Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1904-03-24
PLATFORM ESSENTIAL.


from democratic friend whom we
highly esteem and who has a wide ane
exact knowledge OF Wisconsin pol.
itics;
EDITORS DEMOCRAT: The status OF
Wisconsin democrats and presidential
aspirants appears TO be about as fol-
lows at this writing:
Mr.. Hearst's followers began to claim
Wisconsin long before the alleged
"machinen movement for Mr.. Wall.
They have gone right on claiming the
state. They are hard at work and
even assert that they are going TO take
Milwaukee away from Mr.. Wall, de-
spite Mayor Rose and his "machine. "
They have recently organized there
and have opened n state headq
ut the PHster Hotel. Nobody, east or
west, longer laughs ut the a" Hearst
boom" II Is the " real thing"
No leaders In Wisconsin thought In
the spring OF 1896 that there Was any
free silver movement In this state. The
old leaders were taken completely
aback MT tho state convention that
spring by the appearance OF n yigor-
Gus, aggressive, free silver element
that worked so shrewdly that IL came
within one OF capturing the committee
on resolutions, and that, on the plat
form test, cast third OF the votes OF
the convention.
Mr.. Hearst's campaign started early.
IL has been prosecuted vigorously. 1t
has the strength Of Mr.. Hearst's great
wealth, There Is no other candidate
4. 4. ~, a -, ,,fN Ia
cept Mr.. Wall, whom they all know
and who deserves their confidence. Do
they prefer Mr.. Hearst or Mr.. Wall?
This is the choice that IL open TO them.
The men who are insisting on an UNI
instructed delegation now appear to
be whistling down the wind. Nothing
else. The Hearst men are after an
instructed delegation. That IL excuse
enough for the Wall men. They will
be forced 10 ask mn instructed delegh-
tIon. The Hearst and the Wall mon
will agree NJ TO the question that In
structions shall be- given. Between
them they will surely control n major
ity of the delegates. Just whore will
the men who are opposing Instructions
and favoring men who are not eandi-
dates, land In this sort Of ~ prospect?
1t looks very much as II thoir influence
In In groat danger Of promoting Mr.,
HearsL's chance. They are surely OPP
posing Mr.. Wall. STATE PRIDE.
The Democrat agrees with all that IL
said in tho above communication until
IL comes to the conclusion that the
only choice that IL open to Wisconsin
democrats IL to choose between Mr..
Hearst and Mr.. Wall, We have long
commended that IL Is more important
TINT caucuses and conventions instruct
as TO party principles rather than NJ
TO men. As bearing directly upon
this point, tho following Is reprinted
from the Issue of The Democrat Of
January % Of the current year:
"untIl u nomination Is made at ST,
Louis in July, we will perhaps, hear
far too much about the claims OF rival
candidates for tho democratic nomi-
nation; but will we hoar enough about
democratic principles? The making
of u party platform should not ho left
without consideration until the meet
ing OF the national convention, Right
up from caueuses and primaries should
come n note OF warning that democrats
must not be misropresentod In 1904 by
Il reaIllrmntiou OF tho uusound and
unwlse features of the platforms of
1896 and 1900 Under present statutes
In Wisconsin caucusos have generally
degeneratcd into " kind of Quakers'
meetings, But this Is not our tdoa OF
the right kind of caucusos for free
and self-goVernlng people There
ought To be expressions OF opinions as
well as nominations of delegates and
candidates, Let no strife be stirred
up; but lot democrats generally dis
cuss their party principles IN II spirit
of earnest good nature. Great good
would come from IN outspolSon doclar-
alton from tho rank aud flo In favor
of a return TO tho old-tme democratic
faith as against fused and confused
party platform. =
The Democrat holds that the fatal
mistake In 1896 was not so much the
nomination Of Mr., Bryan MS the adop-
tion OF tho platform on which he stood,
Let there DO more concern for the plat
form, and when the right kind Of u
platform IL adopted, let II worthy man
representative OF the platform be nom
mated. If " majority of Wisconsin
democrats will unto upon this one
common ground and stand together
for delegation uninstrueted rs TO the
candidate for president, there will
be no danger OF the vote OF the state
going to Mr.. Hearst