Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1902-06-05

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to your y after an absence Of almost
two years. [ am gratitied to note
the great progress you have made in
this short time. In not distant
future you are to build here one of the
greatest cities in the state
Speaking of the Leagues work, he
said that the citizens of the state
were much interested in it. A proof
of the high character of work is found
in the Leagues magazine. From
every point of view the work concerns
every citizen. All are interested in
pure government. The better muni-
clpal government, the better state
government; the better state govern
ment, the better national government.
The purpose of charters is to make
municipalities units, independent to
work out their own problems. But
great cities, more than the smaller
ones, fail miserably in the admins
tration of its affairs. In many of the
great cities we find corrupt govern
ments, franchises worth millions sold
to the highest bidder, the police in
league with gamblers and prostitutes,
jurieS bribed blackmail and extortion
common, and even the school moneys
tampered with. From time to time
a moral wave sweeps through such
cities and the great trouble seems to
be healed, but the reformerS are not
on their guard. Soon the old system
goes into effect agaill-and SO cOrrup-
zion. goes on. During the last few
years The value of city franchises has
been vastly increased. 1t is said by
some that ali cities have their price.
that all franchises eau be purchased.
But | do not believe that this is tue
iD Wisconsin. BriberS are now easily
convicted. The glyer and the taker
sees TO it that no witnesses are pre-
sent. But the official acts are often
sufficient to convict dishonest officials
ILL The bar OF public opinion. The
example Of corrupt men now being
prosecuted in Philadelphia and st.
Louis Will have wonderful power in
opening The eyes Of the good citizens.
l hope that the conviction of dishonest
capitalists will be followed up with
tho conviction Of the guilty aldermen
LII matters not how rich, powerful and
prominent men are-If they are
guilty they should like the common
criminal be sent to the rock pile with
the ball and chain. They look upon
the common council or legislative
body DIS SO much purchasable cOmmo-
dlty-to them men are nothing, the
Integrity OF the state nothing, their
interests everything. They Lrample
upon everything, even the Constitu-.
tlon. They Strike democracy d deadly
DlOW when they try TO corrupt the
representatives, OF tue people.
GOV. LafOllette spoke Of The ncces-
sity Of proper control of the Street-car
lines, Which are now extending into
the rural communities With the
daily mail, travelling libraries and
transportation facilities The barrier
belween The country and the city will
be soon broken duWn.S The Street-car
problem should therefore be carefully
studied. for the city workman already
finds it to his advantage to seek the
country as d place of rest aud comfort.
The work Of reform is well begun. in
Wisconsin. There are many reform
organizations at work. Men of intel
llgence and power are beginning to
take part In municipal affairs. PreSi-
dent Roosevelt as police commissioner
and Seth Low as mayor Of New York
may not have been able to make
radical reforms, but their examples
act DIS stimulus to men Of the Uestr
classes 10 help to purify city govern
ment. The public is beginning to
distinguish between good public SER
wants and bad public servants. The
Chicago Municiple Leagues great
victory in the last election, and the
vigorous prosecution OF dishonest
ST. Louis aldermen indicate that
there is an upward movement. 1t is
10 be hoped we are now out of the
mire aud stand on solid ground.
Such measures as referendum, own
erShip of street railways, gas and
electric lighting and direct. vote for
the nomination Of candidates were
carried by great majorities in Chicago.
The ownership Of public utilities is
taken out Of The domain OF theoretic
speculation and is settled. 1t is d
mistake that cities are entering upon
uncertain ground when they under
take to manage public utilities. They
are doing this already. What COM
muDity would allow their public
schools to be managed by private in
divlduals? Yet, public health should
not be made secondary to any interest.
low many do not intruSt their water
and sewerage sytemS TO private cor
porationS. Why not apply the princi-
pie of public ownership to the other
public utilities?
Chicago believed that the nominal
tion Of candidates should be made by
the direct vote of the people, If the
| servant owes his service to the mach
| inc, he will serve it: il he owes his
political life to the people, he will
serve them and discharge his response
| bility to them.
With the officials nominated by di-
rect vote of the people, instead Of an
intermittent, spasmOdic election time,
interest in the official record of pub
! lie servant there would be constant
vigilance on the part of the people, be-
cause they would know that the Off
| cia was directly accountable to then
and subject to their approval or dis
| charge.
| Good government in the munich
pality as in the state is largely depen-
| dent on the interest taken in all pol
itical matters by the citizen. Let
him feel that any phase of politics is
managed independently and he is
a mere cog in the machine and stands
aloof in disgust. This leaves the
making of the law and its administra-
tion to the gray wolves and is the
greatest danger which we encounter
IN municipal or state government to-
! day. Nominations by direct vote of
the people give to every man an equal
/ part IN the selection of candidates for
office, and will call the farmer from
! his field, the workman from his shop.
the professional man from his Office.
I ifarr