Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1902-08-14


In 1855 I was old enough to vote
for the nominees of the Republican
party upon the first state ticket
which it ever placed in the field in
Wisconsin. And from that time
until 1895, when I removed to this
city, I steadily, Loyalty and consist
emily supported by my votes, and in
such other ways as it was thought I
could be useful, the platforms and
candidates of the Republican party
in nation, state, county and town.
Having thus introduced myself,
beg leave to say that my purpose in
addressing to you this communities
ton is, to tender to you my con-
gratulations upon the sublime
height to which you have raised the
Republican party, it's principles and
yourselves, as Republican voters,
in Grant county.
congratulate you upon the delega-
ton which you honored yourselves by
sending to represent you in the last
state convention, upon the docility
with which they obeyed the commands
of the master, and the faithfulness
with which they executed his DEGREES.
| I congratulate you that you were
able to find in the county % persons
who could be relied upon to represent
you at that convention and vote as one
man to insult Senator Spooner, by
! challenging his loyalty to the Repub-
lican party and it's principles, and re-
curing him, in order to be recognized
as a republican, to adopt all of the fads
| invented by the man who could write
respecting you what is quoted below,
grovel at his feet, and beg his kind per-
mission to continue to be recognized
as member of the party, of which he
has so long been distinguished mem
Der, and of whose principles he has so
long been recognized as one of its
! most eminent expounders and defend
erS.
I also congratulate you that you
were able to find and send to that con-
vention to represent you and utter
sentiments, % persons who could kiss
the hand of the man who wrote, and
by endorsing him, admit to be true the
following which he wrote respecting
| you because you were part of the Re-
publican party of which he was speak
ing) and embodied in a so-called veto
message which, on or about May 10,
1901. he sent to the senate of the state
of Wisconsin.
"The machine has prepared the way.
Not county, not a community but
has it's boss and master, who in turn
has his, higher up in the feudal system
which then controlled the common
| wealth. State officers and members of
the legislature were named by less
than half a dozen gentlemen equal in
authority, absolutely at their pleasure.
Such was the sense of security which
unopposed power inspires, that nomln-
atoms were settled sometimes months
| in advance of conventions called merely
J to 'ratify' the same. In state conven-
lions delegates were bribed to betray
their constituents by men who had
/ held high official position. So brazen
and reckless did their agents become
in approaching decent men who
spurned their offers that good citizen
ship was everywhere ready for open re-
! volt. Representative government was
being practically undermined. The
men we're not the candidates OF the
voters but of the machine. The Off
cial was no longer the servant OF the
people, but the abjecJ tool of the men
who bought the nomination and owned
the official" etc.
/ used the word ''you" above, advis-
eddy. Because you, through your dele
cation liz the state convention and by
/ your votes sending them there, TO en-
dorse and support the man who wrote
! it, have practically admitted that as to
YOU it is true. If it really were true,
to what sublime height of moral
! courage you have attained, when you
admit, that you had sunk to such a
/ depths Of moral degradation as is there
! described. While, if it is untrue, as to
YOU, prefer not to express an opinion
respecting your conduct, in permitting
such a statement, not only to pass un-
denounced and unchallenged, but still
more in admitting it to be true, and
kissing the hand that wrote it. But
though you may admit it to be true as
to yourselves, deny your right to ad-
nit it for me. While [ resided in
Grant county, not only exercised my
right and did my duty as a citizen by
casting my own vote at the polls, but
I was many times honored by being
sent to represent you in part, in the
legislature, in county and state con-
ventions, and twice in national con-
ventions, and I absolutely know that
during all that time and since, no
s'boss" or master ever owned or con-
trolled, or bribed or attempted to own
or control me or my vote by bossism,
mastership or bribery, either as a citi-
zen at the polls, as representative in
the legislature, or as delegate in a
convention. And am just as certain
that | never was "boss" or master
or attempted to be, and that | never
owned or controlled or attempted to
own or control in whole Or in part, in
any way whatever, or was a party to
any attempt to own or control in
whole, in part, in any way whatever
the vote of any man or set OF men
Therefore, I must decline to admit
that the above quoted statement OF
Mr.. La Toilette is OF ever was true.
1t is generally conceded, | believe
that Grant county is one of the coun-
ties of the state, and is therefore nee