The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1906-10-25
REPUBLICAN LEADERS PROPOSE
TO ORGANIZE A MACHINE DES!XIC.
TIVE OF LOCAL SELF GOVERNMENT

The republican state platform con
tains a plank that reads thus: we
favor the enactment of appropriate leg
islation at the earliest practicable mo
ment extending state aid for the con
structiou and improvement of the nigh
ways Of the state Now, toproyide for
an appropriation for the repairing and
the building of roads, an amendment to
the state constitution was passed by
Joint resolution, which amend ent pro
vides that the state may engage In the
work of building highways in the state
This amendment is published by the
secretary Of state to provide that the
state may appropriate money in the
treasury, or TO be hereafter raised by
taxation. for the construction or the
improvement Of the public highways of
the state,
Now the proposition is so plain that
he who runs may read. The republican
leaders propose to organize powerful
political machine consisting Of state
public highway commission appointed
by the governor, and seventy-two county
highway commissions appointed by the
state commission,
Now, democrats, many of you have
expressed disapproval, III no uncertain
terms, Of the existing game.warden
machine. What, then, wonld you think
Of the proposed money squandering ma
chine Do you not see that such ma
chine would be a fearful menace to free
institutions? Can it be Justly said that
such gigantic .perpetuating ma
chine would not act as does the Russian
bureaucracy? Would it not be a close
corporatiOng Would it not lead to IN
told high.handed proceedings on the
part Of its chief engineers and manipu.
latOrsy Would it not tend to perpetu
ate in power the party creating it, If
so, would it not he close corporation
And would it not -quanler, annually,
hundreds Of thousands of dollars Of the
peoples money not in improving the
highways Of the state, but in liz con
slant political activity and high-handeG
manipulation Of governmental matters
The democratic platform, adopted
AT Madison, gays that the democratic
party is in favor of good public high
ways, and it stops there Democrats
are in favor of good public roads. But
democrats do not believe in tyrdnnical
institutions. Democrats do not believe
in the organization and maintenance Of
fearfully expensive political machines
Democrats believe that the people should
have the unquestioned right to regulate
their own local affairs 70 as large an ex.
tent as If compatible with the American
idea and theory Of government. Demo.
Gratis we repeat favor the Improvement
Of the country highways; but they be
lieye that the repairing and the building
Of roads should continue 10 be done uu.
der the direction Of the taxpayers them
selves !. e., under the direction of their
immediate representatives. the town
board and the county board.
Under this democratic system the
roads Of Wisconsin have improved from
year 70 year. The farmers and other
taxpayers have had the privilege of
working out their road taxes And the
roads in every township throughout the
state have been steadily improving I'M
der this system Of local self government
Now, democrats will You stand for
the abolition Of that SYSTEM Will you
stand for the exchange Of the right of