Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1901-03-13
FOR THE COMMON PEOPLE
Election Reform Especially in Their
interest.
Importance to the Farmer Fully Elk.
planned.
BY F. Miner of Eau Claire, Member
of Central Committee.
In part Mr.. Miner said:

of Central Committee.
In part Mr.. Miner said:
The question of the adoption in this
state of a primary election law for the
nomination of candidates for public
office by means of the Australian bal
lot, must be regarded as practical
question, and ought to be discussed in
a practical way, free from rancour OF
bitterness, and with a purpose single
to the best good of the electors of Wis
consin.
AS preliminary to the discussion II
may be said this is not a question OF
what any man thinks should be given
to the electors of this state; they dc
not come here begging for the privi
lege of obtaining that which they
have right to receive, and when a
man tells you what he is willing to
give the people. to define what they
should be allowed to have, and what
they should be denied, then look out for
him. Remove bis lambs covering
and you win probably find :" 1if. ycu
win undoubtedly discover him to be
some necessary and valuable com
ponent part of political ma chine, or
a full fedged political boss Verify
'methinks all such do protest too
much"
Want of Electors.
The question is: What do the cleo.
tors want with regard to this bill?
Are majority for it or against it? II
for it, have they not the absolute right
to expect that it will become a law at
your hands? Listen well to their
voice for it is sovereign, and whe Il
they speak 1t is as certain as fate that
they will attain, If not at your hands,
then at the hands of others to come
tier. The man who deliberately de.
fies the determined will of the electors,
when once thoroughly aroused, 'twere
better for him, that a mill stone were
hanged about his neck and he were
cast into the sea, for the pathway OF
ambition is strewn with the bones OF
men who weref ull of possibilities. c.
pable of great things, but who went
down because they failed to under
stand this vital fact, or understanding,
refused to obey the call
So I assert again the question is Z:
Do the electors, or a majority of the
electors of Wisconsin, demand that
this bill shall become law at your
hands? And If the question is an.
swered in the affirmative. should the
members of this legislature suprcrt
it?
Questions Answered.
| answer the last question first and
say most emphattcally, yes. Every
republican in this body who was elect.
ed last fall knew when he accepted
the nomination that this plank was in
the platform of his party, and after
the election he knew that the electors
of Wisconsin had ratified that plat,
form by the largest majority in the
history of the state. But you say
that does not prove that the voters are
in favor of this particular plank. 1t
was republican year and the endorse.
ment was simply an approval of re.
publican policies. and that men
worked and voted for their party with
a mental reservation as to this partlc.
ular plank. The assertion would be a
mere guess, and must fail absolutely
when tested by the facts which led up
to the campaign proper, and in prov
ing those facts, we also answer the
question: Do majority of the
electors Of Wisconsin favor this bill
and expect It to become a law at your
hands? 1t becomes necessary to con
slider the facts involved In the last
campaign.
They are recent history, with which
every man in the state is familiar
Six gentlemen, residing in different
sections of the state, vare candidates
for the republican nom nation for gov.
ernor. The present incumbent of that
Office was the last to enter the field
1t is not intended to disparage any o.
the men who aspired to that high and
responsible position, for it may be
and is admitted that eacl man who
entered tle race was an honorable gen
tleman. worthy of the positi in sought
But admitting this to be trr e, who out
side the intimate friends o, each can
didate knew the position tn ~ occupied
upon the great questions low absorb
ing the attention of the people.
Governors Position.
Every voter knew Just were ou
present governor stood upon these
questions. For years he had been be
fore the people, man with a policy
with ideas vigorously expressed as t.
what should be done to advance tn,
prosperity and we'll being of tn,
people of Wisconsin. First at III,
head of his list OF reforms, more earn
estly insisted upon than all others
was the primary election law. Ever.
republican knew this for his light hat
not been hid under a bushel, but ha,
been set upon the hill top where ever.
man could see 1t. With voice and witt
| pen he had sounded the note of warn
ing, throughout the length and breadtl
| OF Wisconsin. telling the people bold.
/ that they must throttle the evils tina
had grown out of the caucus and cor
ventiou system. or these evils woul