Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1905-02-01

Next Governor Speaks.
The governor and senator-elect was
introduced by Lieutenant Governor
Davidson, who spoke appropriately as
follows:
Services Yielded LII the Nation.
Governor La Follette:-You have
been chosen by this Joint convention
to the high Office of United States
senator. Its action is further token
or the trust the people of this state
have in your integrity, of the love they
have for your personality, and of the
honor they delight to show the able
and courageous leader of a successful
contest waged for the restoration of
free and representative government in
Wisconsin. We are proud of your
public career; we rejoice in your per
sonal achievements; we have conn
dence in your recognized ability TO
further serve your state and country.
Thrice elected to congress, thrice chos-
en- chief executive of the common
wealth, you have been trusted and
honored beyond the measure hereto
fore accorded by the people of this
state 10 any Of its distinguished sons.
You have been found faithful in every
public trust and we now yield your
services to the nation. We ask of you
that you respond to this call TO larger
duties, higher achievements, and, we
believe, greater honors yet to come.
Pressing problems are before the ma
tiona, government for consideration
problems that you are equipped TO
meet and to help to solve. In their
solution are bound up the welfare of
our people, and it may be the destiny
Of the republic. Now thai your work
here is. assured a ripe fruition, We send
you back to the halls of congress.
where In former years, you won honor
and fame in the larger ield of national
legislation. The president of the Unit
ed States has sounded the battle cry
of equal rights to all and special fayOrs
to none. He is engaged in a great con-
test for popular government. We
send you to him, as the statesman
Wisconsin would have near him, 10
counsel with and to trust in the dis
charge of the duties Of his great Office,
and in the working out Of the pending
problems so vital to the welfare OF
the people of the nation.
Gentlemen of the Joint convention,
have the honor and the pleasure OF
now presenting to you, your choice for
United States senator, Honorable ROB
ert NJ. La Toilette"
The speech of Governor La Toilette
ia full was as follows:
SPEECH OF GOVERNOR.
Il have been informed by your com
mittee that you have selected me to
represent Wisconsin as United States
Sc nator. Assembled in Joint session
under organic and statutory law, YOU
are empowered to speak for all the
people of this commonwealth. ANY
man, at any time in his life. may we'll
regard an election to the United
States senate as tse highest honor to
which he can attain in the public serv-
ice. That you should have chosen
me at this time, in this way, and in
the spirit manifested, fills me with a
sense Of gratitud' can in no wise ex-
press. You have b bestowed upon me.
unsought, the greatest distinction
which any state can confer upon any
citizen. This mark OF confidence
shall cherish in grateful memory while
live.
Whenever l have believed that
could be helpful in the public service,
have frankly and openly declared my
candidacy. 1t has seemed to me the
more honorable way Months ago.
had been free to become a candidate
for the Office Of United States senator.
should have so declared at that time.
But for many years, issues in which
feel profound interest have been
pending in this state Believing that
| could best serve the public by so do
ing, | offered myself as a candidate for
governor in support of these issues.
was twice elected, and, as God
gave me to see the right, served the
state as bst / could. Great progress
was made, but the work was unfin-
ished. To assist in that unfinished
work, I was, for the third time, elect
ed governor.
Contamination Must Be Sure.
Il am sure that none of you, who
have borne with me the bitterness and
fury Of campaigns for a decade OF
time, would, for any consideration. en-
danger the consummation and protec-
ton Of that work in which We have
been engaged We have seen it grow
from the assertion of principle to the
enactment of broad and comprehensive
statutes which buwark and Iortify
the foundations Of representative gov
eminent. We have seen SC grow in
/ i1terest until it passed the boundaries
/ OF the state and fixed the attention Of
/ -he nation, and We have seen It ex-
pand upon the national side into the
( dominant issue in national legislation.
where it had slumbered for many
years.
Nation Now the Field.
Il would not have any member of
the legislature. nor any citizen of the
/ commonwealth, believe that do not
comprehend the wide scope of the du
ties Of the high Office of United States
senator. nor Of the obligation it car
ries to serve impartially the whole
state and the whole nation. and all the