Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1904-09-07
DEMOCRATIC srArE coNyENrIoN.

| Insurance Commlssioner-Henry Fetzer OF
Sturgeon Bay.
Above are the nominees of the state
democracy made in convention at osh-
kosh last Wednesday. Aside from Joker
Peck the ticket is composed of gentle
men very little known in Wisconsin,
but for what we know are honorable
men.
That the convention action, so Ear as
declaration Of principles goes, at least,
was dominated by corporation and stall
wart Influences, there is no doubt.
Every move indicates that and such
was charged on the convention floor by
members of the body. The platform
adopted, on important matters Of state,
is unsatisfactory to good per cent of
democrats. Especially is this fact on
railroad taxation and primary election
principles. The following planks on
these subjects were defeated, although
strong minority fought for their adop-
ton
FORPRfMARY ELECTION.
We heartily favor the principle of primary
elections should the measures now before
the people become law, We pledge the Den-
| ocratic party to it's strict enforcement aad 10
such amendments as experience shall prove
TO be advisable in order TO protect tine rights
Of minority parties and provide Tor the hola
Ing of preliminary party conventions to form
1 ulate platforms and policies. re-
port lost by vote OF 40ik to 1874
FOR RAILROAD REGULATION.
we demand that all public service cor
porations, including railroads. express COM
panies, telegraph and telephone companies,
should be In fact directly under she super
vision OF the state and to that end we are In
/ favor OF the enactment Of a law providing
tor the establishment OF b commission con-
sisttHg of three persons with ample power 70
supervise and control the rates, charges ana
fess OF all the public service corporations for
services rendered and 10 prevent alscrimlna-
ton by them in favor of one rs against an
OTHER, such commission 10 be elected by the
people at the spring election.
| AS Indicative of the strong sentiment
in favor OF these principles we quote
briefly the comment of honest men on
the floor of the convention;
w. G. Bruce Of Milwaukee THE
minority report is the very essence Of
| democracy. I do not come here as
theorist | come as a man who has seen
practical politics, a man who has con-
Quoted several big campaigns and has
seen the evils Of the present convention
system. | firmly believe that nine
tenths Of the democrats of this state favor
primary election plank"
Thos. L. Cleary Of Piatteville Last
night we fought this matter out in the
committee. We had committee Of
twelve members eleven Of them law
yers. do not intend to cast discredit
upon them. do not say that they are
dishonest. BUT I DO SAY THU THEY
} ARE MEN WHO GET MOST OF THEIR
MONEY FROM THE PUBLIC SERVICE
CORPORATIONS, AND AS SUCH, ARE IN
tCLINED TO FAVOR THEM. What | heard
last night made me think that the party
needs primary election to save it. I
don't want a platform adopted that viii
turn voters to the republican rominee.
don't want stalwart influence to come
into this convention. | would rather
hold one good democratic vote ssan ges
five stalwart votes temporarily. They
have destroyed one party and thew
would destroy as. THEY ARE A BANl
OF PIRATES who WOULD sCUTTLE OUR
SHIP AND LEAVE US.
As to the question of primary cleo
ton, you will be told the same facts that
lyon have heard relative to the matter
for the past six years. You understand
it. The majority report of the COM
NIT. . on resolutions was copied, or, as
least had the idea of the platform
adopted in the stalwart convention.
There Is no use of mincing words here.
If you adopt q stalwart platform on
railroad control by the state and pTi-
mary election. you might rs we'll make
/ no nominations at all.
! A j. Schmitz of Milwaukee. We
| sh 3uld not favor or attack primary cleo
| tions because of stalwarts or half
| breeds. The question is, Is it right or
wrong ! claim that the majority re-
port is a dodger, and that it does not
face the Issue
Col G. W Carruth, veteran demo-
crat of Kenosha: Il wondered WAY
| this committee remained out all night
to discuss this report. l was satisfied
when | learned that there were ELEVEN
LAWYERS AND ONE TAY PAYER The
majority report Is like a scuttle fish.
They try to muddy the water and dis
tract attention from the true issue. I
am in favor of law where republicans
and democrats can go TO the polls on the
same day and cast their ballots for their
choice Of nominees the same as they will
vote at the coming election. Why notf
Can't you trust the people2 Primary
election is the only thing for represen-
tative government, and while il does
not hurt the machine, Il does give rs
farmers show. There il not a reliable
democratic state in which there is not
primary election law, and which has not
had it for years.
Louis Bohmrich, democratic candi-
date for governor four years ago: Il
fought four years ago and did my duty
and returned the democratic banner m
suilied. I tell You members from Mil
yankee your most favored member
went down in most miserable defeat
tive years ago when he fought primary
elections. / believe that the democrats
have lost their opportunity and that La
Toilette will poll bigger vote than
ever
Senator Merton of Waukesha II
favored the primary election law from
childhood, believing in the principles of
Thomas jefferson When the Aastral
ian law passed, the ward heelers who
controlled the caucuses had to give up
stuffing ballot boxes and went 10 bull
doing and buying mp caucuses, This
| primary law is designed to put stop to
these practices at the ballot boxes. If
! you oppose primary election law in this
| platform You will find yourself in the
same difficulties that the democratic
party experienced two years ago in
meeting the people. Why are the great
| corporate Influences aueinst the Y1riTat rv