Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1904-05-26


treasury of all fees collected by him.
Gals, be they state, municipal or federal,
or the acceptance of such favor by any
such officials as a species of bribery for
which the corporation should be punished
as well as the recipient.
We condemn the pernicious activity of
federal officials in Wisconsin, in fragrant
disregard of the civil service laws, in at
tempts to defeat the platform promises to
which they owe their preferment and in
assisting professional lobbyists and public
service corporations in an effort to defeat
falr and free expression of the public
will.
We condemn as subversve of popular
government the attempt of employers of
labor to coerce their employees TO vote at
the caucuseS and conventions contrary to
their own convictions, and we pledge the
party to enact such legislation as will eff
fectively protect the humbest citizen in
his right to a free ballot at the primary
as well as at the election
. The press should be the guardian of pub
lie welfare and private character. Its
highest duty is to tell the truth Just crit
icism of public officials is absolutely es-
Sentlai to good government. When false
hood is substituted for fair criticism the
press is degraded and its value as critic
destroyed. We denounce as destructive of
public morality the conduct of large pOr-
ton of the public press which has lent
itself to the publication of statements in
regard to public affairs either knowing
them to be absolutely false, or which upon
ascertained to be without any foundation
whatever.
Justice to the people of this common
wealth demands that they pay no more
than rea sOnable charge for the transpor-
tation of passengers and freight within the
state and the republican party pledges it
self to enact and faithfully, administer
law creating a state railway commission
empowered to fix and enforce reasonable
transportation charges so far as the same
may be subject to state control. Discrim-
q Is Of T..
transportation system. We pledge the par
ty to enact such legislation as will put an
end to this evil and will place every ship
per similarly situated OF the same footing
as his competitor in the matter of trans
pOrtatiOn rates.
The enormous increase of freight rate
upon the interstate commerce OF the coun-
try aggregating, as recently reported to
congress by the interstate commerce com
mission more than three hundred million
dollars in the last three years is an as
founding revelation calling for prompt ac-
tion for the protection of the people who,
IN the end must pay in higher prices on
all the neceSSarieS of life for these adj
yanced freight rates
The recommendations of the interstate
commerce commission that the interstate
commerce act be so amended as to give
that commission full authority to control
transportation charges. and to reduce the
same where excessive to reasonable basis
are of vital Importance to the people of
wisconsin and of the whole country. Such
recommendations submitted to congress in
1897 by the interstate commerce commission
nave been urgently renewed in their reports
to congress each succeeding year to the
present time, and have been supported by
petitions and memorials from agricultural
manufacturing, and commercial interests
throughout the country. and by the legis-
latures OF many states and have been rein
forced by the recommendations of the
president The republican party of Wis
consin gives its unqualified approval to the
recommendations of the interstate com
merce commission and of President R0ose-
welt, and pledges its support to the presi-
dent and the commission in their efforts
10 secure relief from the increasing burdens
imposed upon the people by these public
service corporations.
We believe that platform pledges are sa-
cred obligations binding upon every mem
DER of the party; that the candidate of the
party becomes its trusted agent to execute
In good faith its promises to the voter;
that the acceptance of a nomination for
any office to the duties of which platform
promises may relate imposes upon the can
didate the obligation 10 the PARTY and the
voter 10 ana In redeeming every pledge in
letter ana spirit; that to receive the vote
OF the citizen as the candidate of the par
" winch has promised legislation. and
then to oppose such legislation or to con-
nive at its defeat is a fraud upon the voter
and deprives him of his right of suffrage,
as effectively as though he were disfran-
chised by law
That the platform pledges of both parties
nave been openly and 1agrantly violated
in wisconsin must be recorded as the poIit-
lcal history of the last six years. Legisla-
non promised by the accredited delegates
OF the republican party has been defeated
session after session by the members of the
party chosen from its ranks to represent
II in the legislature. Sometimes these men
have secured the votes of constituents nv
silent acquiesence in the promises of the.
PLATFORM, sometimes by open declaration to-
support the legislation pledged by the par
". IN either case. as trustees of the hon
or OF the party and the rights of the voter
anu taxpayer they are guilty of having be-
trayed their trust
No party can retain and no partv -
serves TO retain the confidence and su
OF the citizen if it knowingly entraps
10 vote Tor candidates who repudiatj
piedged obligations The regular Dart
ganzalon can therefore regard as til
dldates OF the republican marty fo
and legislative offices only such
are pledged TO its support and WI
ora ana good faith are above qua
inns connection republicans of
may ma inspiration and suppo
reSoIute courage and lofty nal
tnat rare band of men who Q,
hirth OF the republican pa
day or July. fifty years %
2 platform from which
lowing resolution:
Resolved. That in
purposes we will use
and lawful means as
ed TO their aceompl
will support no man
general or state GOV
positively and fully
port OF these prin
sonal conduct and
antee that he Is