River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1906-08-23
A LIFELONG NEIGHBOR
Tells Of Life and Work Of Hon. w. D.
Conner at Auburndale.

Ills vs. "a
Conner at Auburndale.
To the Editor of the Free Press
take exception to the press always
referring to Chairman w. d. Conner
of Marshfeld. The fact is that Au-
burndale is his home; he came to
Auburndale when a little over years
old and has always lived here until
about ten years ago, when he found it
more convenient for his business to
establish temporary home in Marsh
field. His old home stands here and
he has heavier interest here than
any other place In the state and we
expect him back among us in the
near future. Your correspondent has
watched him closely since he was 10
years old and would say that for any
office within the gift of the people
they will make no mistake in elect
ing W. d. Conner. He is a successful
business man, he employs hundreds
of men and l never knew one that
had a kick coming" There has been
no strikes, and he has a number of
men working for him that have
worked for the company for over
twenty years. He is a man that has
always stood up for the rights of the
people. After r. M. La Fonette had
two bitter fights for the people
against greedy corporations they then
concentrated their forces and hired
the best talent they could procure
and with an unlimited supply of
money came up for the third time
for a final struggle. w. d. Conner
took in the situation and saw that
Mr.. La Toilette was going in for the
fight of his life; he saw that the ia
vored shippers were arranging their
forces against the people; and, trce
to his principles, he stepped up to
La Follette's back and said, 81 will
take hand in this fight" And as
Mr.. Connor is one of the heaviest
shippers in the state he carried a
powerful influence. He well knew
that he would antagonize the rail
roads Of the state, which must be
detrimental to his interests, but his
nature would not allow him to stand
idly by and see the people defeated.
And strongly through his efforts the
reigns of government were wrested
from the corporations and given to
the rightful sovereigD-the people.
For twenty years he has been a
member OF the county board and for
the last ten years member Of the
committee of equalization, and on
any division he has always been
found among the farmers members.
Six years ago he led the fight to
get the true valuation of the manu-
featuring plans, which, after bitter
contest, resulted in increasing their
assessments and valuations equal to
that of the farmer. Eight years he
has led the fight here for r. M. La
Toilette, taking the control of the
county from the stalwartS and keep
ing it in the La Toilette column At
the last election, while managing the
republican campaign, his home vii
lage cast every vote but two for the
straight republican ticket-more out
of respect for our neighbor, Chair
man Conner, than for the candidates
in the field lie has spent his time
and money freely whenever he saw
that the plain people were being i'm
posed upon.
In the recent contest over the
water works In Marshfeld he carried
on an expensive lawsuit, contending
the purchase should not be made
without submitting the question to
the taxpayers. In fact, he has always
been the champion Of the plain peo-
ple. as he is one Of them. AS boy and
man he has been worker When ne
was attending school, at vacation
when other students were having
good time up among the lakes fishing
and hunting, W. d. donned his blue
leans and went to work in the hay
field on his fathers farm, and, though
young, it took a good man to follow
him all day / have had him out
with me exploring, land locating and
estimating timber, and no matter
how bad the travelling or how disa-
greeable the weather, he was always
cheerful and insisted on carrying as
heavy a pack as any other man, no
shirKing and no grumbling,
understand that he will support
Gov. Davidson for governor. am
not surprised at this, as it Is In line
with his business principle. He was
never known to discharge good man
that was doing good work for the
sake OF experimenting with another
that was inexperienced with the same
Job. In fact, he is one that draws
fine line between sentiment and bust
ness. And as he is a candidate Tor
nomination for lieutenant governor,
il the people want an honest man,
worker and one that will carry strict
business principles into his office,
vote and use your influence for Hon.
w. D. Conner Of Auburndale.
JACOB LUSK.
Auburndale, Wis