Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1902-05-13
Argulnentunn al Ho1ninem.

The drQuBleIatuBl I'D hOmineln is illus |
trated when A calls b liar and B re- |
torts you're another" 1t does not
deny all accusation bat replies that the |
accuser is no better 1t is the last re-
fuge ola convicted political demagogue,
and Is, at the present time a favorite
weapon Of debate with republican (
statesman everywhere. Here in Wis
cOnsin the republican factions are using
it against each other Recently a
pamphlet entitled Voters Guide. fhe
truth about the governor, the Iegisla-
ture, taxation and primary elections
was distributed broadcast over the
state, from the Office IF the Milwaukee
Free Press. 1t confirms 140 pages of
closely printed matter and its general
aim Is to show up the hard struggle
governor has had against the old ring
III bis party, in has efforts to secure iegis-
lative reforms IN the way of imposing
Just taxation upon the large corpora
tlons, etc This was followed in few
days by the publication of bundle of
letters in the Milwaukee Sentinel, show
ing an effort upon tie part of II. g.
kress OF ManltUwoc, IN the early part
Of 1900, TO bring abouE peace between
LaFoIlette and Payne, interspersed
with more on less csrcumstantial evil
governor to MIR. KreSs, and all tending
10 show that the governor knew anu
approved the effort being made toward
harmony. There was III the same issue
of the Sentinel long editorial argu-
ment to the effect that all this showed
that the governor was not "A whit better
than the members of his party OF the
Payne faction, and didn't care a rap
about Gods patiens poor quoted
from speech made by the governor To
Il gathering of farmers) but was intent
only upon building up his own political
fortunes, and ready u do it by forming
an alliance with Payne or any other old
way, and willing TO let Gods patient
poor 90 to the "demhition bow vows
if only the old ring would adopt him
\ few days later, the Sentinel published
a long interview with MIR. Kress, which,
though it added nothing to what was
published before, was well devised to
keep the pot boiling The disclosures,
and more especially tie Sentiners com
ments thereon, make interesting read
ing Not that there is any matter of
public interest involved therein but for
what may be studied from between lines,
as TO otherand more momentous dieker-
ings, and compromises which both par
ties to the controversy are afraid to dis
close There is, for example, in the
Sentinel's comments charge that the
governor was as ready TO betray Payne,
as he was to abandon his former posi-
lion, and deceive his reform" friends
by making compact with Payne
This is the only allusion, and very
covert one it is, which the Sentinel
makes to an actual compact which the
circumstances have led many persons
To believe was actually made between
Lat gillette and Payne. All of US easily
remember The very Sudden change of
heart that came over the Payne leaders
when the republican fight fol the party
convention of 1900 WAS at its height
A dozen ''favorite sons all over the
state were gathering up their local
delegations, and LaEolette was con-
fronted with the prospect of a con
vention in which, although he would
have more. delegates than any other
one candidate, an irresistible combi-
nation was likely to be formed against
him. Their presto, the whole thing was
changed in day; Payne called OFF his
dogs, and LaFollette found himself
without single opponent in the race
and without any opposition except from |
Governor Scotleld, VINO published a
letter stating the reason why he could |
not and would not support or vote for
Lakollette. The nomination and cleo
ton of LaFollette followed, and there !
was no breath of dispord or dissatis-
faction until the governor began TO urge !
his schemes of reform TO the legislature !
of l9O0190i The howl of disapproval |
and Indignation that instantly went up |
from the Payne crowd everywhere was
surely a strange thing Why should
they be surprised Had not LaFollette
advocated those very measures for
years He had never publicly given
any sign of abandoning any of them.
Why should the Payne crowd evince
such sudden disgust and surprise be-
cause be still stuck to his old text We |
have no doubt they hail reason for it,
and that the reason is suggested in the
charge of the Sentinel 1hat the governor
was as ready to betray the confidence |
of Mr. Payne, as he was to betray his
reform friends by making a compact
with Payne. \ compact was doabt-
less made between LaFolette and
Payne, and was the cause of giving the
former an pndisputed iield in his race
for the nomination. But after he was
elected the governor did not carry out
his part OF the agreement. Probably
he never Intended TO. Or it may be
that when it came to the test he found
he could not do it without forever blast
ing his further political hopes. How
ever that may be there is no reason to
expect that she truth will be told by
either party. The governor has con
tented himself with denial by Mr.
Murphy, that either OF them ever saw
the letter written by Mr. Kress TO Mr.
Payne, imposing "a naturalization of
interests. ~ which letter Mr.. Kress
claims to have written with Murphy's
approval Thus this controversy has
became a question of veracity between
two men and there it will stay, doubt
less, for The present There was,
probably, nothing in the actual com
pact made between Che governor and
Payne. which either Of them desires to
make public