The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1904-06-23

an unfair national committee could
seat enough delegates to give it con-
troll of the convention. To be sure.
unlike the state convention, the con-
tests would also go to committee
on credentials. but the report Of
this committee would have to be
acted upon by convention already
made up for it's own purposes by the
national committee, Consequently
the result would remain the same.
''F'inally, in this as in all other
cases, some where must rest respOn-
sibility, and if fraud is met, the
difficulty cannot be overcome in
season. You cannot punish a thief
until after he has committed the
theft. + +
"Good nominations by the Demo
Gratis for state and national offices
will make Wisconsin a doubtful
state indeed. + t
The Milwaukee Free t'ress, the
official La Toilette publication is
wrathy, and words cannot be found
to properly express disapproval.
But here is what the Free Press
says:
1.-The republican national commit
tee has voted to admit to the nation
al convention the four delegates-at-
large elected bya boiling, minority
convention. 1t has made a new and
dangerous precedent in national
politics by overriding state con-
vention of the party, and it has put
an uffront upon the republican vot-
ers of a republican state, the result
of which it is too early now fully to
forecast. If we are to be governed
by senatorial rings, backed by large
corporate wealth and devoted 10
special interests, conventions will no
longer be necessary and primary
elections will be superfuous. There
is an end to party government in
which the people have voice; there
is an end to representative govern
ment. Majorities no longer rule.
Under such system it is too little
to say that Wisconsin would be a
doubtful state, 1t certainly would
not be Republican state.
But fortunately the conditions are
not so hopeless. All that the ma
tional committee could decide and
all that it has decided is that four
delegates at. large, who were not en-
titled to seats in the national con-
vention by any claim of law, of right,
of regularity or of precedent, shall
be admitted to the convention, and
the convention itself, if it desires to
right a grievous wrong to the party
in Wisconsin, or fit is moved by
mere consideration of national in
terest, will reverse the committees
unwise and unjust verdict.
But, however that may De, neither
the national committee nor the ma
tional convention can decide the
greater question Of the regularity OF
the Republican state ticket. That
is fortunately not question for the
national party. as its management
is now constituted. 1t is question
for the Republicans of Wisconsin
and they have already deeided it.
And it is not a question of men, as
the national committee has regard
ed it. It is a much larger question
of principle and question which
strikes at the foundation principles
of popular government.
The state situation is in no wise
changed. There is the regular state
ticket, with Gov. La Toilette at the
head, standing for the measures OF
election and taxation reform and
reasonable control of freight rates.
which the people of the state de-
mand. And the presidential e-ec-
toral ticket will 60 on the official
ballot at the head of the regular Re-
publican ticket, right over the name
of the nominee for governor of the
convention, Robert M.
La Toilette.
LITTLE LIGHT ON HOST.