Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1907-09-11

dedication of the fireman's park here
yesterday Secretary of State ]. A.
Frear delivered a strong address de-
voted chiefly to a discussion of the
economies, financial and industrial
questions that are pressing for solu-
ton.
tIr. Frear reviewed the history Of
our government from its beginning
and the philosophy cherished by its
founders. Individual civic RESPONSE
bility," he said, once conspicuous in
our form of government, set forth in
positive language at it's inception. be-
came lost to sight in the struggle for
existence"
Continuing Mr.. Frear said:
"A few shrewd men in each local
ity, from the county to the state and
federal government for years united
in controlling it's political welfare
The mass of people who cared no
thing for caucuses or conventions, left
self appointed rulers to select the
officers VINO were to govern US. Great
interests through officials thus select
ed acquired special privileges, avoided
certain duties and assumed an at
titude hostile to the individual bust
ness right. A moments reflection
will fx the responsibility for this I'M
warranted condition of civic affairs
"A railway avoids the payment of
honest taxes, shielding itself behind
fayoring laws. When taken to task
for special privileges, it declares
there is no public demand for greater
been registered. Excessive freight
and passenger rates are. charged
When confronted with these unjust
exactions, the answer is that no In
dividual complaints have occurred,
and the issue created is simply We
hicle for getting into public Office.
'In Ike manner insurance COM
panies declare expenses must not be
limited nor salaries governed. Neither
must the state interfere in the inter
nal affairs of the company because in
dividual policy holders as a class are
not demanding legislation. The great
est insurance companies in the coun-
try representing combined assets
amounting to over two billion dollars
and carrying risks on Wisconsin pol
icy holders amounting to two hundred
millions of dollars presented a score
of high priced legislative agents be-
fore the last legislature.
These men threatened to withdraw
their companies from Wisconsin, pro-
viding any limitation was passed
which prevented them from collecting
an amount for expenses of manage.
ment equal to one-third of the net
single premium in an ordinary life
When it was proposed to limit the ex.
pense of handling the business to 25
percent of the amount of premium,
the companies signed a statement that
this would invite their withdrawal
from the state.
THE Standard Oil company,
through it's attorneys, insists it does
not accept railroad rebates and even
if 1t does, no harm arises because no
individual complaints are logged
against it. Yet the monopoly reaches
out absorbing all it's rivals, fixing
rates upon a great necessity, as in
exorably as though determined by
statute. and pays therefrom % per-
cent annual dividends to it's stock
holders.
The fault for these conditions rests
primarily with the individual citizen
tbs not case of hysteria nor. on
the other hand, should the issue he
clouded by Nominations against fndi.
{ vldllals as such. Recently a speaker
in this state, before a public assembl.
age, complained of a hysteria that
causes men to reach toward the
stars while their feet are drawn from,
the earth. 1t must not be forgotten
that the influence of this speaker in
recent years has been actively exerted
against the passage 81 reform laws Sc.
cured. to the people of Wisconsin par
ticularly against the most valuable
law affecting civic rights.
In Wisconsin today the individual
civic responsibility has been brought
home to every citizen. How well this
fact is appreciated can be best de-
termined by recent events. At the last
state primaries held in Wisconsin for
the nomination of a republican can
didate 170,926 votes were cast. N the
following general election the vote
cast for the successful candidate for
governor was 1885. In other words,
Governor Davidson received only H.
$40 votes more than was cast at the
republican primaries and the primary
vote which nominated was SO per cent
of the vote which elected.
No more encouraging sign of an
awakened public interest In political
aEairs has ever been demonstrated
ths-n by the working of the primary
election law. Ten years ago, it is safe
to say, not ten thousand votes were
cast in the entire state at all the
caucuses and yet the number has in
creased to over 10000 within the
decade.
An active participation in public
affairs causes men to become interest