Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1906-05-30
ISSUES A SIGNED STATEMENT
TO THAT EFFECT.
SEEKS PARTY HARMONY
State Chairman Was Himself a Can
didate for First Place but Stands
Aside and Will Seek Second
Political Conditions Greatly I'M
proved.

state central committee, who conduct
ed the last campaign in Wisconsin
has formally declared for ]. o. David
son Tor governor, and his signed state
ment is the political sensation of the
day. Mr., Conner was himself an
asp'rant for gubernatorial honors, but
HIS concluded in the interest of party
harmony, to step aside. and take sec.
ond place on the ticket, if the people
SO will. His statement is as fol,
lows:
CHAIRMAN CoNNoR's LETTER.
During the past few months many
people throughout the state have in
Quired as 10 my views on the present
political situation and for a state
ment as to my personal plans
There has been no wish on my
part to keep the public in a state of
uncertainty or to misIead any one
as to my intentions Until now l had
not fully determined what course it
was my duty to pursue.
in order to arrive at a reasonably
intelligent conclusion many questions
/ had to be considered. 1t is true I
would like to be governor of the state
of Wisconsin and my personal prefer
ence would have been to enter the
contest. make an honorable effort for
/ the nomination take my chances and
! be satisfied with the result
Conditions, however. are peculiar
The republican party in Wisconsin
has gone through a strenuous period
the past six years Contests have
been waged. with success. for prin-
ciples which were so important that
no man who took part need ever have
/ regrets.
LAS the result of the last campaign,
the most intense of all the contests.
not only the state Offices, but for the
/ first time the legislature was in har-
mony with the parry principles and
I enacted into laws The measures over
which there had been such bitter CON
troversy. The leaders contended that
/ the measures were advocated because
/ they were in the interests of the peo-
pie. That being true, l believe from
tie enactment of those laws instead
of being thrown into another con-
test in the first campaign after the
laws have been enacted on account of
conflicting ambitions of men who
have stood together in the past for
the same principles.
THE people today are looking for
4 results from past struggles rather
/ than to engage in new ones and TO-
day many are justly asking, Are my
taxes any lower as a result Of the tax
alton laws that have been placed on
the statute boCks?' Am I able to Sc
cure better results from my labor on
account of lower rates of freight on
the products Of my farm since the
railway regulation law has been en-
acted?' Is the primary election law
SONG to give me the opportunities
that those who advocated it claimed
for the law the chance 10 express for
myself. unrestricted by dictation, my
/ choice for candidates for state and
county office
IF thu leaders in this great move
mcnr lose sight of the questions that
ere in the minds of the people in
scramble for office, possibly some may
have doubts as to their sincerity Of
purpose
Il am only a common. every day
citizen who has grown up with the
country and can make no honest
claims that am the one, and the
only one. who is able 10 enforce the
laws and get results from the people
from the new measures that have
been placed on the statute books.
Neither can If he possible that
/ there are not several men equally
/ capable and equally honest who could
/ perform that service.
The success Of the party in the
past has not been due to the efforts
/ Of any one man. In every county
men have made noble sacrifices and
have had no reward or recognition
/ for their services. In many counties
men who we're in the forefront Of the
battle. giving every possibly assist
ancc in the last campaign arc candi-
NuAtS lbt btHt's W. nv f' tt- TO- W ~
should now encourage q bitter con
fict in the state. dividing into fac.
lions those who have stood together
in the past ana thereby eHdaHger the
principles for which we have con
tended and the opportunity for these
men who have been j.. al helpers
from securing some benefit for their
many sacrifices in the past.
II we held different opinions on
question OF vital interest to the peo-
pie. then | would believe 1t my duty
to stand out squarcly for these prin-
ciples. This. however is not the sit
uation in Wisconsin today. If more
candidates for governor enter the race,
in the personal strife certain to follow
we would be encouraging those who
have been opposed TO our party princi-
Plies and running in grave danger 81
furnishing them an opportunity to
undo all that has been accomplished in
the past.
e. for one, do not wish TO be in any
way responsible for bringing about
such a result.
The Hon. James 0. Davidson sue
ceeded to the office Of governor less
than six months ago. MIR. Davidson