Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1904-11-08

I issue. 1t has been submitted to the
electors to dispose of as their judg
ment may dictate. If they approve it,
the democratic party stands pledged to
correct its imperfections and to elimin-
ate the un-democratic feature that per-
mits the candidates to ma Ike the party
platforms and that denies to the people
the right to impose their mandates
upon their officials
Is it taxationg The democratic party
stands pledged to support the state tax
commission, but it recognizes that econ
omy in administration should go hand
in hand with a reimbursement of the
methods of taxation. 1t would reduce
taxes rather than to increase tax burd-
ems under the pretense of reforming"
the tax system. The adoption of the adj
has removed the question of railway
taxation from the field of legislative ac-
ton, for the present, at least, until it
shall develop whether the change has
led to placing upon the railway corpora
tons an equitable share of the burden
of taxation.
Is the issue the regulation of public
service corporations? The democratic
party~in its platform has proposed
that 4 commission be created empow-
cred to make thorough and searching
investigation as to determinations in
rates or other abuses 1t stands pledged
to abolish rebates and to secure to the
public reasonable rates of transporta-
ton. There are laws now in existence
which if faithfully enforced would cor
rect many of the abuses of which com
plant is made. If there is an issue,
it is an issue as to method and detail
The record of the present adminiStra-
| ton, which asks to be continued in of
| flee because it promises that which the
republican assembly in the last legisla-
ture rejected, it is not such as to give
promise that should it be given re-
newed lease of life, corporate abuses
would be abated The laws now in
force have been ignored and what pre-
tense there has been made to enforcing
them has been timed for its political
effect rather than to bring relief to the
public.
What then is the issueg The demo
cratic party holds that it is found in
strict and impartial enforcement of
the laws to control public-serviee cor
porations, with such additional legisla-
ton as may be required to safeguard
the public interests. 1t contends that
il is found in economical administra-
ton, in lessened taxation, in the stamp
ing out of corruption, in the purifying
of the state administration, and in The
doing away with needless offices that
have been created to give place to po-
litical workers and enable the present
executive to create pretorian guard
of mercenaries to establish his mastery
of the republican party. 1t has not
been profuse in promise, but it has
record of performance that is pledge
that gives tu the voters of Wisconsin
far greater assurance than the promises
of its opponents, promises that have
been repeatedly broken, or made with
view to serve as issues" without ex-
pectation of their being given favorable
consideration by republican factional-
rent legislature. X
The election of the Democratic state
ticket is assured, but the party must
depend upon the voluntary services of
its members. 1t has no funds with
which to marshal an army of paid
workers. The State Central Commit.
tee has made as effective compaign
as the limited funds at its disposal
would permit, and it must now rely up
on the zeal of the faithful democrats
that have made the good fight and kept
the faith To see that every democratic
vote is polled, confident that victory
and honest government and economical
and efficient administration will be their
reward