Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1902-11-04
HOW He FEELS.

Ine Iolt0WIng letter written Oy Nm.
Ellis, of this city, and which appeared
in the Milwaukee journal of Saturday,
is from the view point of life long re-
publican, and is another testimonial
of the esteem in which Gov LaFollette
is held by large numbers Of his own
party. When the governor unmasked
himself at Appleton. few evenings
ago in relation to his attitude toward
Senator Spoouer, we believe it sealed
the doors to his again being elected to
the office to which he aSpires, for the
statement he made in that city has in
fluenced thousands of republicans not
to coincide with Mr.. Ellis view in vot-
ing for him, but to deal with him as he
would deal with others who stand in
the way of his personal ambitions and
czar-like principles Never in the
political history of Wisconsin has this
state had fastened to it such dicta-
torial politician of unpopular ideas as
Robert NJ. LaFollette, to whose politi-
cal tricks tie acts of Bosses Quay and
Platt are not to be compared. The peo-
pie of this commonwealth are lovers of
freedom, and now that this man has
been fully shown up in his true colors
during this campaign, we believe they
will, at this election, stamp out his
political career, and forestall further
one-man rule. Here is the letter we
previously referred to
To the Hon. Robert M. LaFollette,
republican candidate for governor of
Wisconsin, Madison, Wis Sir: As you
have done me the honor to solicit lay
suffrage in the Impending election in
Wisconsin, shall presume far upon the
liberty Of speech Inherent in our ideas
of freedom in this couotrY, to express
to you, with my assurance that | shall
cast my ballot for you, some of the rea-
sons which move me to chat decision.
Il may preface what have to say by
| assuring you that | have neveropposed,
either by voice or by ballot, but one re-
| publican ticket, record in republican
ISM which should command your re-
spect, though it may not have the
endorsement of your example,
i had the pleasure of missing your
recent speech from the platform in the
city in which / reside, but | have
learned fro:n my ne!ghbors who were
present of the valiant plea so eloquent
ly made by you for the defeat of the
republican candidates for the legisla-
ture in this district, aud your masterful
attack upon their repubicanism. How
ever, ! may be pardoned for observing
that whatever may be the hereSieS OF
which they have been the victims, they
have not yet wauderedf far enough from
the faith of the fathers to fall under the
benign smile OF the approval of William
Jennings Bryan, whose recent com
mendation of ycu and your platform
has convinced most of your followers
that they have made no mistake, apd
that the label you wear does not i'm
pair the genuineness of your political
yagaries.
Il have also read with feelings of
shame, which it would have been much
more becoming for you to have suffered,
your declaration that you would refuse
to support John Q. Spooner tor the
United States senate until he, too, had
drunk the cup that has made you mad,
and until he agrees that he sees the
same ethical distortions which you have
Incorporated into your platform as the
Final Word | might, if il were not
too bold, suggest to you that Mahamet
found way out of similar difficulty.
i have watched your republicanism
for six years. 1t has been of the stiletto
sort You have always been ready to
sacrifice the party for yourself when
you have been able to do So The vote
for Edward Scofeld in Primrose town
ship is a lasting impeachment of your
standing as an honorable republican.
Ever since | have known anything
about you politically, you have been
either a skulker or a tyrant in politics
The people of Wisconsin have evi-
denced by their overwhelming votes
in the only conventions that have been
kept free from poachers on your pre-
serves by the officers appointed and
paid for by the state for that purpose,
that they desire the return of John G.
SpoOner to the United States senate.
Yet you are carrying around in one
hand, under the folds of your tOga, the
knife that is intended for his political
heart, while with the other you crack
the whip of a machine boss to drive the
voters into line under republican ban
ner. You are all there is left of the
republican party in Wisconsin, for even
the name has been swallowed up in the
need for a broader term to cover the
economic idiosyncrasieS which are
patched together in your platform.
And yet | shall vote for You So
will thousands of others who despise |
you political methods, loathe your |
shifty political eye, and detest your
dictatoual assumption of legislative as
well as executive power And desire |
to tell you why. Because, and only be- !
cause, John c. Spooner is too good a |
republican to sulk In the geographic |
cal domain Of John c. Spooner's repub- |
licanism there is no Primrose township.
! have heard his personal plea to vote |
for youths imprisoned demand that |
every republican vote the whole repub- !
lican ticket from Robert Nj. LaFollefte /
down. And 70 that plea, and that plea
alone, you viii owe your election. /
Aud with the certificate, for which you |
are indebted to John c. Spooner, safely I
in your pocket, you will unsheath the |
knife and satisfy the hungering pangs |
Of your political hatreds
But republicanism, tattered and /
torn, though it may be in your Populis- |
tic mill, will triumph in Wisconsin be-
cause, and only because, the man you
would leave no stone unturBed to undo,
is great enough TO rise above the insig
nitieant splitting Of your feline rage,
and throw the weight Of his tremendous
force into the balance to save the fall.
ing fortunes Of the party he loves, tot
tering to its ruin under your ruinous
leadership. Not to you, but TO the
appeal of John c. Spooner, do / yield n
my vote for yOr on election day.
Respectfully yours,
WILLIAM ELLIS"
Waasau, Wis, Oct 81.