Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1904-05-04
TIE THIRD TERM RuesEAR


TO THE EDITOR or THE CENSOR: The
foes of Governor La Toilette
are setting up losty howl over the /
third term proposition and flooding the /
state with leaflets asserting that the |
people are dead against it, and that |
Twice only has the rule been broken, |
and then under peculiar circumstances,
etc.
General Fairchild was elected in 1863
in 1865, and also again in 1861. The
people confer ed the honor upon him
with handsome majority over his COM
petitor. Ia 1851, jeremiah nj. Rusk, a
plain, capable and wholesouled man OF
the people, was elected governor by a
plurality Of nearly 10000 Ia good vote
when the voting population at the time
is taken into considerations IN 1854 ne
was elected again by plurality OF over
19, 900; in 1886 the people" still demand
ed his services and elected him for le
third time with plurality OF nearly
| 10, 900, the total time of his service as
governor covering q period Of seven
ears The writer hereof was one OF the
| delegates in the Richland county con-
! yention in 1856 which voted unanimous
liz for the adoption Of resolutions pre-
lpente a by one Of the leading attorneys
| Of Richland Center which in substance
strongly endorsed Gen. Rusk for q third
! term and commended him most highly
for his prompt action in suppresslng RI
otous acts in the state. And the teeling
1 throughout the state was about as en-
thusiastic in his {, or
Now what is the natter with Govern
or La Follettef Is he breaking any rule
of propriety if he sees fit to stand as
candidate for the third term in response
to the calls of the people! Is he not en-
titled to the same consideration at ehe
hands of his fellows as these two OF MS
distinguished predecessorsf Does ne not
stand for the best and most vital inter
ests of the commonwealth peopleF
Do not the exigencies Of the times de-
mand that he give two years more 70
| the service OF the Etate2- although IN
/ the other two instances the rule was
! broken under peculiar circumstances y
Is not the fight that is now on, between
wealth corporate greed and power aud
the commonwealth the peoplef In the
interests of justice and fsir play is he
not better equipped than ever TO guide
many of the needed reforms now so We'll
advanced TO a successful completionE
Do party platforms mean so little that
they must pass ont of memory with the
setting Of the sum-
To the writer it appears that the con-
test is between, on one hand, a class
strongly entrenched in power through
too much laxity in the laws controlling
corporations and regulating taxation,
etc, and, on the other side, the diversl-
fed interests of the common people OF
the state As evidence that the more
intelligent voting population Of thestate
fully appreciated the gravity Of the sit
uation, Mr.. La Toilette, who advocat d
the reforms promised the people througN
party platforms, received an endorse
ment four years ago with plurality OF
l04 900 in round numbers And again,
two years later, IL an of year, he was
elected by plurality Of about $4,000
In the present crisis Is there not some
thing peculiar about the circumstan-
ces?' Do not tbs great mass Of the com
I mon people who have the best interests
Of the state at heart, feel It is their duty
! to support and sustain he governor in
! he great effort TO secure the greatest
good TO the greatest NUMBER We be-
I lieve they do. His duties have been ex-
tremely enerous, and he has certainly
richly earned all honorsthus far, and ii
would now be showing q lack of gratl-
tude to turn down an honest, true and
! faithful servant The grounds upon
which he and his friends base their
claims to third term are as tenahis as
those occupied by any former candidate
standing for third term. His home
county Dane lately gave him greater
endorsement than any home candt-
| date" had ever heretofore received Il
now remains with his friends and CO.
workers in other portions of the state to
see that he has fair pIay" and gets be-
/ fitting endorsement Eternal vigilance
is the price of liberty Let there be no
relaxation in the vigilance of friends.
The foe is ever active and befouling the
very atmosphere with 'Munchausen sto-
ries. Do Your duty and help raise the
Badger state TO higher ground and make
it noted country wide for the excellence
Of its good works
JAY HAMILT0H.
Sextonville, Wis, April %, 1904