River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1902-09-18
A Hot Campaign.

have more politics to the square acre
this fall than we have ever before
been afflicted with. The war of
words was begun in the east part of
the state last week by Mayor Rose
of Milwaukee, candidate for COVER
nor on the Democratic ticket. He,
in imitation of La Toilette two years
ago, is making a tour of the state in
a special railway train. He will
cover the whole state in his speech
making itinerary and will be fol-
lowed by La Toilette, who COM
mences his campaign this week.
Neither of the candidates is slow of
speech, and each can put up good
argument. Consequently from this
time on to November 4 the fight
will wax hot.
Mayor Roses speeches, so far re-
ported, indicate that he proposes to
be a Roman in Rome, to abe all
things unto all men," and adapt his
speeches to the sentiments of his
audiences. This method of talking
would be all right if only those COM
munities for which his expressions
are intended know of these outspok-
en- sentiments. But the trouble is
the reporters give his words wings
and they precede him. The fact is
already apparent that Candidate
Rose is a good deal of demagogue.
For instance, at Cavalry, where there
is Capuchin parochial school, he
made a speech laudatory of these
schools, and advocates their encour-
agement. In this he is making an
appeal to prejudice and bid for
the votes of certain religious societies.
In some of his speeches he tacitly
acknowledges that the Republican
party in this state has conserved the
public interest. His contention seems
to be against La Toilette rather than
against the Republican party. Here
are several points that he frequently
dwells upon:
"F'or the last two years." says
Mayor Rose, 1--WE have had strife
and discord. One faction of the Re-
publican party has been fighting
against the other faction of that
party. Instead of Mr.. La Follette's
spending his time in the performance
Of his duties he has spent his time in
building up a political machine. In
stead of accomplishing good for the
people he has increased their taxes.
Instead of cutting off all unnecessary
officials and subordinates, he has Civ
en- us a great number Of game war
dens and in each county has given
us supervisor of assessors to hold
an inquisition upon the taxpayers of
this state"
The demagogue is conspicuous in
the enunciation of that paragraph.
1t is pertinent to inquire: Gin what
way is La Toilette to blame in the
appointment of these officials?" The
law created these offices and directed
the governor to fill them. Would
r ose, as governor, have done differ
emily? IF so, he would have refused
to execute the laws.
He calls the attention of the far
mers to the fact that their taxes were
increased in the one-mill tax by the
raising of the assessment of the state.
The JOURNAL has taken occasion to
defend this law. The one-mill tax
is in the nature of an equalization.
It inures to the benefit of schools in
thinly settled sections, and as to the
increase of tax it is so only in one
year and this increase for that year
will be equalized by similar reduc-
ton of taxes the next year. If last
year we raised more school money
than we needed, next year we raise
less by the same sum, SO that taking
the two years into consideration, last
year and this, there is no increase in
taxes because of the excessive raise