects of OPP
| probrium and censure The North
western is impressed with the idea that
1
term, if indeed it is not essentially
wrong.
Webster's dictionary defines FAC
| tion as follows: ~ party ID political
! society, combined or acting IN union
IN opposition to the government or
state: combination or clique of parti-
sans of any kind, acting for their own
interests. especially if greedy clamor-
Gus and reckless of the common good
And the definition Of the Standard
| dictionary: a number of persons
combined for common purpose:
especially a party within party, or
one who seeks by INSCRIPTIONS and
subyersive methods TO gain his own
end in state or commonwealth"
IN applying either one of these def
nitions there can scarcely be serious
doubt as to which one of the divisions
Of the Republican party would more
nearly fill the bin Of specifications.
OF course. in the broader sense we
speak of any division of party as a
| faction. but in strictly technical usage
/ the term would be confined TO the
party within the party" orthe clique"
| Of partisans acting iii union i'll opposi-
| ton TO the government or state. 1t is
| beyond question that these specified
tons would easily apply to thenew Re
| publican league. and the Sentinel
| should therefore be careful not TO use
the term "factionist with contempt.
To avoid misrepresentation It IS prop
| er To state in this connection that our
! ordinate powers; the legislative. the
executive and the judicial Hence.
criticism Of Or opposition TO certain
acts Of "a governor should NOT - com
founded with opposition to the gov
/ erument or state.
Il seems strange that in giving Web
| sters definition of the word faction
1 the Northwestern should have omitted
a very material part. Webster's fun
definition is as follows: ~ party in
| political society combined or acting III
union, in opposition tothe government
or state. usually applied to a minority.
| but may be applied to majority. IS
combination or clique of partisans Of
any kind, acting for their own interests.
especially greeds. clamorous and reck-
less of the common good. Tnmult
discord. dissPnsion.
Tie parts omitted i'll the Northwest
ern's quotation are of the very great
| Importance in deterininingthe real i'm
port of the term faction" in its appl
cation TO the present conditions in the
Republican party Of this state
The Century dictionary defines fac
ton Is follows: y party OF persons
| having a common end in view: usually
such party seeking by irregular means
| 10 bring about changes i'm governments
or in ,he existing state OF affairs. or in
any association OF which they form
part a combination Of persons Usiug
s05versive or pervert methods of pro
noting their own selfish and partisan
views. or interests. specially n matters
Of state.
Applying these definitions the North
western is 81 the opinion "fhat there
can scarcely be a serious doubt as to
which one of these divisions IN the Re
publican party would more nearly fill
the biiI Of specifications This Is, ri
4 course. all arbitrary, one-sided conclu-
sion. wholly unWarranted by present
conditions and the political events in
this state for the past ten years. 1t
will be observed that in defining the
word faction" ali the dictionaries lay
stress upon self interest Is an I'M
portant element III tie definition 81
the term. ia the pratical sense. as
generally understood by intelligent
people. faction consists of minor
ity in political party, or any otheror-
ganization, striving to dominate.
TO properly apply The definition Of
faction in the unfortunate coutro-
versy in the Republican party Of this
state al the present time it becomes
necessary to trace the attitude of the
contending elements to the origin Of
the trouble.
Eve since the defeat Of the Republi-