The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1902-10-16
VOLUME XIV. NUMBER q

railroads was received with great en-
thuslasm. When he explained the
mortgage tax bill which he recon-
mended to the Legislature, and which
failed of passage, many men in the au-
dience said, chats right" The ex-
position of the methods of the lobby
also elected great applause, and when
the Governor concluded with an exhor-
tation that men of Wisconsin, regard
less of party, should unite to preserve
| to the people of this State a govern
ment of the people aud by the people,
and not government of the people by
the corporations, the meeting broke
into cheers which were continued as
the Governor left the platform.
The Governor laid especial stress
upon the evil of the influence of public
service corporations in National, State
and Municipal legislation. He used
the examples furnished by St. Louis
and Philadelphia showing the corrup-
ton in regard to N unicipal affairs, and
continued: 1T was only three years
ago, in our city of Milwaukee, that a
franchise worth millions of dollars to
the Street Railway company, was given
| to that company without one cent of
compensation. TWAS granted against
the protests of good citizens of all
parties. The people met in public
halls, and on the streets and showed in
every way that they were opposed to
giving that franchise away for moth
ing. But the Council of that city paid
no heed to these protests. 1t was
given away under the same municipal
government which that city has today.
If it was sold, the public treasury of
that city never received anything for
it. Nothing could stop the carrying
out of that unholy compact"
The Governor called attention to
other instances of a similar kind in
other cities, and also to the fact that it
must be the influence of these same
public service corporations which him
ders Congress from taking action TO
strengthen the interstate commerce
act in accordance with the recommen-
dations of the Interstate Commerce
| Commission. He said that these in
| fuences were the greatest menace to
the government of this country, and
that they were the outgrowth of our
system of nominating party tickets.
In concluding his speech the Cover
nor made terrific arraignment of the
corporations. He said in part:
"The day that Chief Justice Ryan
prophesied would come is here The
issue which he said would arise is
pending.
(Which shall ru1e-wealth OF man;
which shall lead money or intellect;
who shall fill public stations educated
and patriotic free men, OF the feuda1
serfs of corpora tie power? "
In this contest the Republican party
of Wisconsin today stands undeniab1y,
unequivoca11y, emphatica11y the or
ganized instrument of the people of
the State.
Though it failed to accomplish that
which was promised two years ago, it
has taken no backward step, yielded no
principle, sounded no retreat. 1t better
understands the nature of the conflict,
it is better equipped to meet it, more
determined in resolution to win last
ing victory and write its platform
pledges into statutory law.
These plain truths will triumph. I'm
less I mistake the temper of Wisconsin
citizenship, they will triumph now.
Every man of every party who places
patriotism above party, will bring the
support of his convictions, will bring
all that is best in him, to this progress
sive movement for good government,
which means so much not alone to
Wisconsin, but to all states struggling
with the same forces, contending for
the same principle The good citi-
zens of this State will unite to redeem
representative government in this
commonwealth, and make Wisconsin
model State.
The way is open and the power is in
your hands. Demand of every candi-
date for the Senate and Assembly that
he shall publicly declare how he will
vote upon questions in which you are
most deeply interested. If he talks
about exercising his independent
! Judgment on these issues, have him
plainly understand that this is a rep.
resentative Government, and that he
has no right to interpose his independ-
ent Judgment or aught else against
the known will of his constituents.
| If the chosen represen tative does not
represent the citizen, his voice is
stifed; he is denied any part In gov
eminent. q majority decision as de-
termined by the law of the land is ig-
nored and reversed, if the expires sed
will of the people is scorned and
scorned again-then the popular gov
eminent fails, then government of the
people, by the people, and for the peo-
pie is at an end. Its forms may be OBJ
served-youEmay have the mockery of
elections and the force of ''repre-
sentation," but a government based
upon the will of the people, has per-
Iished from the earth.o
| HALF Rates to Milwaukee Wis.,,
Via the North Western Line. Excur-