Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1901-08-21
TIE sTALRART CALL TO ARMS.


The call to arms is out and it doesn't
amount 70 much 1t could not amount
to much. There was no excuse for 1t
and there is no defense for it.
If the Republican party in Wisconsin
ia on 1.-THE verge of a crisis, which we
do not believe, TIE men who signed this
call are responsible. They are the men
who have repudiated party principles
and party promises. The party, In
large and harmonious convention, de-
manded government by majority, caucus
reform and equal taxation These men,
with a very few exceptions, opposed
every effort to carry out these pledges
And they expect the republicans OF the
state will approve this perfdy
ANY attempt to subordinate the leg
islatiye department to the control OF the
executive is revolutionary and deserves
prompt and emphatic rebuke, the call
SAYS. In view of the facts, and In view
of their own arrogant assumption Oh
authority, this statement becomes al
most ludicrous. What are lLe facts
A great majority of the republican mem
bers of the Legislature went to Madison
last winter ready to carry out the prin
ciples the party, in convention, had de-
clared. Their outside influences were
set at work to prevent any legislation
which would bring back government to
the citizens, and take it away from the
political boss and the corporation which
he served. This outside power, the
most dangerous power in American poll
tics today, usurped not only the power
of the party, but the power of the gov
ernor and legislature as well Having
repudiated every promise the party made
many of them have bloken personal
pledges, without which they could not
have been elected, they now arrogantly
assume to speak for the party they have
betrayed.
Many of them hesitated to break their
pledges. They were afraid of publicity.
They were fearful of what their constit-
uents might say. So the principal re-
publican paper in the state was pur-
chased. BY buying this paper 1t was
thought they could buy the party and
stide public conscience. They have
found that they were mistaken and that
they must do something more. Hence
this new organization, outside the party,
unknown heretofore in Wisconsin poll
tics And they expect recognition from
Wisconsin republicans
They are opposed to a primary election
law because they are in Politics for the
money there is in it for themselves and
for the corporations to which they prom
Use special favors and special exemption.
They know that with direcS9omicetfons
by the people their power would be de-
stroyed. They win M doubt try TO do
in the state what they have done in Mil
waukee. A franchise worth millions TO
them is much more important to them
than fealty to party. They are only for
the party when they can control 1t Tor
their own ends They helped to create
a state tax commission so as TO postpone
any effort to equalize the burdens OF
taxation, and as soon as the state tax
commission reported that railway, street
car and other semi-public corporations
were not taxed as highly as other classes
of property, they set out to defeat it's
recommendation for a readjustment of
such taxation. And they ask the repub
licans of the state to follow them
Long ago they declared war. They
said that every republican must stand
forth and say where he was in the con-
fiict On the lines they have laid down
the republicans of the state will welcome
the contest They will have no fear for
the result The Issue is one above mere
party. Itstrikes at popular government
and equal rights. 1t will bring to the
republican party every independent vot-
er IN the state 1t will bring thousands
from other parties who believe in Gov.
La Follettes honesty and steadfastness
Milwaukee Free Press