Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1904-10-20
THE Villas MEETING


In honoring former y. S, Senator
William r. Villas by very spontan-
eous and cordial reception ut The
city hall last Thursday night the
good people of this community honor
ed themselves and their citizenship.
without tho aid OF band Of music, or
any special attraction whatever, they
early filled the hall to its seating
capacity, while some remained stand
ing until the close Of the meeting. by
request Col, Villas spoke upon the
tariff question, the railway commits
sion question, and the primary cleo
tlon proposition. 1t WAS old yet new;
Old In It's sound principles, which have
come down TO us from the great Dem
ocratlc fathers, of which principles
Col. Villas has during all his very use
ful life been powerful champion. 1T
was now In its masterful presentation
of these principles and Of their nppli-
cation to present conditions, 1T was
logical, solid speech, and in MI
respects profoundly patriotic. 1t last
ed over two hours, but the entire
audience gave tho distinguished
speaker their close attention II ON the
beginning until the close. We re
frain from any review OF 1t; but we
expect that It will be largely worked
into the warp aud wool Of the great
address which Col. Villas will deliver
MT Milwaukee; ard M that address
viii doubtless be issued as u cam
paign document, we hope to lay it
before our readers.
II was n good meeting and the pure
doctrine OF constitutional democracy
the wiscst and best political doe
trine ever known among men was
preached with power,
We have secured the following OK
preston Of opinion from two we'll
known lawyers who were present Mt
the meeting and who are themselves
able public speakers:
Ernest G, Fielder, Mineral Point
| regard Col Villas address 10y far
the ahlcst have heard during this
campaign, 1t was what might be OK
pected Of u man who IL n statesman
instead OF politician. 1t was an AID
dress calculated 10 appeal TO reason,
instead OF being framed and puuctu.
ated to elicit applause from the gal.
lerios, He dealt with broad basic,
enduring principles OF democracy, In
stead of trillng and shifting political
expedients He did not array one
class against another, nor endcavor
to excite mons political prejudiccs OF
animositirs.
1t was nm able, digniHed and states.
mauliko address, rcplcte with whole
somo Thought aud Xuud logic, nd
dressed to the sober Judgment of sober
men.
Coin w Wright, Montoe'
You ask me for my opinion of Col
Villas speech delivered at Mineral
Point last Thursday, 1t Is my optn
ion that Col. VIM +, Villas ia pro
emincntly the ahlost, brainIcst man II
the state Of Wisconsin, aud ! think
tho United States might be included
IN the comparison, Having said this
much it would hardly seem necessary
to say what think Of tho speech ht
delivered at Mineral Point.
His argument was clear, concise
and convincing, No Que could have
heard him on the primary election
aud have doubt about his duty
to use his reasonable endcavur t,
defeat that measure No one could
fail to see that it is not only undesir,
able, hut positively dangerous fol
many reasons pointed out.
Who Of his hearers could 20 away
with any misgivings about the rail
road commission, that 1t should b,
elected and not appointed, that i
should be limited ia its powers, thai
it should investigate and mako public
the facts and leave II to the lcgisla
ure, supported by public opinion, Il
regulate the freight rates. Did any
one so away with the idea that thret
men appointed by the governor coal1