Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1906-10-16
The Coming Struggle.


party lines, are wolves in sleeps cloth
ing. Democrats should beware of
them. Their reformatory efforts are,
with most OF them, but stepping stones
for the advancement of their personal
political ambition. An honest Repub-
lican reformer can have no place in the
Republican party, for the declared
principle of the Republican leaders Is
to ''let we'll enough alone" There is
only one Republican reformer that real
ly means business and has accomplish
ed results. Senator LaFollette, when
governor of Wisconsin, did things. He
enforced the tax laws of the State
against the corporations and reformed
the method of nominating candidates
for office, and other valuable reforms.
for which the Republican leaders are
bitterly opposed to him. There are 9TH
er profeSsed Republican reformers, but
their efforts are ephemeral, and like
Gov. Cummins of Iowa, on tariff re-
vision, they would sooner stand pat
than see the wicked Democrats success
full
To stand pat and 'let we'll enough
alone" are the cries of the Republican
machine politicians, and every stump
speaker sent out by the Republican
Congressional Committee sings those
songs and tries to delude the voters into
the belief that prosperity would be
ha Of hn far ri
and the control OF trusts was attempt
ed
Reforming the Republican party
within the party lines has been fail
ure everywhere, except in Wisconsin,
and those Republicans who are sincere
reformers will of necessity be drawn to
the Democratic party to accomplish
their purpose. 1t is therefore impor-
tant that Democrats in shaping their
local campaigns should confine their
declarations and efforts to reforms that
will draw these independent voters to
their aid and this can be best accom-
plished by combining their demands to
such reforms as are of immediate ne
ceSSity and meet with general concur
renee. On national issues the Demo-
Gratis demand tariff revision, so that
the protected trusts will be compelled
to reduce their monopoly prices; rea-
sonable legislation for the benefit of
the artisan and laborer; economy in
government expenditures, with ample
appropriations to execute all necessary
government functions; the perfection
of the railroad rate legislation, so that
rates may be reasonable and just and
the always to be remembered Demo
cratic fundamental doctrine OF equal
rights to all and special privileges to
none"
Republican rerormers that will not
join in striving for such reforms can
have not lot or parcel with Democracy.
There is certain to be n reorganization
Of party lines, for those who believe
alike are bound to march under the
same banner, and those who disagree
about fundamental doctrines cannot
long work in harmony. The sheep
those who believe in the right of each
individual TO build his own fortune
without government interference or
paternalism will be Democrats. Those
who believe in strong centralized gov
eminent, usurping the independence of
the individual citizen, which, If per-
sisted in to its natural conclusion, must
lead to socialism and even anarchy. or
deSpoAism, are Republicans.
Democracy means that the people
shall rule themselves, instead of al
lowing others to rule them; and that
a man sitting under the shadow of his
own vine and fig tree all have no one
to modest him, or make him afraid.
Republican reformers that cannot join
In bringing about such happy consum-
nation are not reformers, but frauds.
What Democrats now need to strive
for is to make their own party unit
for necessary reforms. with clean and
able leaders: for there is no doubt
that majority Of citizens will rally
to the success of such an organization.