Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1906-06-13
nos.r AGREE WITH LENRooT.

The Milwaukee Free Press, leading
administration paper in Wisconsin, In
considering the political situation in
the state asks rs it men or principlesT
The Press fails TO agree with Candidate
Lenroot that it is Continuous fighting
Wisconsin republicans want 1t says;
Sust what is involved in the Republic
can campaign for the nomination of a
candidate for governor.
The conditions today prevailing seem
10 be so entirely different from those of
two years ago az to suggest no parallel.
Then Mr.. La Toilette was a candidate
for third term; with no chaugt in the
platform from that of two years before.
There were thousands Of voters who
never were opposed to tbe principles in
volved in the long fight that came TO an
end with the election Of 1905. We say
come to an end" then, meaning exactly
that The stalwarts said after that
fight, and after TIE contest In the legis-
ialure the next winter, that they had
enough. Il took them 8 long whils to
get enough. They died hard In
acknowledgment that they were
through they are not even talking OF
putting ticket ir the field this year.
When a political organization with
draws from active participation to that
extent, there is not mach use, or much
satisfaction, in fighting it further Are
we yicto-s or are we Val 1ishedf The
stalwarts say that we are Yictors. Let
us acknowledge that they are right for
once, and that we are
There is an idea that we have got TO
keep fighting" the stalwarts in orcer
that we keep what we have so far OBJ
tanned.
There being no longer any stalwart
organization to fight are we, knowing
no other way, 10 turn upon and fight
each otheIf
Whatever menace there may be to the
continued wise administration Of the
reform laws so far secured, and the
power to pass such other laws as the
right thinking and right acting peo-
pie of Wisconsin may from time to
time demsnd, may lie right here. We
can not see that there is any other.
Two years ago, actively engaged IN
the contest for the restoration to the
people Of their right to govern them
selves, and on the side Of the people,
were the three present Republican can
didates for the govsrnoEship, James 0
Davidson, Irvine l. LenFoOt and ]. ]
McGillivary. Nobody q1eationed the
loyalty Of either of them Neither Of
them, by any word or act, during the
five years of contest, ever wayered or
spoke or acted in any bat the approved
militant half breed" fashion. Thej
were all ''our men, and were all can
didates for important Offices Their; one
for senator, one for sssemblyman, and
one for lieutenant governor.
With either of these men in the etfice
Of governor during the next two years
We can not believe that there will be
anyone with warrant to question loyal
administration Of the reform laws
The past course of each Of the three
Is the warrant for saying so much rs
this. And if it is right, then there is
danger OF permitting too strong feeling
in the interest Of either of these candi-
dates to get possession of Republicans.
There are ether interests at stake that
may suffer through too fierce contest
between our friends.
IL this conjecture is well founded
and we see no reason to look upon it as
mprobable-what course should We
take to meet and defeat the game
Evidently we should not foster and en-
courage the growing bitterness over the
governorship II would seem wiser
that we avoid fighting among ourselves,
and make a united effort to secure q
Legislature that will be in accord with
ths reform sentiment of the state, and
that will carry on the good work so far
advanced United action on the part
of Republicans will DO this A bitter
contest ever the goYernorship may de-
feat it.
There can certainly be no mistake
made by cuitivating harmony in our
own ranks. The contest for the nomi.
nation for governor must not leave any
wounds TO make trouble at later day,
and it need not.
To Us this attitude and this declaration
are belittling TO the proud accomplish
ments Of the past four years WHAT we
got at the end and at the cost Of four
years fierce contest we have got. No
influence cou'd take 1t away if it would
We doubt il much of an organic alton
could be lined up to take IL away If it
were possible TO do it.