The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1903-12-25
Primary Election Plan at Novem-
Der, 1904, Election.
BOAsTFUL PURITANS IN WEST
Sturdy Stock, However-Live Pony at
BanCUet-Co Congressman Cooper's
Railroad Bill.

a.
that the voters of the state should
approve at the polls in November the
primary election system submitted to
them by the legisla ture, it is altogether.
likely that the system will be given
the force of law. | know there are
political leaders who do not believe
this, but the wisest politicians are
strangely unWise when it comes to
an estimate of what the average man
Will do in a matter as to which the
politician himself is interested. Many
of us who are friends to the direct
vote regret that the thing is not to
be approached more tentatively and
we fOresee much friction and disgust
in the sudden abandonment of the eau
Gus and convention system for an alb
SOIutely new system. OF course, the
way should have been paved by gradu
al steps, making certain of the nomin-
ations by direct vote until we learned
how, and then extending the applica
ton to apply to all, if the voters ap-
proved. Judge Baensch, in his letter
Of acceptance, points this out; but the
only issue now is do the voters prefer
no primary election or the whole
thing; and they will choose the latter,
in my opinion. They will reason that
if the reform is now passed up," it
may not again be possible to jack the
reform in a more feasible shape
through both branches of the legisla-
ture and secure the approval of the
then executive; and they will reason
that once on the statute books it can
be amended into shape. The peril is
that the attempt to effect all nomina-
tons by the system may disgust the
state and lead to prompt legislative
repeal in full, whereas wiser intro
ductiOn Of the system would give the
good points of the direct vote q chance
to show themselves.
AS the People Will View 1t.
Dut the issue at the polls will pre-
sent itself to the mass of voters as
1.-The politicians against the people,"
for most all the politicians are OPP
posed to the law: and when that line of
war is drawn in Wisconsin, everybody
knows who wins. Much good argu-
ment will be put up against the full
plan as proposed in the bill and
thoughtful men by scores in every
community will turn it down. but the
great mass of men go in herds UNI
der common impulse and the cry of
politicians" will be enough to
stampede them.
New Erglanders in the West.
This is the season that New Eng
landers make a good deal of their an
cestors, in fact, today is the date of
the landing of the pilgrims at Ply
mouth Rock. These people have rea-
son to be proud, when one thinks what
the descendants of the 100000 Puri
tants-that is the estimated number
of those who could properly be called
such-have done. There are societies
in all the large and in many of the
sma Her cities. The dinners of the
New York society have been famous
for eventful speeches, among them
Henry Grady's and Senator Wolcott's.
The Madison society had a successful
meeting last year but this year omits
it with the purpose next December of
having another. l CHANGED to be in
Detroit the other evening when the
New Englanders of that city had
their feast. 1t was a high society
event. Whether all the descendants
in Detroit are brilliant and successful
or whether the meek and lowly are
not encouraged, was not clear. The
tables bore placards carrying the
names of well known cities and towns
in New England. A choice quartette
sang the old songs, and a Cecilian
automatic piano. was operated by an
expert. A feature was a procession
by cooks in costume bearirg turkeys
ready to be served in platters exalted
over their heads They made the cir
Gle of the hall headed by boy riding
q live pony.
They Claim Honest Blood.
To revert to the New Englanders.
the orders of descendants of men of
the wars multiply. There is a Daugh-
observation-disclosures order added to the
Revolutionary Succession. Abroad
rev order is THE Iron Crown" 1t in
Guides those descended from Alfred the
Great of England, Robert Bruce Of
Scotland and Charlemagne of Ger
many. Those who go in for this sort
Of thing claim to get much inspiration
from it. 1t would be loss if Ameri-
cans were too busy to forget the les
sons of the past and too democratic to
believe it makes no difference who
preceded us of the blood.
Mr. Cooper's Bill.
Wisconsin will become identified in
the public mind with efforts to force
railroads to know their place. Not
only is it Governor LaFollette's favor
lite effort but the Racine congressman
has introduced bill to give the inter-
state commerce commission more pow
er. 1t provides that an order to do
Justice in the matter of rates or dis
elimination shall become operative in
thirty days; it provides that when the
railroads themselves arrange a Joint
-o+o,, Ix,b;nI tho aomu1iSSi has i'm