Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1903-12-23


Jefferson club in Milwaukee, strongly
endorsing primary elections. Senator
Merton was strong and stes fast in his
advocacy and votes before the last legis'
lature. He says the principle is SC emf
nsntly fair and Just that all Wauksshs
democrats favor the system.
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The Babeoek literary bureau Is sending out
from Washington q leailet giving eatfaets
from the speech OF MIR. Bancroft nomfnAtir Z
RAbcock for congress In 1900, the speech de-
liyered at NecedAh by the governor ana ~
editorial written by senator Munson, tnai
year. The inference 70 be drawn from tns
pleasant things spoken and written al thai
time Is that Mr.. Babcock was then considared
ia good standing In his political party, sna Y
worthy 70 support nowl The all sufficient
answer Is this; In the year 100 ana prior
thereto Mr.. Babcock had not repudia.to tne
y atform Of bis party and Ola not SisiS w w
legislative halls % his state to lobby against
rneAznres promised 70 sTd demanded oy the
people. While ne may save been poLticaIiF
nnsound In 1900 his unsoundDess was so sue.
eessfully concealed that he passed current
among public men as one who was not spec
Tally dangerous. Mr.. BaOcocks success IN
political and financial world has made nm
bold ana In 1903, be fesls so emnipotent that
he will undertake. things from which ne would
shirk three years before. He has reached
the language OF distinguished railroad mag
nate, "the public be- damned, The state
IL is perhaps well that the Babcock
literary bureau has some resources TO
draw from aside from the puffery pre-
pared by his secretaries and furnished
az syndicate matter TO the newspapers
under mortgage to the congressman and
those otherwise financially in bis en-
ploy. AS for the CENSOR, the article
alluded TO above az being distributed
broadcast In endeavor to establish the
fame Of our congressman, we can take
no objection. except the manner in
which in is designed to deceive The
comment was made at time when Mr.
Babcock was thecandidate Of the repub-
ncan party, regularly nominated for
reelection. As a loyal republican paper
mot bolter. like too many Of the pres
emit rampant Babcock supporters In vi
roqua during the last state campaign, J
it supported and viii continue to sup
port republican nominees. The article
was written at a time when Mr.. Bah
cock professed TO be in accord with the
republicans of his state and district in
matters of general policy. Alta time when
Mr.. Babcock. in state convention, at
the head of the Third district delega-
ton. assisted in the making Of plat
form committing the republican party
to primary election and other honest re-
forms. 1t was the platform upon which
Babcook and every other republican
elected to Office in Wisconsin that year,
was successful by the largest majority
ever given for the party. with gallant,
honest, fearless Bob LaFollette ut the
heat.. LaFollette has stood manfully
and courageously for the people, their
rights and interests every day since,
and every reform then promised would
ere this have been enacted into law but
for the interference of the corporation
lobby, reinforced by government office
holders, a purchased press aad obstruc-
b4AtAAher VI kAlG AS&HNoAA W EG.
The CENSOR has not set itself on q
pedestal as greater than lis party and
wiser than the people. Ii believes in
majority rule. II Is firm Ia the belief
that party platforms mean something,
are not made to catch votes with and be
repudiated after election. When Con-
gresham Babcock has been right on
policies and measures affecting the In
terest of the people. we have not with
held honest acknowledgement, When
he has called conventions for his own
benefit, ont of season and out OF reason,
TO forestall action and prevent other
worthy men from entering canvass
for the place he has so long held, we
have not been slow in denouncing such
practices. When he declared in favor
Of that niiuitous fraud upon the masses,
the ship suhsidJ bill, and other matters
Of national legislation designed to rob
the people. we have not hesitated to
speak plainly about it. When he left
Washington and took up headquarters
at Madison. joining the lobby to defeat
legislation promised the people by the
republican party, he repudiated the
party platforms. What greater offense
could a party man commit 10 prove
himself unworthy of the confidence of 8
people and district that has 50 long hon.
ored himg
With the CENSOR there is nothing
personal about this matter, Ii believes
in keeping faith with the party and the
psople. This, Mr.. Bsbeock has failed tc
do And If we mistake not the temper
OF honest republieanism In this district
the rank aid file win be heard from in
the caucuses the coming year Tbs,
the honor and responsibility Of repre-
senting this good old agricultural Third
district in congress viii be conferred on
some m-n capable Of approaching the
wishes and views Of constituents, we
rave not the slightest doubt No re-
SOFT to commendstioa Of years past win
satisfy or deceive any one