The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1902-10-16
MEET THE GOVERNOR
A Thousand People Gather at the
Rhode Opera House to Hear
Governor LaFOIIette.
GOVERNOR TELLS OF ISSUES
Speaks of Primary Elections, Tax Reform,
and Pays Mild Tribute to the Senior
Senator and the Congressman.

Governor Robert M. LaFo1lette was
given royal reception by the people
of Kenosha city and county Tuesday
night, and thousand people turned
out to hear his mastery discussion of
State and National issues.
On account of the fact that the Gov
ernor was suffering from bad cold
the reception at the hotel was aban-
doned, and the Governor remained in
his room until the hour set for the
meeting. When he and his party en-
tered the opera house the auditorium
was packed to the doors. The hall
was splendidly decorated for the visit
of the Governor with American flags
and bunting, and on either side of the
proscenium arch were hung pictures of
Mckinley and Roosevelt.
On the platform were seated Hon. ].
o. Davidson, candidate for Lieutenant
Governor, w. L. Houser, candidate
for Secretary of State, Zeno M. Host,
candidate for Insurance Commissioner,
and many Republican leaders from the
city and county. When the Governor
came upon the stage ne was greeted
with prolonged applause.
In introducing Governor LaFol1ette
A. E. Buckmaster, who was chairman
of the meeting, said: wisconsin has
had many able Governors, but it is
not every Governor who has had the
ability to discuss the principles of the
Government ia which he believes and
to put those principles before the peo-
pie by argument and exposition. But
| Wisconsin now has a Governor who
/ not only advocates certain principles
of government, but he is also able to
place those principles before the peo-
pie in way that all may understand
them. It gives me pleasure to intro
duce to you Robert M. LaFo11ette,
Governor of Wisconsin"
When the Governor arose he was
greeted with applause. He immed-
lately took up the discussion of the
National issues. In opening he said:
"The last five years of National ad-
ministration has been an era of indus
trial progress which has amazed the
world. Never before have any people
made the progress which the American
people have made in that time"
He referred to the work done in Cuba
and in the Orient, and continued: "In
all of this work of development, the
representatives of Wisconsin have
taken an active part know that you
ali feel an especial pride in the work
which your representative, the Hon.
Hal Cooper, has taken in all the ipter-
national questions which were before
Congress. (Applause.) And the en-
tire State takes just pride in the
splendid leadership of the Senior Sen
ator of this State in the work which he
has done upon all of the great ques-
tons bearing upon our industrial pros
perity and the development of our
country" (Applause.)
The Governor had much to say in re-
gard to primary elections and after ex-
planning the workings of the plan he
said:
elbow will you get your platform?
That is question that has been asked
frequently. 1t was asked by members
of the last Legislature, who, by their
actions, did not show any particular
regard for platform promises them
selves"
That's right, give it to Them
came a voice from the rear of the
house. "They should have exhibited
some respect for pledges made to the
people, and on which they were elected
before becoming solicitous about plat
forms under primary election sys-
tenn
Nov as to how platforms can be
made under the primary election sys-
tenn, I will tell you how. In the first
place every candidate for Office under
the primary election system would
have to go before the people and would
have to tell the people where he stood
on all public questions. A candidate
for nomination for the Senate or the
Assembly would have to tell where he
stood upon questions. pertaining to the
issues which would come before the
Legislature. He would have to tell
the people whether he would vote for
bills to tax the railroads justly"
| The Governor went on to say that
there.are other ways in which the re-
forms could be made. The bill which
the last Legislature defeated, he said,
provided that platforms should be
made by the candidates on the ticket
acting together, but the people were
protected, he said, because the naming
of the candidates were placed in their
hands.
The portion of the speech in which he
dealt with the tsxation question and in
which he called attention to the failure
of the Democrats to criticise the Re-