Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1903-12-16
Viriie, Straig htforward Statement
TO the Republican
Voters.
AN ADMIRABLE ADDRESS.
The L-anitowcc Man Discusses Living
Issues n q Statesmanlike
Style.
ELECTIVE RAILWAY COMMISSION.

Manitowoc, Wis, Dec. 11.-[Special I
Ex-Lieut. Coy. Emil Baensch has is
sued his long-eypected statement to the
voters Of the Republican party. formally
accepting numerous invitations that he
shall allow the use Of his name as Il
candidate fer the gubernatorial nominal
ton Of the Republican party. The efforts
which have been made by his political
opponents TO discredit it in advance are
lGokcd upon here as acknowledgements of
rs Importance. Judge Baensch and his
II5nds deny the stories from Madison
tndt the address was submitted for re-
VISION to Senator Spooner or any ''Stal
VaFt leaders, and also the report promul-
gated ~ Milwaukee that w. J. Anderson
TAD hand III its preparation. The state
meEt IN full is as follows:
TO the Republican Voters of wisconsin:
TOR some time past | have been urged 10
become a candidate for the nomination of
governor I was similarly urged two and
SIX years ago, but in each instance declined.
because the then incumbents were each
entitled to the traditional second term.
Now there exists no pre-emptive right OF
precedent and the field is open TO ALL
Those who have thus requested me have
not been extremists in either faction For
myself can say that | have favored or
opposed issues on their merits. regardless
II who proposed opposed them, believ-
ing that every man should wear his own
thinking cap Personalities always create
4 mist which distracts a fair and free dis
cusslon AID delays or binders the solution
q Important problems. | can further state
mat I 60 not now stand for or against ans
man or set of men. To occupy the execu-
ave chamber of our great state is an honor
when appeals to the best motives of any
man II | cannot enter my own feet
ana at the front door l don't want to enter
it at all.
The constitution requires the governor to
70 fhn ic1n
sels as he may deem eXpedient and to ap-
nrove or disapprore acts passed by it.
rms intimate relation with the legislative
department renders it proper that the peo-
PIE should know the views of every one
aspiring to that position. For that reason
nave prepared this statement the pub
ncation OF which has been delayed by pri-
vite matters.
Taxation.
it was that intellectual giant the keen
sighted benjamin Harrison who within
the last decade, pointed out as the two
most pressing problems u the day-trusts
.teG taxation. as a nation cannot exist
naf slave, and half free, so d government
cannot endure wherein part Of the people
are taxed, and part unta1ed. In his terse
and trenchant style he sounded tbp tocsin
OF tax reform and started the movement
which, under the guidance of men of ac-
ton IN every state. has now gathered such
momentum n, that no power in the land can
stop L. The movement will be a laborious
one: We will be handicapped by the
prejudice of partisanship. will at times
ne a,, to strange doctrines. will follow
rash leaders, be beguiled by wiIi-o. the
Wisps and lose our way. but in the end
veil strike the right trail
Wisconsin has already made prompt an
sEer' ana that with most practical meth
ofS Gov. Scofeld, in public addresses
showed the remarkable fact that personal
property In the state. as found in the as
sesSmeRt rolls, had steadily decreased in
value. During his first term a volunteer
tax commission was appointed. W..ose ex-
penses were borne by private subscription.
It's report was so lucid and forceful as to
render the establishment of q permanent
commission, during his second term, an
easy matter. The commission was given
carte blanche as to equipment and clerical
force. The facts found and tabulated hv
rs research have given the best basis
Ter Just conclusion, the safest guide TO fair
and reasonable action.
Having brought this complicated problem
within the domain Of impartial and eyner+
tnyestga ton we should accept and SUPPORT
the recommendations of the commission and
enact the same into law. By SO doing we
VIII the more readily attain the conditions
demanded by justice and fairness, when
each person and every corporation-excep
such fraternal and other associations as
are now exempt by law-shal bear Justly
Iifoportionate share of the burdens of taxa
ton.
Economy.
A necessary cOrrelatiye of tax reform is
economy in public expenditures To ac-
eoapllsh this, good intentions of public of
hcias are not sufficient. Back of them
there must be active public sentiment
This can best be aroused by publicity and
comparison. Public reports should be more
frequent in issue, more convenient in form
clearer IN statement, and more generally
distributed. That they may form ba SIS
Tor intelligent judgment, they should in
eiude the expenditures of the preceding
Year.
But state expenditures call for but 2 Det
cent. OF our tax; = per cent. is required by
counties, and q per cent. by cities, villages
and towns. Uniform accounting should It,
REQUIRED of al counties and Municipalities
regular reports made to the state and a
summary thereof published for general dis
trbution. This brings into play the ele-
lnent of competition. an acknowledged ley
eler Of cost. Let there be an ipcrpa so In
my IN ore oepaTttaent or locality and an ex-
pianation VIII forthwith he demanded ny
the Watchfu taxpayer. ''Boodlnp', ana
grating are rendered possible, in most
instances. by an inactive citizenship. We
can approximate its prevention witb :,
proper system of publicity and comparison
whereby the tendency toward indifferanco
among voters will be automatically coun-
teracted by appealing to the self Interest Of
every taxpayer.
Primary Elections.
To Gov LaFollette belongs the credit IF
iEaugurating primary elections in Wiscon
sin. / have always believed, and still be-
ieve, that this system might have been in
troduced in a more satisfactory manner
by evolution, rather than by revolution:
that we would have obtained it at an ear
iicr Date If it had been adopted gradually
step by step. But the great ma jority of the
party, Ii two consecutive conventions de
ciared otherwise. In America it is and
necessarily must be q rule of the majority
AS to every practical application of the
primary principle l have always heartily
favored the same. As early as January
1856 | suggested. through the columns OF
the Gcrinana that the voters at the sew
eiaI caGcUSeS express their preference for
president ard that a statement of such
vote he Incorporated in the credentials Of
the delegates This plan was followed in
some localities and at many county con
KehuGns, showing "A strong public sentiment
Tor MckInley also had the honor TO first
suggest nominating United States senators
ut the primary which is now provided for
III the proposed law. In the law passed by
the legislature and referred to the people
there are some provisions as to which there
y no experience to judge from. | there
tore proposed that the state committee be
authorized to use the methods of that law
II the pending campaign, that we might
the more Intelligently vote upon it next
oil Put l.