The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1902-10-30
johnson EDGED
Candidate for State Senator Announces
That He Desires to go to Mad
ison Unfattered.
MAKES KNOWN HIS POSITION.
Favors Taxation Reform and Primary
Elections if Proper Plan Can
be Secured.

Otis w. Johnson, the Republican
candidate for State Senator in the
Third Senatorial district, has sent out
an open letter to the voters of the
counties in the district stating his po-
sition on the great problems at stake
in the election. While Mr.. Johnson
states in SO many words that if elected
he desires to go to Madison unp1edged,
his further statement of his doctrines
in regard to State issues will be read
with great interest aud with universal
satisfaction by the Republicans of the
district. He says in his open letter:
Mr.. Paul Sauer, Chairman Third
District Senatorial Convention, Will
mot, Kenosha county, Wisconsin.
Dear Sir:-This is to advise you of
my acceptance of the nomination for
State Senator at the Convention held
in this district over which you pre-
sided.
esteem it great honor to have
been elected by the Convention for
this position, and take this occasion to
state that, if elected, will, to the
best of my capacity and information,
advocate and support such measures as
will in my opinion, and the opinion of
my constituents, conduce most to the
general welfare of the State.
| There can be no more sacred obli-
cation on the part of public official
than to endeavor to respect with in
flexible energy and caution the senti-
ments of his constituents.
recognize that was nominated at
a convention composed of Republi-
cans divided on State issues; one side
admiring the present executive and
eager to secure support for his meas
ures; the other questioning the FEAST
bility of his policies, and inclined to
deliberate carefully before encourag-
ing new laws at his suggestions.
believe that there are upright and
patriotic men in both divisions of this
party.
Ihave been led to believe that re-
eeived the cordial support of all the
delegates in that Convention, and, so
governed by scrupulous regard for
the opinions of both.
Personally. I believe that the ascer-
tanning of the real choice of commu-
nifty for candidate for Office should be
as sacredly safe-guarded as the cast
ing and counting of ballots.
That the formal majority should
represent, as it too often does not, the
ma jority in fact.
While new laws may assist in bring
| ing this about, do not believe that it
can ever be accomplished until the
good citizens are as alert and patriotic
in attending to their political duties as
the designing politicians are active
and corrupt.
If a primary law will encourage the
good citizen to engage earnestly in the
effort to elect good men to office, no
one will more earnestly support it than
myself.
If majority of the party, however,
is to define the policy OF that party, is
it not fact that there must be some
method within such party by which
the opinion of the majority can be as
certained, and concerted action deter
mined upon to successfully contend
with the opposition on election day?
If we can dispense with the caucus,
and secure better results by the self
nomination of the primary law plan,
the sta1warts, I believe, as well as
those who differ with them now, will
be equally well pleased.
will, of course, be anxious TO sap
port any measure that will result in an
equitable assessment of taxes.
am not prepared to say that will
support the measure now up for con-
/ sideration, and am free to admit to
you that have not given it the care
full consideration that it should have,
to receive either my endorsement or
disapprova1.
If go to Madison, / wish to go there
free to act as my conscience dictates,
and fettered by no obligations to any
faction of my party, but bound to act
in way that will promote harmony
and encourage united and harmonious
action by it.
am extremely anxious as I suppose
every good Republican is, to have
Wisconsin rank high as Republican
State, and to maintain it's present po-
sition, dignity and consequence by
continuing to send to the Senate and
to Congress men of force, integrity.
ability and chara cter.
As ! understand it, We all agree that
Senator Spooner must go back to the
Senate, and every loyal Republican
should go to the polls and vote for the
Republican ticket.
Yours respectfully,