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

to rank him among the great capital
lists of the state, he has been meas
urably successful in his business, edu-
Gated his children, acquired moder-
ate competence, and assisted in every
laudable public enterprise within
reach of his influence. For two years
he served as president of his village,
and for four years was village treas
urer. He served three terms in the
Wisconsin assembly, in the days when
the present reforms were in their in
FAINT stages. He labored faithfully
with A. r. Hall to secure reforms now
written into the statutes at time
when to be a laborer for reform was
to be scoffed at and sneered at. He
left the impress of his industry and
records of the state. He was able at
that time to stand alone in battle
with the corporations of this state
and to render substantial aid in the
passage of laws controlling them. He
was neither a summer soldier nor a
sunshine patriot in those days of pio-
neer reform work. Our present law
for the examination of state banks is
one of Gov. Davidson's monuments, to
which every depositor of the state
may we'll point with pride. He
served as chairman of the congress
sional committee of his district. He
was four years treasurer of the state,
and during that time there were no
scandals connected with his office
and every penny of the public funds
was faithfully accounted for.
Davidson on Exemption. y
'In 1897 wage exemption bill, less
drastic than that which Gov. La Fol
lette vetoed, passed both houses of
the legislature. In its passage through
the assembly there were nine votes
against it, and among these nine was
James O. Davidson, showing that, al
though himself merchant, his SYM
pathies were with the struggling toll
ers, whose condition in life is less
fortunate than that of other classes.
This bill, known as 1854, was prompt
ly and properly vetoed by Gov. SEQ
field, and, to the credit of the assem-
bly, of 1897, be it said, there were but
three votes in favor of overriding the
veto. At that time Gov. Davidson
showed himself the sympathetic
friend of laboring wage earners and
voted against his personal interests
in order to safeguard the men who
toll, when sickness or accident or
other misfortune should visit them.
AS early as 1898 Mr. Davidson, in the
assembly, supported the coemploye
bill, which was Endorsed by the COM
mittee of railway employees, who were
looking after legislation to protect
men in the railway service, and it be-
came a law.
''In 1902 Gov. La Toilette wanted
Mr. Davidson to become candidate
for lieutenant governor. Mr.. David
son stated that he had no desire at
that time to be candidate for that
office. It was we'll known that his
friends in the Third congressional dis
trict desired him to run for congress,
but Mr.. La Toilette would not be put
off. He said: You must take the
lieutenant governorship. If anything
should happen to me | want a man
in the executive office whom the peo-
pie can trust, and you are the man
for the place. This was the esteem
in which Senator La Toilette held
James o. Davidson in 1902. In 1904
Mr.. Davidson was ready to withdraw
from public life, if any other person
could be found whose candidacy
would be more acceptable, and tend
to strengthen the republican state
ticket. But he was not permitted to
retire and for the second time was
nominated and elected lieutenant gov
ernor of the state. Gov. La Toilette
reposed such implicit confidence in
Mr.. Davidsons integrity and ability
that he felt perfectly safe to be ab-
sent from the state during his Chau-
tauuua engagements, knowing that
the public affairs would be faithfully
cared for by Mr.. Davidson during his
absence When Gov. La Follette
asked Mr.. Davidson to become can
didate for lieutenant governor, ne
vouched to the people of this state
for the ability and integrity OF James
o. Davidson. We have a right at this
time to ask what, if anything, has
been done by Mr.. Davidson during
the last one, two or three years, that
would disqualify him from becoming
a candidate for governor in 1906? And
until some good specific reason is
given to the people they have right
to take Gov. La Toilette at his word
in 1902 and 1904, and again in 1905,
when he resigned the office of gov
ernor to become a senator of the
United States.
eWhen Mr.. La Toilette resigned the
office of governor. seven months ago,
to accept the office of United States
senator. his action was more en-
phatic than any language could ex-
press, in conveying to the people OF
this state his assurance that the pres
ent governor was honest, able and
trustworthy, and because of his hon
esty, ability and worth, it was alto
gether proper for himself to resign
the governorship to. accept the peo-
ple's commission to seat in the SEN
ate of the United States. Senator La
Toilette has been singularly fortunate
in planting himself firmly upon the
fundamentals of good government. In
doing this he fortified himself against