Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1903-01-21

How etfeetually they can, in any ordinary
contest Tor the gubernatorial nomination.
accomplish this, through the manipulation
OF convention delegates when they nave
many million dollars Annually at stake, re
CURES no argument 10 maintain. How ut
terry impossible for them 10 dictate ncmina.
tons when made by direct vote of all the
people under the Australian lallot 4 dem
eInsJrated IN the after failure 10. centroi
electons by the use of money since the
adoption Of the Australian ballot system OF
voting.
II thus becomes manifest that the execu,
i've should be nominated by direct vote OF
me people. To limit the application OF the
primary election law TO the nomination az
members of the Legislature would be To fur-
hlsh the people iapsided aud unbalanced
system. 10 would nearly always be Dossiblp
for the executive. nominated hy a system
independent OF the VIII of the voters to
1 stop In the executive Office ans measure
enacted by the representatives Of the peo-
PIE And II may as well be understood now
that the question Of taxation and
lhe question af the regulation of
| transportation rates. involving. as II
uoes. the maintenance Of commissions an.
pointed by the executive. entrusted With nll
| the power under the law; that to place the
| once OF governor through nominating
system. where corporate wealth ana noyvpr
may turn the balance would ienOardize ar
set at naught the will Of the majority ON
every question aud on every Issue
10 enact the viii Of the people into statu-
| tory law requires the majority action Of
Senate and Assembly and the approval Of
the governor. What then, win II avail h
Z order TO insure better government for
J the people they are accorded direct control
of the selection OF their candidates In the
Leg stature by direct vote for their nomina-
| ton, and are compelled to leave the nomi-
nation of the chief executive of the stare ~
q system in which the influence Of the puh.
he-seryice corporation is known TO be most
potent?
Include Members of Congress.
The same principle should be ap,lIed In
congressional nominations. Members ~
Congress directly represent the people upon
questions of supreme interest to them
| Tue people should have the right to vote
directly for or against them In making
nominations. Upon trusts. tanff revision,
a thorough regulation of fnterstatt ,Cn,
merce by the interstate commerce commits.
sion, and many other questions the publI,
Judgment throughout the country Is taking
very DEFINITE form Under 81 stem of al
rect nominations including members az
Congress. national legislation In the popular
branch of Congress Will more nearly reject
the enlightened judgment of The citizenship
of this country.
These observations respecting the Offices
TO he embraced in a primary election la,y
are submitted as sufficient IN reason for
the complete and thorough going nfeosufo
which it is assumed by the people OF orr
commonwealth you win enact In good faith
They are submitted more particularly In
anticipation Of efforts that win I've made by
the representatives of the public service
corporations again to defeat such legisla
tlon, or, failing IN that. to except from its
provisions such officials as shall in the
end cause Its purposes wholly to misca,ry.
Opposition 20 legislation takes many forms
When defeated uio the main proposition
II Is almost certain to attempt TO DESTROY
the practical application of the princinte
or to narrow its limitations discredit rs
operation and insure its repeal as a failure
But the representatives Of any interests
who would subyert the sovereign and eN
pressed viii OF the people Of this state
for the nomination of all candidates hy
direct vote must wholly fail However
vigorous and sincere has been the onposI
tion Of members of the Legislature hereto.
fore, Ii is one of the leading attributes OF
American character, as well as one OF the
fundamental principles of Nrerican insti-
buttons. TO accept the will OF the majority
when fairly and plainly expressed
Out of the experience of the last two
years there has come to all men higher
ideals in public life. more Clearly defined
Official obligation, and the promise of a het-
ter public service Nothing of official dig
nifty has been lost. The representative con.
corning all matters upon which the citizen
has not acted and the party has not def.
nitely instructed him, will exercise his h,
dependent Judgment in the discharge of his
public duty. But he viii show an Increased
regard for the will of the people and for
the pledges of his party that shall invest
his Office with added respect and increased
honor SO, too, shall political parties be
strengthened in the confidence OF the poo
pie and protect and fOrtify the principles of
repre- sentative government