The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1903-12-31
FACTIONALISM IN WISCONSIN.

The following article was contributed, by
request, by the editor Of THE TIMES, to the
Superior Evening Telegram:
THE political situation IN the
state of Wisconsin has reached a
condition that may be described
as almost an abomination to any
sort of citizen who thinks more
of his party than of the individ-
duals who have arisen to its
leadership. Independent action
of the great masses Of the COM
mon people is the only thing that
can relieve Wisconsin from a
state of "bossism" that ought to
be abhorent to liberty-loving
people, and unless thel g IS amove-
ment--well defined in this direc-
ton, Wisconsin will drift into a
political condition that will bring
shame and reproach to it's now
proud citizenship. Factionalism
is creating it's disturbances, and
is every corner of the state candi-
dates for public honors are asked
first of all; whether they are for
or against certain policies and
movements that are headed by a
few men with headquarters at
the state capitol and in the first
city of the state. 1t is more
frequent thata man 8 factionalism
or his tendencies are asked about
than inquiry into his capabilities,
his past record, or his fitness for
position. The Prophet of Evil is
distasteful to the writer, and it is
not in my nature to view with
pessimistic fancy the events that
transpire within my observation,
but have unbounded admiration
for the man who can stand out
against the multitudes, and if need
be even break the letters which
bind him to his associates, if he
can foresee that the course they
are taking is going to work a
great public evil. In the last
campaign clear-cut issue was
raised as between the return of
the Administration of the state
to power andits defeat by a move
ment called the Stalwarts. This
contest was participated in by
the republicans of the state, and
upon those who were prominent
of the party workers, there now
rests the brand of the faction
with which they were identified,
and they are accordingly praised
or condemned according to the
camp in which the discussion is
being held. Pingreeism marked
it's men in Michigan, the rule of
Platt did,the same thing in New
Yoek, and in Kansas men are still
asking whether $50 and so' was
for Pferrism, while the partisans
who followed Johnson in Ohio
will likely in time be discount
enanced on account of their poor
political judgment. And in
Wisconsin is the question going
to be asked wether the man is
Stalwart or Halfbreed before in
quiry IS made: Are you repubii-
can or democrat? For three
years I have read the two great
political papers of the state, the
SENT el and Free Press, and in
nearly every issue there is an eX-
preston from the one source of
dissatis faction of nearly every
act of the Administration, while
with the other there is fulsoml
praise and fattery, and loud ap
proval. An / thea let Us turn to
the paper published in the small
Ell places, and what is heresult:
Some of them speak out their
independence, but for the great
er part they are filling the place
of Echoes for the greater organs
which are grinding out rolls
from the gramaphones of pique,
ambition and hate in the Cream
City. Ii wv any man with a grain
of fairness in his makeup can fail
to admire some of the splendid
accomplishments and the noble
battle made by Governor LaFol-
Lotto 10 hov0nd nv understand