Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1906-05-04
ANNOUNCES THAT HE WILL TRY TO
SECURE THE REPUBLICAN
NOMINATION.
FAVORS 2-CENT FARE.
Outlines His Platform on Which He
Counts for Popular Ap-
prevail.

|
says Gov. James o. Davidson in an an
nouncement of his candidacy for the
nomination for governor. The governor
demands better insurance laws, and he
expresses himself In ravor of cent rail-
road fare.
| These, he said, may be the planks of
his platform on which he will go before
the people.
The statement sets forth that Gov Da-
wilson succeeded La Toilette on New
Years day and that he feels it duty
| to himself and his friends to run so his
work and policies may be carried out.
| Reviews His Services.
| A review of Gov Davidson's services
| as assemblyman, state treasurer, and
| lieutenant governor also are given, with
| particular attention to Davidson's loyal
support of and cooperation with La Fol
| lette in bringing about reforms OF recent
years. Davidson pays a high tribute to
| La Toilette, and is emphatic in the dec
! laration that no retrograde step can be
taken and that the people must be alert
| to elect legislators who will see that
none of the hard won victories are lost.
| The governor expresses himself as hav-
| ing been long in favor of 2 cent fare,
| but says the question now is before the
| rate commission and can be left safely
to it's good judgment.
He favors more stringent insurance
laws in the light of recent revelations,
and urges a law compelling the annual
division of the surplus following the pay
ment of a second premium. This may
be said to be the main plank OF his plat
form, as the insurance question has been
the subject of study with Mr.. Davidson
for years.
Other Candidates in Field.
Two other avowed candidates are in
the field for the Republican nomination.
Speaker Irvine L. Lenroot of Superior
was the first to come out, and has the
backing of Senator La Toilette and q
majority of the legislators perhaps. He
will make a campaign on the issue that
the La Toilette reforms must be safe
Senator X. J. McGillivray of Black
River Falls also is seeking the nomina-
ton Oh demand for retrenchment IN
state expenses. All of the three candic
dates have been stanch supporters OF
Gov. La Toilette in the past.
Davidson's Announcement.
The governors announcement follows:
In response to numerous and urgent re-
quests from citizens in all parts Of the
State / hereby make formal announcement
that I will stand for the Republican NOM
tnation before the primaries next Septen-
Der caQOlQate TO SucCeeu NY SCH al Ihe
office of governor of Wisconsin,.
During the last twelve months events
have so shaped themselves that l could not
with propriety refuse to become o cand ds
member Of the Assembly. as state treasurer,
as lieutenant governor and as governor
since the first day Of January last must be
accepted as an index. to my future public
/ was pioneer in the reform movement
which began more than twelve years ago
-oiD 70 no
ment from the control of public service
corporations. As a legislator l introduced
bills and aided in the enactment OF laws
for the taxation Of express companies and
to increase the taxes to be paid by tele-
phone, telegraph, sleeping car. insurance
companies and other public service corpora
pervisIon of state banks and which has
been accepted as a model by other states
was placed upon the statutes through my
initiative. 1 was among the first legls-
lators to propose q railway rate commits
sion, and earnestly supported the bill for
that purpose drafted by the lamented Il.
had been strong enough to write it into
law.
Tells of State Investments.
While treasurer of the state l labored
faithfully to keep the peoples money work
ing and was enabled to. cover into the
treasury large sums Of interest earned.
During this time more than 100000 of
state FUNDS were invested without the loss
credit, as l performed no more than my
simple duty, and refer to it now only for
the purpose of calling attention to the
necessity of giving the same conscientious
care to t he discharge Of public duty that
should mark the conduct Of a faithful
servant In private life.
I emphatically approve the efforts OF my
immediate predecessor in office in all meas
ures to restore to the people the rights
usurped by the great aggregations of
S11bS n 1npO1bln q
creator. I have worked Loyalty with
Hon. Robert NJ. La Toilette during the past
years, to secure the reforms he so ably and
earnestly championed.- and will never con-
sent to any retrograde movement or any
compromise that would detract from the
political and legisative triumnphs Of the
power Of special privilege, or weaken the
power Of the humblest citizen.
l have believed that in addition to just
and equitable freight fates on our rain
roads, there should be established passen~
ger rate Of not exceeding cents a mile on
first class roads, and have sought to have
this rate written into the statutes: but the
last legislature deemed it wise to intrust
this matter to the state railway commits
sion, which it created. The subject has now
been formally brought before that body for
decision, and the commission may be relied
upon to make full investigation and to
reach a conclusion just and fair to all in
tereSts concerned.
Decided Insurance Bill.
It is to the credit Of our state that
some legislation correcting the worst abuses
existing in the life insurance business was
placed upon our statutes even before the
recent startling disclosures, emphasizing
the necessity of stringent laws on the sub
ject. But l am convinced that the insur.
ance legislation of 1905 should be made still
more effective. We now require the life
insurance companies to issue no policy
which does not provide for t. accounting
and distribution of its surplus at least
every five years. On the bill requiring this
there was a tie vote in the Senate, and, as
the presiding officer it well to me to cast
the deciding vote, which l did, in favor OF
the law. Late developments make it plain
that further legislation is necessary, as the
most reliable data show that a large per-
centage of policy holders terminate their
insurance before the end of the five year
period Thus. even under the provisions OF
the law as it now stands, many policy
holders are deprived of their just share of