Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1904-09-14
go cIrIzeN eREAreR TEAM ArorHrR.
Reasons Why the Voters Should Declare for the
Primary Election Law.


EDITOR CENSOR: Because it 10 a di-
rect system of nominating. The caucus
and convention system is indirect and
is subject to evils that are not possible
under a primary law. Under the eau
Gus system the voter has no choice III
the nomination of public officers out
side of town officials unless he is a dele
gate to some convention. AS all cam
not be delegates the present system
gives the voter no assurance that dele
gates will not repudiate pledges made at
the causus. We often hear the remark
made that whoever we send to the United
States senate, or the legislature, will
surely carry out the wishes of those who
send them there And that is the very
evil that lies under the caucus system.
Now, who does send them? Who elects
theml Primary election law will de-
eide these questions.
This tendency on the part of the rail-
roads and other consolidated corporate
interests 70 penetrate through the &C.
uuirements of political power (abuses
which they have found TO their interest
to perpetuatel is one of the most ser.
ious of the evils which threated rs to-
day. The rapid growth of corporate
power, and the maline influence which
has been exerted by combination on the
state legislatures, is q well grounded
cause Of alarm. A struggle is now pend
ing between these overgrown powers
that is fraught with interest to the tax
PAYERS of Wisconsin 1t is an open secret
that the railroads furnish large share
Of the money required to operate the
machinery of the state elections, and in
all districts where political parties are
closely matched their money on the side
Of the candidates who will promise to
favor them and their special interests.
But with primary election law in
force the people are masters of the sit
uation. with slow but steady pro-
gress the principle has come to be rec
ognizsd that a man who wants an i'm
portant nomination must get it by the
promise or implication of q liberal con-
tribution after the nomination is se-
cured. The result is the free use of
money at our eaucuses, and the bribery
of delegates at our conventions, and
corresponding ebauchment of the voter
at the final election. A secondary re-
suit of bribery at our caucuses and con-
ventions has been that no man of mod
crate means can afford to run for con-
gress or even for a state senatorship.
All this, which every intelligent voter
IL Wisconsin knows to be fact, is
most disregtable state Of affairs. As 1t
il now, the tact of general and compre-
nensive.briberY at important nomination
Is notorious, aud it is no small stigma
4. ID - A NJ.
mary election law and some indepen-
dent voting win go far toward remedy
ing an evil that every good citizen in
the state sees, faels and understands, yet
too often hesitates to rebuke.
Under the caucus system we nominate
men who mix railroad and politics for
their own advantage. Or in other
words we elect too many railroad at
torueys and those who have pecuniary
interest in corporate interests The
railroad statesman is found in all par
ties and in every legislative assembly;
while perhaps not numerically in the
ascendant, through packing the princi-
pal committees and retaining members
Of the legal profession who happen to
be members Of the legislature, their
ends are usually obtained. II we would
eliminate this feature so common in our
state and national legislatures, the PEG
pie must control the nomination Of all
candidates, from United States senator's
to pathmasters.
The statement that La Toilette wsAts
this primary law In order to perpef GATE
his tenure Of office, or for self aggrar die
ment, is mere sophistry, II this pri. nary
law is uncalled for, why do democrS tic
leaders at the eleventh hour declare for
it2 If there ia any question on which
the voters Of Wisconsin should be united
it is this question of direct nominations
by the people and for the people. r. NJ
La Toilette is the only governor since
the repeal of the Potter law that has
had the moral courage to demand equal
rights to all He, has, with heroic char
acter for the past decade, asserted his
9, that ell understand what
he means-lhat in republican govern
ment it ia democratic to be governed by
the majority Ii you believe in that
doctrine vote for the primary election
law, and those who have declared for it.
ERNEST X. SMELL.
Ridge Monroe county, Sep 3