Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1904-09-28
SOME POLITICS AND BUSINESS.
Position Of Men and Parties on Past and Psading
Issues.

Two weeks ago the CENSOR comment
ed upon the inconsistency of the Vernon
county democratic convention, with
thirty-three participating, and the sena-
torial convention at Viola with five men
present, the former declaring most pos
itively for primary election, ind the lat
ter precisely the opposite. In defense
of the smaller aggregation, and Mayor
Cofiland. who presented the resolutions
in the Viola convention, the Leader is
caused to say the CENSOR editor is
very sensitive Not in the least neigh
Dor. We are not concerned over the
matter, buV simply called attention to
the democratic inharmony on the ques-
tions of primary election and taxation
reform.
But when the Leade: attempts to state
Mr. Cofflaud's portion Oh matters of
railroad taxation il woule better find
out the facts. Mr.. Coifia I'd never at
tempted TO explain to the editor of the
CENSOR his reason for the introduction
of resolutions in the Viroqua Board of
Trade instructing the Vernon county
members of the legislature to vote
against the ad valorem tax8tion-a sys-
tenn that taxes railroad property the
same as other property is taxed The
state tax commission has increased reil-
road taxation nearly a million of dol
lars over what they contributed by the
old system Of last year confirming the
oft-repeated charge of Governor La Fol
lette that they were not contributing
their fair share of the tax burden The
logic of events has demonstrated how
far Mr. Cofiiand and the railroad lobby
lists We're from the equity Of the case
There was no good reason why Mayor
Coiliand should have introduced the res
olutions, and still less reason why the
board should have adopted them Ii is
but fair to the business men of Viroqua
to state that they would not have taken
such action had they been conversant
with pending legislation. In subse-
quent meeting they attempted to cor
rect the mistake, but were prevented
through parliamentary tactics on part
Of those responsible for the Introduction
of the resolutions
But Mayor Cof1iand did wtite the edi-
tor Of the CENSOR on the score of rail-
road legislation, and his proposition was
not less inconsistent than his board of
trade action. After the new law for
taxing railroads had been adopted and
it was believed the companies would in
crease rates on the people to make mp
for the extra amount, bill was intro.
duced making it Illegal for the compan-
les to charge greater rate than they
had exacted during the previous two
years This is the legislative PROPOSE
ton which Mayor Cofllsnd communi.
Gated concer aing, and urged that his
/ representatives vote against it. Con
ceive, if you can, dear reader the absurd
| ity of public official and a business
man asking his Representatives to
vote against q measure that sought only
to prevent railroads from increasing
their carrying charges on the products
of the farm and the merchandise which
the dealer brings in to sell to his custo'
meri We're two propositions ever more
thoroughly unrepresentative Of public
sentiment of the timesY
The CENSOR does not refer to these
matters for contention but to correct
the errors into which the Leader hal
/ fallen.