Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1902-03-26


Before the roundup farmers institute
held ut Oconomowoc, last Wednesday,
Governor La Toilette delivered an adj
dress on the agricultural interests of the
state. In his address The governor dealt
in practical things which are affecting
the interests of the commonwealth. We
quote lis remarks on the taxation sub
lect in particular:
THE NEW AGRICULTURE,
THE new agriculture, the new educa-
cation, new inventions will give added
interests, large: profits, greater certain
ty of success. icy will tighten its bur-
dens, widen it's sphere, and ultimately
make agriculture the most desirable of
all human avocations. A new day has
already broken upon the tilier of the
soil The new life upon the farm will
recognize not only the material value
and dignity of labor, but the increasing
necessity for greater leisure and larger
measure Of recreation. 1t will be not
only life of industrious independence,
high intelligence AMI great culture, but
it will have time for the artistic side CT
human affairs Under these beneficial
influences every farm will become
beautiful country home, provided with
every COM. every convenience, every
rational lux close touch with the
world yet happl.y apart from 1T. Wis
conein has been a pioneer IN this advance
ment of american agriculture.
PRACTICAL QUESTION OF TODAY.
But this day and this hour present
some practical questions of vital impor-
lance to every citizen and tax payer in
the state They are questions which
deal with right and justice and equality
between men and interests in Wisconsin.
Agriculture has furnished the bull
wark of American citizenship The
farmers of Wisconsin furnish the major
ity of it's voters, and upon them rests
the obligation of upholding the eonstitu-
tional rights, the responsibility of main
tanning good government. Because they
are in the majority, and because they
own the major portion of the visible,
tangible, taxable property reached by
the assessor, they are most deeply inter
ested in the subject of equal and just
taxation.
There il but one right attitude on
this question. The plain, explicit pro-
vision of the constitution is that taxa
ton shall be uniform. When it is dem
onstrated that it is not uniform; that
there is gross inequality; that the bur
dens borne by real property are nearly
twice as great as those of certain cor
porations, then there must follow law
full adjustment. Procrastination, post
ponenent, and delay is denial of justice.
The question of inequality has NV been
fully discussed 1t has passed. the stage
of doubt misunderstanding, confusion,
uncertainty. 1t has found expression
in platform pledges, in the selection of
tax commissions, and in their plain un-
equivocal recommendations. There Is
no longer Just cause for delay where
we have well defined limitations and
established facts upon which TO base a
course of action We have these in
reference TO the most important of rail-
way taxation. Ii was the plain duty
of the last legislature to act. That duty
tcdS l90tdted
EVERY ADVANCE Al ,TLYS OPPOSED.
But that the legislature failed to per-
form its duty should not be cause of
encouragement. 1t should but quicken
the intere and make hrmer the deter
mination of every citizen in the state.
There should be no wayering and no de-
laying
Every advance step in legislation has
much the same history That the inter
est upon the states money should have
been appropriated by any official in tenn
| porary custody of the same now seems
an absurd proposition. Yet, the restor-
alton of diverted interest was contested
| in the state treasury cases with great
bitterness and was the subject of . vic,
lated party pledge.
The Australian ballot was adopted
after protracted struggle. The first
experiment with it was unsatisfactory.
| There was a movement for its repeal.
| What an epoch it marks in honest cleo
| tions and the purity of the ballot!
The anti pass legislation was resisted
! and fought as though the prohibition
and giving of these favors 80 public
officials was the preparation of great
public wrong. Its author was the sub.
| iect of personal redicule and abuse, but
| finally triumphed Who now would
dare suggest that this statute be repeal
ed?
EQUAL TAXATION MUST COME.
| Equal and just taxation must come.
| Selfish interests may resist every inch
| of the ground, tlRy threaten, may ma
/ ilGH auu GoEIupbs tiAt tl4Tg Idhhub SStfh S
| the final issue That which is so plain,
so simple and so Just will surely triumph.
This contest would not be difficult
| Its settlement would have admitted of
no postponsment il the wishes of the
majority of the people ha5 been fairly
expressed by their representatives. in the
! legislature That this would have been
achieved except for the interventto CT
| political bosses and machine politics,
| does not admit of the slightest douht.
1T seems 20 me that IS good mea MS
I to a good end that Their I. no question
where the great body % the voters
should stand upon the issue Of primary
elections They have little leisure. They
have no time 10 become trained politi-
clans. Yet it is their interests that are
at stake in state aud local legislation
and administration.
| DIRECT NoMIN ATOMS AND RESPONSE
| BILITY.
The simple direct method of select.
| ing all candidates for nomination st one
time by one act on the part of the voter
which will make those candidates direct
iy responsible TO the voter who names
! them is, If possible, even more an ele-