Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1902-10-28
GOVERNORS WEAK PLEA.
Tells Voters what He Proposes
to Do in the Future.
NOTHING OF THE PAST.
Ignores All Questions with Exception Of
His psf Hobby, the Stevens
Bill.

In his speeches this year Gov. La Fol-
lette is pleading for votes mainly on the
ground that be proposes TO compel the
railroad, express, sleeping car and street
railway companies to pay larger share
OF taxes than they are now contributing
- support the public burdens. All other
questions, except the enactment of the
Stevens bill, are entirely ignored. The
scandal OF the game wardens, the scan
dial of the book companies and the fore
ing of the state institutions into politics.
are not referred TO-
Nowhere in the $1,000 word speech of
the governor drst delivered at AIilwau-
kee and since repeated at other places
~ the state Is there a word of defense
OF the administration policy on these
subjects. policy that has driven thou
sands of life-long Republicans temporari-
IL into the ranks of the Democracy 1t
may be the chief executive of the state
feels he can say nothing that will ex-
clse his conduct, but whether willingly
or unwiihngly, he must answer his
critics or stand convicted of the serious
charges made against him.
An Eleventh. Hour Issue.
Neither does Mr.. La Follette's record
ton. Ii was On eleventh hour issue EN-
braced desperately to prevent the loss OF
party control After the election of 1900
and during the session Of the Legislature
in 1901 the people heard nothing of 1t
from its present self-styled champion.
During the entire legislative session when
tise governor was bending every energy
aud making use OF every political re-
source ut his command to establish con-
troll over the law-making body, no at
tempt was made to pass taxation legisla-
ton of importance. Then the test of ev-
cry Republican member, deciding In the
governors mind whether he was a faith
full Republican or traitor, was his POI
sltion on the Stevens primary election
bull. Everything else was neglected in
the hight between the governor and the
Stalwarts for control of the Legislature.
The opportunity to enact equitable taxa
ton laws was overlooked and the bills
were permitted to die while the struggle
on the primary election law went on.
IA Follette's Great Discovery.
When the Legislature adjourned all
admitted the contest between the fac
tions for control OF the Republican or
ganlzatiSL would be fought out on the
issue of The Stevens bill. The align
Nero remained the same until few
months ago. Then the governor made
great discovery. lie learned that
the public was taking little interest In
the soycalled primary bill Of Assembly
man Stevens and that unless he could
invent some other device to win popular
support he must be defeated for renomi-
nation. Accordingly the taxation issue,
which had done duty for Mr.. La Fol-
lette and other politicians in the past
and could be made sufficiently indefinite
for practical political purposes. was once
more brought to the front. Ii helped to
renominate the governor and now he
hopes by careful nursing ii may be kept
alive until the election.
In light of Gov La Folette's record
on the taxation question il Is reason
able to predict that, il elected, he will
do no more to secure fair taxation
law than he has done in the past. His
record in that respect is entirely a talk
ing one, with nothing accomplished,
nothing even attempted.
This is what has been done in the
past two years on the question of taxa
ton: The public service corporations
have not been taxed higher than before;
instead by the increase of the state as
sessment % TO 80 per cent. their bur
dens on the same valuation as previous
ly have been greatly reduced. A bill
passed to prevent double taxation (the
Frost mortgage bilD, was vetoed.
Contrast of Platforms.
The Republican platform this year
vaguely hints at reform in taxation. The
Democratic platform defines the pnrty's
position so clearly that it cannot be mis-
understood, and 1t means just what 1t
says. The Democratic platform favors
absolute uniformity of taxation-the uni
formity required by the state constitu-
ton. 1t proposes 10 tax all property
alike. 1t is policy 10 which no honest
ject. If once put into effect, as II will
be IL the Democratic party is victorious
in November, ii will dispose of the taxa
ton question for all time 10 come and 1t
will also dispose of the ambitions of de-
signing politicians seeking Office In the
nav,,o oF trafnrrn >,