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


the record of Gov. Davidson in the
legislature, showing the strong stand
he has always taken upon the prlncl-
pies which have been the issues IN
this state for the last six pears.
Following is copy Of the David
son address:
THE Hon James o. Davidson, who
succeeded to the office Of governor In
January last, has announced MS can
dfday for nomination to that otnce,
and has asked your support at the
primary ell ton to be held in Septem
Der next.
The undersigned, who, during the
hard struggles of the last six years,
have supported the principles anu
candidates Of the republican party
and. who are familiar with Gov. Da-
Wilson'S record, believing that, upon
his merits and in accordance with the
custom Of the party, he is, in fairness
entitled to the nomination, join In
recommending his candidacy to the
favorable consideration OF the repub-
Iican voters of the state. We feel
assured that his election would tend
to perpetuate and strengthen the en-.
actments of the last republican legls-
Iature. and to further protect the In
terests of the people against the en-
Lroachment of organized capital.
Record of Legislature.
The merits of a candidate may be
fairly estimated by his private char
acter and his public record Gov.
Davidson in his private life stands
above reproach or criticism; he never
has been charged with an act of dis
honesty or of disloyalty to principle
or of treachery to a friend, or of un-
charitableness toward his associates.
While his nomination for governor
would fulfill his highest political am
bition, he would promptly turn it
aside, If its acceptance involved any
compromise of principle or any sac
rifice of the position he had hitherto
maintained.
The reform enunciated In recent
republican platforms, some of which
have been written upon our statute
books, were supported by Gov. David
son as sound principles of public pol
lev before they had been put forward
as political issues. They represent
his deepest convictions and constitute
his political creed. An examination
OF his official record will show that
he has, from the outset, been an earn
est and consistent supporter of legis-
Iation to secure the rights of the peo-
ple and advance the welfare OF the
state.
Gov. Davidson was member of the
legislature of 1895, and was closely
associated with Hon. A. r. Hall In
efforts to secure the enactment OF
laws which would equalize the bur-
dens of taxation and to regulate and
control the railways and other corpo-
rations Of the state. Among the re-
form measures which he supported at
that session and some of which he
introduced, are as follows:
Bill He Introduced.
"A bill to privide for taxation OF
mortgages; to create state board OF
arbitration and Cancellation; to regu
late express companies; relating to
taxing railroads; to establish rail-
road commission; providing an IN
come tax creating the office of bank
examiner; to regulate mutual inSur'
ance companies; to regulate unjust
discrimination by insurance compa-
MES: to tax express companies; to
regulate telephone charges and TO
create a tax commission. He voted
against the bill releasing former state
treasurers from liability on the ludg-
ments recovered for interest upon
state funds deposited in the banks
and he voted and worked for the
measure to prohibit the granting or
passes to state officials aud members
of the legislature.
Mr.. Davidson was reelected, and.
as a member of the assembly in 1897,
he supported, among others, the fol-
lowing measures: To establish a
hoard of railroad commissioners with
power to prescribe rates; to authorize
and direct the investigation into the
returns made by the railroad COM
NAMES of gross earnings which were
the basis for taxation; TO provide for
tho taxation Of owners and lessees or
palace cars and sleeping cars; to de-
fne express companies and prescribe
the method of taxation and the rate
of charges; relating to telegraph com
panies; to regulate railroads; to es'
tcblish a railroad commission; Telat-
inc TO maintaining railway stations.
and relating r. taxation of railroad
property.
Primary Election Law.
A primary eieetion bill was intro
duced at this session. its passage ear
nestIy advocated by Gov Davidson.
He supported the following measures
which were enacted and which are
now embodied in the revision of 1898:
Gan act to prevent corporations or
gained under the laws of this state
from entering into any combination,
conspiracy, trust, agreement, or con-
tract, in ended to operate in restraint
OF any lawful trade or commerce car
ried On in this state;;" AN act re-
lating t. use md ownership of water
works and lighting works by villages