The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1903-08-27
Governor Shoots Politics Far and Wide
at His Address at the Reunion
OF the Old Settlers.
HARANGUES FOR THREE HOURS.
Accuses Legislature of all Sorts of Corrap-
tion and Makes q Plea For the Carry
ing out Of His Hobbies.

/ The address of Governor LaFollette
at the reunion of the Old Settlers of
the county Thursday, did mot fail of
its purpose. It was a political speech
pure and simple, and it had the effect
Icf opening the old sores among the
Republicans of the county, and the
chasm that separated Stalwart and
Half Breed has been considerably
widened by the impassioned words of
1.-THE state executive. It was harangue
Of more than three hours in which the
Governor undertook to bring all his
pet hobbies before the people in their
best light. Many Of the Old Settlers
who heard the speech have criticised
the Governor for turning the reunion
into political barbecue.
| The Governor was introduced by B..
f. Stocker, president of the Old Set
tiers club, and was given great
ovation.
Gov. La Toilette first paid tribute
to the character of the pioneers, and
then said the central idea he wished
to convey was the responsibility of
every generation to preserve the prec-
ious heritage of epresentativeg govern
ment that has come down to us from
the beginning.
"Were all the old pioneers present
in the flesh today" said the Governor,
"they would say that this1day could
be turned to no better purpose. | can
do my duty no better than to discuss
the responsibility this generation owes
to the preceding to maintain pure
form of government. Any one who
dared to declare in the old days that
the will of the people should not rule
would have been branded as traitor.
Any one who says today that the will
of the people should rule is declared by
a part of the press, representing
special interests, to be a menace to
society.
II count it a solemn obligation to
ask on every occasion: Is our govern
ment of cities, states, and nation rep
resentative Of the will of the people?
do not wish to be understood as
charging general official corruption.
State governments generally are
honest in their administration-rem
ember, speak purely of administra-
tive affairs, not legislative. The adj
ministration Of the nation generally is
honest. We grieve over the disc1os-
ures recently made with respect to one
of the great departments Of the ma
tional government-the postoffice de-
partment-but thank God that there
| is an administration back of that de-
partment; that there is a man in the
White House who will purge every
Office and make it clean.
"But there never was congress-,
| Legislature or council that corporations
do not control when there is any ques-
ton of legislation worth their while. !"
| A voice on the stage: "That's pretty
strong
eyes, and I'll prove it to you'll" ex-
claimed the governor.
| eve don't want to hear all of IT."
was shouted back.
''I'11 give you enough of it to make
you know I'm right" answered the
lgovernor.
The governor then said he would
retrace the history of events in Wis
consin for the last few years. "For
many:years," he said "a little crowd
of politicians has controlled legisla-
ton and nominations for Office. At
conferences between politicians and
railroad representatives it would be
determined who would be speaker Of
the assembly, chairman of the COM
mittee on railroads, and so on.''
In practically the same manner that
he dealt with it on the stump last fall
the Governor then reviewed his efforts
along the line of primary elections and
other soca1led reforms since 1897, and
the legislative results that followed.
Coming to the legislature of 1901 he
declared that federal appointees from
nearly every county in the state, men
owing their appointments to United
States senators and members of con-
gress, gathered in Madison and joined
hands with the railroad lobby to de-
feat measure that the people de-
manded.
"That lobby exclaimed the COVER
nor, 'prostituted and debauched that
Legislature. It is a good thing to re-
vive the history of the last few years,
and if God lets me live you will hear a
lot more about it,
you've only just begun came
from a voice in the audience, at which
there ensued laughter.
"I'm taking particular pains to avoid
any reference to politics today said
the Governor, smiling broadly, "but
!. later, when the time comes for me tc
get into the political campaign I ex'
!. pect to have something to say about
political questions.
Next the Governor attacked the Re
publican League,of 1902, and said that
in the last campaign leading citizens
of the state refused to recognize the
state platform in their speeches an6
sought to confne the discussion to ma
. tional issues. "They couldn't do it,
4 ~ ~