Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1902-07-24

4
nations by direct vote, no party platform
pledged TO those issues could have been
adopted unanimously two years ago, unless
that platform proclaimed the will of the
republican party. That many Legislators
remained loyal to the party and faithful TO
their constituents for the enactment of
these pledges into law, battling for the right
and steadfastly endeavoring to hold the
party erect In honor, will never be forgotten
| by the people of Wisconsin.
opposition to that platform sought to
JUSTIFY itsen upon the plea that the pledges
were not well understood and did not rep
resent the real sentiment of the party
Ihat claim will not be made again. For
| eighteen months the debate has been on II
| the arguments have not always been adj
dressed to reason, If the discussion has nor
always been parliamentary, at least the
lines have been clearly drawn and the. count
| finally made.
PARTY WILL EXPRESSED
There can be no misunderstanding as TO
the republican platform of 1902 Whatever
difference OF opinion individuals may have
heretofore entertained, as republicans they
must now acquiesce In the expressed will Of
the party. 1t has spoken In no uncertain
voice for the enactment of these platform
declarations into law in % of the 33 SEN
| ate districts and 20 of the 100 assembly
districts or the state. 1t has proclaimed
by overwhelming majority, from Lake Su-
perior to the Illinois line, that its promises
shall now be made good to the last letter.
PROPHETIC WORDS.
Twensynfne years ago, before a cultured
audience In the assembly chamber of the
capitol, Chief Justice Ryan made a warning
forecast; l see him now as then,-his
bowed inquire, his transparent face, his lu-
minous eyes, through which, undimmed
with age shone the genius of one of the
great intellects of the last century Again
generation of time:
There Is looming up a new and dark
power. l cannot dwell upon the signs and
shocking omens Of Its advent. The accu-
nrAA -.
greater than it ever has been since the
downfall of the Roman empire And the
enterprises of the country are aggregating
vast corporate combinations OF unexampled
capital, boldly marching, not for economic
| conquests only, but for political power. We
see their colors, we hear their trumpets
we DISTINGUISH the sound of preparation in
our politics, money is taking the field as
an organized power. 1t Is unscrupulous
arrogant, and overbearing. Already, here
with the sovereign power and insulted the
state. There is grave fear that Il and its
great rival have confederated to make par
tltion OF the state and share Il as spells.
has Its honors These II is the duty of the
law to assert and protect, though wealth
has great power of selfprotectlon and in
! fluence beyond the limits of integrity. But
| money as political influence is essen
| TALLY corrupt Ii is one of the most dam
gerous TO free institutions by far the
most dangerous to the free and Just ad
fear. IL not to respect. The question will
arise, and arise in your day. though per-
| haps not fully In mine: Which shall rule,
or iutellect who shall ell public stations,
| educated and patriotic free men, or the
ieudal serfs or corporate capitalT
How prophetic his words The gravest
| danger menacing republican institutions to-
| day is the oyer-balancing control of city,
state and national legislatures by the
wealth and power of pubicservlce corpo-
rations. This is not more marked with
one political party when In power than with
another II deals with public officials. 1t
makes no political distinctions IL can
not aa oe cured H. by dennneiation 1t cannot
ulist' or demagogue. 1t goes directly to
the root OF government. IL threatens to
sap the life of American citizenship. The
voter elects the candidate; the corporation
controls the official. IL leaves the citizen
the semblance of power which is actually ex,
ercised against him.
THE PEOPLE AS SERVANTS
| The problem presented Is a momentous
one; it calls for no appeal to passion OF
prejudice or fear. Ii calls for courage and
} patriotism and self-saerfice. 1t calls for
solution. Shall the American people be-
come servants instead of masters of their
} boasted material progress and prosperity
victims of the colossal wealth this free land
has fostered and protected? Surely our
, great cities, our great states our great ma.
ton, will not helplessly surrender TO this
} most insidious enemy which is everywhere
undermining official integrity and Ameri-
Abraham Lincoln which abolished slavery,
which kept the United States undivided
upon the map of the world win not aban-
don Its traditions, Its memories it's hopes,
| ana become the instrument of Injustice and
oppression. 1t will do Its plain duty now,
| as 1t did In that greatest epoch of the coun-
try's history 1t will meet the issues with
rectitude and unfalterine devotion strong
|
Gentlemen of the convention, the contest
| Tor equal and just taxation and nominal
tlons by direct vote Is not yet completely
won. The nomination which you have Just
rendered me Is the unmistakabe the en-
phatic demand of the republican party for
the prompt enactment of these laws But
between that expressed will and the rlpen-
ing OF these measures into law, there are
| caucuses and conventions for the nomina-
tion OF candidates for the senate and as
! sembly. When the Legislature convenes,
/ there are the same forces TO be met and
J conteDded with that led to the undofng OF
the last legislature | appeal to you, and
through you to the people Of the state, to
| be vigilant to the last hour Do not relax
your efforts until this good work Is fin.
ished. Let no man be named for the legis
| lature who Is not fully In accord with the
republican platform. Name only men who
are willing to go on record for this egis-
| lation, who are free from all entaag dement's
or complications that may force them to
vote contrary TO desire and conscience.
/
| have been nominated. let them openly and
| publicly proclaim their position with re-
| spect to these issues. This Is equally the
right OF the party and the public.
LESSONS TO BE CHERISHED
Gentlemen, the contest through which
we have just passed strengthens the Dill.
lars OF government by the people and for
| the people. 1t teaches the sacredness of
public obligation. 1t elevates moral stand
ards In public life.
These are lessons which we should cher
ish Let all else of this contest be forgot
ten. IL does not signify who began II. or
why it was begun. IL has been decided.
| Let that suffice. / do not treasure one
personal injury or lodge In memory one
personal insult. With Individuals / have
| no quarrel and will have none The span
OF my life Is too short for that But so
| much as 1t pleases God to spare unto me
| j shall give, whether In the public service
or out of 1t, to the contest for good gov
| eminent
| Every pledge of the platform which you
have adopted here today has my unquai-
| fed approval, and, IL elected, I shall. In so
| far as the direction of public affairs is COM
mitted to me, faithfully strive to carry out
| those pledges.
| / accept a denomination firm in the reso-
, luton to discharge every duty that devolves
upen me conscentiously, sustained by the
/, abiding conviction that the republican party
VIII redeem Its pledges and press on to
| other victories.
| /. again chosen chief executive of this