Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1906-07-17
Democrats! Wake up!
Milwaukee News.I

The time in which nomination papers
may be filed will shortly expire and
unless there shall be d systematic effort
by the democratic organizations
throughout the state to induce demo-
Gratis to become candidates, there will
be counties and assembly, senatorial
and congressional districts In which
the democratic party will have no rep
resentation on the official ballot.
The democratic party in Wisconsin
faces a situation that is threatening to
its local organizations. The primary
election law by doing away with con-
ventions has brought about condl-
ton of affairs where the man is made
to seek office. Men that willingly
would become candidates for 0fbce
when nominated by convention Will
not go to the trouble and expense OF
circulating petitions preliminary to en-
tering primary campaign, which
even if it shall result in their nomina-
ton, in many cases means merely de-
feat at the polls. What, then, are the
democrats in republican counties and
districts to do? Permit their party or
ganization to be wiped out or take
organized action looking to representa-
ton on the official ballot?
The democratic party is confronted
with a condition. 1t has had the theory,
now it is getting the fact. Without
organized effort to preserve its exls-
tence, the primary election law will ut
terly destroy it as an organized political
force Is it ready or willing to die that
the spirit of the primary law may be
preserved inviolate? Which is of the
most concern to the democrats of Wis
consin-the spirit" of the primary law
or the perpetuation of their party? Ii
| is to live it must preserve its county
| organizations. Without strong local
organizations, the state organization is
as house built upon a foundation OF
sand.
A few days more and the primary
| law will operate to estop the filing OF
nomination papers. The state central
| committee purposes to take action, IN
case candidates do not announce them
selves for state office, to circulate nom
ination papers to complete a state
ticket It is the only thing to be done
unless the defenders of the laws
spirit" shall come forward and an
nounce themselves as candidates for of
flee, circulate their petitions and spend
| their money to preserve their fetish
| from the contamination of organized
| effort.
In the counties and assembly, senate
and congressional districts, however
the state central committee cannot dc
the work of circulating nomination pa
pers 1t must be done by the county
committees or by democrats that are
alive to the situation, and that are not
to be deferred by the spirit of the
primary law. No time should be los
in taking action. County conventions
should be held, or through other form
of organized effort, candidates induced
to enter the field and their nomination
papers circulated.
There should not be a single count,
or district in which the democratic
party will not be represented on the
| official ballot. There will be many
such counties and complete disinte
grafton of the democratic organization
if the primary law is permitted to taxi
its course and the seeking of the Office
left to the man instead of to the party.
The democratic party in Wisconsin
should not be sacrificed to half bakeC
sentiment, and it will not be if the dem
ocrats of the state wake up and do thei
duty