Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1902-04-03
FACTS AS TO wn.1EHeAD's VIEWS.
And Some Opinions as to the Com.
mander- in Chief and Commissary
Of Subsistence of the "lesgue"

recent occasions or preparing SOME
notes for publication upon subjects
connected with the ancient history
-ef Wisco@sin, and With the eeHss-
sions of an eastern newspaper man.
The newspapers which assail the de-
aEetiHn derived hEylsa fg.aIl. eerLain
promises stated in those notes are
therefore not likely to draw Inc into
discussion of the merits of their
views. Identical Inference from the
same facts are very seldom drawn
by different people having such
facts before them; ami each is en-
titled to form his own conclusions
from the date at his command.
i infer from the amazing sums of
money that are employed III spread
ing among the people of the state
false statements as to the character
Of Gov. LaFollette, and vilifications
of his eudeavors towards the purifi-
cation Of politics and the equaliza-
tion of public taxes, that this money
must be furnished by party or par
things as they are; IN puzzliug the
people so as to make them rather
bear those ills they have, than fly to
others that they know not of" as
Shakespeare says; or as the appoint
ed leader of the anti-La Toilette
host in Wisconsin prefers To shape
the quotations, ito ABIDE by the
evil conditions which exist rath-
on than to fly" etc. Perhaps the
Whitehead version is better than
Shakespeare's; perhaps the infer
ence as to the original source of mon
ey used in spreading vilfication OF
the governor is incorrect. In both
cases every free-bnru American citi-
zen is at liberty 10 take his choice Of
opinions without fixing quarrel up
on me. Although | may deal with
facts and differences both, my only
concern is that my facts shall he in
take care of themselves.
1t is fact, according to the
record, that Senator Whitehead took
occasion to say in his speech against
the primary election bill In April,
1901, that he did not wish To be uu.
derstood as taking Il position against
the principle OF primary election, but
that he believed in that proposition
in so far as it is practicable aud in so
far as machinery can be devised that
Will put into successful operation"
He ouly objected to all the details of
the only bill that hal been proposed
10 provide machinery for putting the
proposition into successful opcr-
alton. A. he made no suggestion OF
better machinery than that provided
for in the bill, my inference is that
he had struck another of those evil
conditions which it was better to
abide by rather than to fly to others
which. not having had any expe
rience vita them, we might possibly
find TO HAY e flaws that would prove
drawbacks in practice. That is 10
say, IL is better To abide by any eN
istiug evil than TO attempt any inn
provement which we have not al
ready tried.
In regard TO taxation, it is to be
presumed that the seuators's speech
of Jan. 6, 1902, nuy be taken as the
expression OF his actual views, From
that document, which has been pub
lished by the League" and scat
tered broadcast thr n the state, 1t
appears that experiments in taxa
tion are looked on with suspicion,
and the Inconvenience and hard
ships attending any such expert
ments sreceived far more attention
than the improvements connected
herewith Also that he docs not
expect a completed system of taxa
ton to be perfect SYSTEM Also
that, " No one can say that any sys-
tenn has been devised or is likely to
be devised which will include all
conditions present aud future under
which an equitable and just assess
ment Is made or TO be made Aud
vet, the question of taxation is not
for a political campaign" There be-
ing no suggestion in the speech for
positive action, and no such sug-
gestion of similar character in any
of the League - supplements to
country newspapers OF other record
of the senator's sentiments within
my reach, | infer that he thinks our
system of taxation ought to be inn
proved. but that it would be very
dangerous thing TO try to improve it
until after asccrtaiuing by actual
experience that the proposed inn
provomeut would really hurt no.
body's feelings, In Si mt, IL is 10 be
.,f, 3. 10 sl...t Mr. Whitehead would
really hurt uobody's feelings. In
short, II Is 90 ho inferred that Mr.
Whitehead would like to have some