Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1906-08-29

a merchant. While we have no right
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 a 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 a time
when to be a laborer for reform was
to be scoffed at and sneered at. He
left the impress of his industry and
his intelligence upon the legislative
records of the state. He was able at
that time to stand alone in battle
with the corporations of this state
and t. 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 well roint 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.
'In 1897 a 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 we've nine votes
against it, and among these nine was
James o. Davidson, showing that, al
though himself a merchant, his sym
pathies we're with the struggling toll.
ers, whose condition in life is less
fortunate than that of other classes.
This bill, known as 1894, 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 1893 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 law.
'Tn 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 a candidate for that
office. It was well 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. II anything
should happen to me l 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, il 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 Il
retire and for the second time was
nominated and elected lieutenant gov
ernor of the state. Gov. La Toilette
reposed such implicit confidence II
Mr.. Davidsons integrity and ability
that he felt perfectly safe to be alb
sent from the state during his Chau
| tauuua engagements, knowing thai
the public affairs would be faithfully
cared for by Mr.. Davidson during his
absence. When Gov. La Toilette
/ asked Mr.. Davidson to become a can
| didate for lieutenant governor, he
vouched to the people of this state
for the ability and integrity of James
o. Davidson. We have 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 righl
to take Gov. La Toilette at his WORD
In 1902 and 1904. and again in 1895
when he resigned the office of gov
ernor to become a senator OF the
| United States.
when 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, 1t was alto
gether proper for himself to resign
the goyernorship to accept the PEG
pies commission to a 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
1 hfv,-aIf auaiYq az