Omaha daily bee., 1902-07-24

The paramount issues in the state of
Wisconsin this year are tax reform and
direct nominations Of candidates. The
platform declarations on those two
points were endorsed after a full and
free discussion by more than two-thirds
OF the recent republican state convention
and doubtless expressed the sentiment
Of the rank and file Of the party Of the
Badger state. Coupled with a severe ar
raignment of public officials for assist
ing professional lobbyists in the defeat
Of reforms to which members Of the leg
islature were pledged, The Wisconsin
platform makes this declaration:
As representatives Of the republicans Of
Wisconsin chosen in q contest after a cam
paign which has left no reasonable ground
for doubt. we declare an equal and uniform
taxation Of all taxable property and the
right Of every citizen to an equal voice
with a direct vote in the nomination Of
candidates for ONCE arc Issues OF supreme
Importance in the ensuing state campaign.
The great reform wrought in our general
election through the Australian ballot in
spires us with confidence to make the same
methods OF nomination that every voter may
express his sovereign right of choice by
direct vote without the Intervention and
manipulation of political agencies. We
therefore demand that caucuses and con-
v~entions for candidates for once be abol-
ished by legislative enactment and that all
candidates for state, legislative, congress
sional and county of1ces be nominated at q
primary election upon the same day and by
direct vote under the Australian ballot.
We renew the demand OF the party for
the enactment OF such laws ss may be nee
essary to compel each individual and every
corporation transacting business with the
state TO bear g just share Of the burden OF
taxation.
1t will be noted that while Wisconsin
has been held up by the Nebraska rail-
road tax bureau as a model for this
state that the republicans OF Wisconsin
stand pledged for a revision of the tax
system that win compel the railroads Of
their state to contribute a much greater
share toward the maintenance Of gov
eminent than has been exacted from
them up to this time.
During the year 1901 the aggregate
tax collected from railroads in Wiscon-
sin amounts to $1.650,O00. This tax Is
levied not by the mile or upon tangible
property but upon the gross earnings
Of the railroads, varying from 8 to 315
per cent. While Minnesota proposes to
raise the tax on gross incomes from
8 to 4 per cent, It is proposed in Wiscon-
sin to make a progressive tax from 8 to
3 per cent, according to the class of
road. Such a tax will yield from
100000 to $500. 900 per annum,
whereas the taxes paid by the railroads
of Nebraska only aggregate $1,16o,0o0,
including millions Of dollars worth Of
lands and other property not directly in
use for railroad purposes.
The demand of Wisconsin republicans
for direct primaries is in line with the
popular demand for primary election re-
form that will do away with barter and
sale and corporate interference with
conventions. With all its defects the
modern Crawford county system,
namely, the nomination Of candidates
by direct vote without the Intervention
Of delegates and conventions, affords the
most effective remedy of the fragrant
abuses of the old system by which the
popular will is so frequently frustrated
by jugglery and ~chicanery.
The FIRST step in this direction has al
ready been taken In Nebraska by pri-
mary election laws enacted within the
last few years, which require the regis
tration Of voters according to party anil
iation and the supervision Of the pri-
mary election under the same regula-
tons and restrictions that govern gen.
eral elections. 1t is to be hoped that the
next step will be taken at no distant
day.
Direct primary nominations are no
longer an experiment Within the past
five years they have been introduced in
tons have been made by majority party
vote they have proved eminently salts
factory. A candidate who is the choice
of a majority of his party freely ex-
pressed by an Australian ballot may
readily command the undivided support
OF his party, while candidates nomi-
mated by a mere plurality could not
command the allegiance from the body
OF men who are pronounced against
them. In other words, the direct pri-
mary opens the gates wide for a free
expression OF party sentiment. while the
old system Of nomination by delegate
conventions has often resulted In the
selection Of candidates who could not
possibly command the voluntary support
of a majority OF their party.
Wu.m VIM nun nay-a- 49,.