Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1901-03-04
Madison, Feb. n.

and yesterday afternoon. The audi
ence in the afternoon was smaller
than usual, probably due to the fact
that the hearing was not well adver-
tised; but the evening session was at
tended by larger number OF specta-
tors than any previous meeting. II.
w. Chynoweth closed the debate
speaking ABOUT two hours for the bill.
81 am no populist. l believe in. the
fundamental principles OF representa-
tive government These were the
opening sentences of H. w. Chyno-
weths address on the primary bill be-
for the joint cOmm4.tee on privileges
and elections last night Conunuin9
he SAL: "In discussing this bill
shall call things by their right names,
and in so doing, | want it distinctly
understood that | have no sympathy
with the man who feels that is holier
than any other people. When at
tack the convention as | shall, shall
not point out any individual or set OF
individuals as being responsible for
the system. When | attack the con-
vention | attack myself as we'll as you
or the staunchest friends of the sys-
tenn. / have been participant in
those amairs as well as you. So say
that / shall single out no man or set
of men as being responsible for the.
caucus and convention system; 1t is
the people of Wisconsin who arg re-
sponsibIe for it.
Mr.. Chynoweth dwelt long and forci-
bly, upon the obligation of the party.
mo man." he said, would
dare to stand before - the
people of the state and say
we put that primary election plank in
the platform, but we do not Intend to
keep the pledge or carry it out. We
put it in the as vote catcher; we
put it there to fool the people. |
thought" said the speaker, that no
man would dare to come before this
committee and urge you to break your
word to the people. If the party is
not bound by that plank in the plat
form, then what could bind, a party to
any policy. II platforms do not com
NIT part to a certain
line of action, then why
have platforms? Who would give his
boy the advice that has been given to
you? Who would say to his son en-
tering upon business career, your
word amounts to naught. A fathers
first and most earnest injunction TO
his son is keep your word; break no
PROMISE because he has learned that
in every walk in life, the man who
keeps his word is to be trusted and is
worthy of confidence. Now this pri-
mary election bill which we are con-
sidering was drawn and was intro
duced in the legislature as the result
of the demand and promise contained
in the platform, and the obligation OF
the party is to pass this bill.
OF the convention system he said:
''It is bad. It mays-have existed for
these many years without any great.
injury having resulted from it, but
say the system is bad. I do not
think that the great state of Wiscon-
sin is great in resources, great in
wealth and great in it's institutions be
cause of the workings of the conven-
ton system. No one believes that
our educational system, crowned by
the state university, is the result of
that system" The state, he said, is
great in spite of the system. The
speaker discussed the details of eau
Gus manipulation and quoted, from
Bryce's American Commonwealth to
show the impression that a disinter-
ested student had received OF the
system. s:.su.
mo man who objects to. the princi-
pie involved in the primary election
BILL" said Mr. !Chynoweth, has
any right to criticise the de-
tails of this bill, because he is preju-
diced and his judgment is worthless.
If he wishes to object to the principle,
he is clearly entitled to that right;
but when he goes beyond that point
he has no claim upon your attention.
He has saiu his say" g"
'"The proposition" said the speaker,
that caucuses and Conventions are
representative government and that a
primary election law would be a blow
at that principle is all rot. The best
bloO~- which participated in the form
ing of this government had died
before the caucus and convention sys-
teme was born. He thought that in
stead of being poputistic the primary
election plan was the highest form of
representative government.
OF the matter of making platforms,
Mr.. Chynoweth thought that no set
of men were better qualified to frame
a platform than the one which must
carry out It's. provisions. IF the
platforms OF the convention are not
binding" said he, sit is. high time that
they were formulated by some body of
men who can make; them, So
OF the proposition that the man
must seek the office under the primary
system, he said that this was equally
true under the caucus and convention,
but that it was no soar upon a mans
character to be a candidate for public |
l.