River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1904-06-23


the nation, should be nominated for three
terms in succession.
'Second-That it is vital to the success
or representative government under our
political system that the distinction be-
tween the three great independent and CO.
ordinate branches of the government, the
executive, legislative and judicial, shall
at all times be strictly observed
"Third-That it is especially important
that the selection and election of judges of
the supreme court be free from partisan
ship.
"Fourth-That public officials, of what
ever grade, paid out of moneys exacted
the people, and should be held to strict ae-
countability for the discharge of public
duty.
"Fifth-That the administration Of the
government shall be as economical as is
compatible with efficiency.
'Sixth-We further declare that rail-
way corporations are the creatures of the
state and subject to regulation by the
state. This principle, long ago settled by
the highest courts of the state and nation,
has not been and cannot be successfully
challenged. The franchises and powers
conferred upon such corporations are pri-
marily for the public service, and the ex-
ercise of the same should be limited by
law and administration to the conserva-
lAOu VI TIE SGueIdl puullC lutSISSl.
corporations are necessary to the public
convenience and to the prosperity and
commerce Of all the people. All legisla-
tive regulation of public service corpora
tions should be characterized by spirit
of Justice to the people on the one hand
and to the great interests which these
corporations represent on the other. 1t is
oftentimes a problem of great difficulty
to make that fair adjustment which JUS
tice requires. 1t so vitality involves the in
terests of the state that it should not be
entered upon blindly, upon assumption or
allegation Of contested fact, but should be
preceded by careful legislative investiga-
ton. Passion and denunciation do not
aid, but they do obstruct a wise solution.
I'VE favor the enactment of laws sup
plementing existing legislation, which,
while leaving the railway companies free
to adapt their rates and regulations to the
interests of sections, cities and industries,
to the end that the development of the
state may be thereby enhanced, will pro-
hibit, under heavy penalties, unjust dis
elimination as to persons or places, by
secret preferences or otherwise; and we
favor the enactment Of law creating
railway commission of not more than
three members, to be elected at the spring
election, with full powers to investigate
conditions, to originate actions, (elther
upon complaint or it's own initiative), and
10 6ulOFce (lU lH6 anu ny SuC4
other means as may be provided by law,
a strict observance of legal restrictions
upon the exercise Of corporate power.
''We favor the retention of the provi-
sion Of existing law giving damage to the
shipper for violation of law, and provid-
ing that the suits shall be brought and
prosecuted in the name Of the state for
the benefit of the shipper.
"Seventh-The last Legislature enacted
and has submitted to the people, to be
voted upon at the general election, pro-
posed primary election law. This law
proposes a radical change in the nomina-
ton procedure of all parties, and affects
every elector in the exercise of one of his
functions, and we approve of the action
of the Republican Senate in declining to
put into immediate operation by majori-
ty vote of one party such law, without
first giving an opportunity to all the vot-
ers of the state, each voter upon his own
responsibility and conscience. to pass upon
it at the poiIs 1t has passed the plat
form stage If it shall not be the will Of
the people to do away with all conven-
tons in the future, we favor the enact
ment Of such legislation as shall provide
specifically for the election and accredit-
ing of delegates, and the legal effect
which shall be given to credentials duly
executed, to the end that it shall be i'm
possible for any power but the conven-
tie Of delegates and turn preliminarily
majority into a minority.
"Eighth-We especially recommend the
work Of the tax commission as shown by
its reports and resolutions to previous
Legislatures, and we pledge the support
Of the nominees of this convention to the
advancement and completion of the great
work upon which the commission has en-
tered. We demand the enactment of such
laws as may be necessary to compel each
individual and every corporation transact
ing business within the state, except such
fraternal and other associations as are
now exempted from taxation by law, to
bear justly proportionate share of the
burden Of taxation.
"Ninth--We pledge the party to the
enactment of law which shall place the
commissioner of insurance upon a salary
and require the payment by him into
the state treasury of all fees collected
by him, to the end that the office may
be administered solely with view, to
benefting the people of the state"
The report of the committee on reSo-
lutions unanimously adopted.
Mr.. Cooks Acceptance.
Mr.. Hicks presents Hon. S. A. Cook,
who was introduced to the convention by
the chairman.
Mr.. Cook addresses the convention as
follows:
Gentlemen of the Convention: Your
committee have informed me of the
action taken by you, that you have
placed my name in nomination in this Re-
publican convention for the high and inn
portant position of Governor of this COM
monwealth. l will try to show you my
appreciation. / trust, gentlemen, that L
come before you as a thoroughly unfac-
tional candidate. (Applause.) l hope
that i'll coming before you that | am meet
ing friends from both factions, if there be
such. | sincerely trust that neither you
nor the people of the state of Wisconsin
will have cause now or hereafter through
any action of mine to regret the course
you have taken here today. You who
know me best do not expect many words
from me, but if | had the language of
some of our most honored statesmen and
the heart was not i'll sympathy, the words
would be inadequate. In this case the
heart is in sympathy, but I have not the
language to do justice to the occasion.
(ApplauseQ
"While I am not public speaker and
l must not be so considered at this time
nor during the campaign, yet it is my
request and desire that all may know
where l stand. Believing as / do that
the business affairs of the state of Wis
consin are great enough to require almost
the whole time of an executive, L stand
before you as l have said in my platform
that has been quite generally scattered
throughout the state, and say, | am for
an honest government, economically adj
ministered OH business principles in the
interest of the burden bearer instead of
the officeholder. (Applause.) I stand
here before you absolutely free from fac
tionaI alliances and will give TO Won one