River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1906-08-23

gretS. On the platform containing
these planls, VIC made Mr.. La Fol-
lette governor of Wisconsin. On the
ticket with him was Jesse Stone for
lieutenant governor, a stalwart, w.
H. Froelich for secretary of state, an
other stalwart, Emil Giljohann for In
surance commissioner another stall
wart; G. l.. Rice for railway COM
missioner, another stalwart; l.. ID.
Harvey for state superintendent, an
other stalwart, and Emmett r. Hicks
for attorney general who two years
ago led the movement in favor of S.
A. Cook for governor; the only man
on the ticket with Gov. Lafollette six
years ago, to whom he could look
for comfort or counsel or sympathy
was James o. Davidson, who at that
time was candidate for state treasu-
rer. Now l want to bear testimony
right here that Gov. La Toilette was
neither corrupted nor contaminated by
his stalwart associates on the ticket
six years ago, and there is no warrant
for insinuating that James 0. David
son is less virtuous than La Toilette
was amidst his stalwart official sur
Iroundings. In 1902 the republican
party renominated Gov. La Toilette on
platform containing these declara-
tions: We especially commend the
official career of the Hon. John G.
Spooner who, BY his notably able and
conservative course, upon questions
of national and international import
ance, has become recognized as a
leader in the United States senate
We condemn the pernicious activity
of federal officials in this state. in
fragrant disregard of civil service laws
in attempts to forestall and control
the convention action of the party to
which they owe their preferment,'
And it must not be forgotten that in
the contest now on, at least two OF
the gentlemen VINO are candidates for
state offices on the Lenroot slate,
have openly and notoriously, over
their own signatures solicited stall
waPt support, and we have no evidence
that they are to be driven from the
ticket, nor have We heard of any SUI
perlatively sensitive and virtuous
gentlemen resiening from member
ship in Lenroot clubs, In consequence
of this Irritation with stalwarts.
Recalls Former Campaigns.
stage in our civilization when polit-
ical services and personal friendship
are to be wholly ignored and disre-
garded in the dealings Of men and
political parties. That the friend in
need is the friend indeed should be
as true in 1906 as it was in 1898 or
1900. I recall tonight a memorable
gathering on the evening of August
8, 1900, on the lawn of Senator La
Follette's home in the city of adj
son. About 1000 of his friends and
neighbors assembled to congratulate
him on securing the republican nomi-
nation for governor the day before.
James O. Davidson was one OF those
who called to offer congratulations.
he being nominated for state treas
urer. On being called upon to speak
he stated that he had for years la
bored to secure La Follette's nomina-
ton and that there was no time when
he would not have sacrificed his own
political hopes to aid his fr.ned. Mr..
La Toilette interrupted him to say
that that was true and that Mr.. Da-
wilson has ieopardized his own nom
ination in a dozen counties two years
votion of Davidson to La Toilette was
time when it was not known outsids
of the county of Douglas that Mr. Len
cot had an existence. | have no pa
tience with men who would question
the loyalty of Gov. Davidson at this
time, after his thirteen years active
service in the cause of reform. You
might as well question the loyalty OF
Lincoln, Grant, and Logan to the
union in the bloody days OF the war
of the rebellion as to question the
LOYALTY Of James o. Davidson to any
reform that has been advocated Tor
twenty years, Shat was calculated to
make for better government and larg-
er individual liberty. | confess 1t Is
tiresome and sickening for men, some
of whom were In swaddling clothes
or knee pants when James O. Davic-
son and A. r. Hall we're blazing the
way that led to representatives gov
eminent and better control of corpo-
rations, to now force themselves to
the front and claim that they are par
excellent, the only genuine simon
pure, political article.
Says Reforms Not New.
Sound political principles are not
q new discovery. Neither are they
subjects of personal or partisan mo-
nopoly. Graft was denounced from
Sinai, when the command went forth,
Thou shalt not steal What the
world needed to get rid Of graft was
not SO much new law as rigid en-
forcement of the old law. The rights
of man we're asserted by Thomas
Paine, more than 100 years ago, with
a logic and force that has never been
surpassed. The troubles Of modern
days came to us, not so much from
any want of knowledge, as a lack or
disposition to assert our rights.
Thirty-two years ago, under the lead
of that sturdy farmer, Gov. William
r. Taylor, the railway corporations
of Wisconsin, in legislature and court,
met their first Waterloo in their con-
flict with the people. Matt H. Car
renter, at an early day, stated the
legal proposition involved in the war
between the railroads and the state,
n. 81 1arr