Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1907-02-28
FIRST NATIONAL BANK
GRAND RAPIDS, WIS.
The Oldest Bank in Wood County

ton. and talks Interestingly OF the
status of Porto Rico in the minds OF
the leading men of the capitol. He
saws that a great many OF them have
about come to the conclusion that 1t
would be better to have the people
elect the executive council. To rea-
lie the enormous tasks presented to
congress in various forms, one need
ONLY think that this body is legiSlat-
ing for about eighty millions of people
with nearly every section OF the re-
public in the development stage. 1t
is desirable, therefore, that each
state and territory take care OF itself
as far as possible. Porto Rico has
made things reasonably lively as FAR
as she has been concerned, and the
general situation is pretty well under
stood. The personal acquaintance OF
the President have knocked pretty
hard, and with the ordinary contro-
yersies arising in government affairs,
and especially in the constructive
work incident to the building OF a
state. have taken place. But men
will not submit to being knocked
without doing little Of that same
business on their own account, and as
a consequence, one side or the
troubles in Porto Rico has gone to
the President and the other side to
the various friends in congress OF
those who were knocked. The
knocked" has known that it was
useless to appeal to the President, SO
while the KNOCKERS" are having
their inning, the knockees are pre-
serving the records, and waiting with
as much patience as may be, the COM
inc of their day in court. That day
will come, and "time will make all
things even, which is but another
way of stating that the eyolutions OF
time will bring justice just as surely
as the coming of the sun will brlng
the morning of a new day: and, we
may add, for the same reason; viz: 1t
is one of natures laws. But congress
is very tired of the chickering's among
officials sent down here, and cannot
understand why we are unable TO
have our controversies, vote and abide
the result, as all men over twenty
one years of age are supposed to do.
Mr. Arpin says that numerous in
yestigations are talked of, and many
members are DESTROYS OF sending a
committee down here, but that it is
hardly probable of cryStaliZing into
shape at the present time, although
it is quite possible that papers, and
perhaps persons, may be sent for. In
the meantime, that we may show
political as well as industrial progress
we sincerely hope that the legislature
will present, at least, a practical
measure looking to the establishment
of local self-goyernment. This Is de-
sirable, not only as an act of justice,
but becauseof the economy OF such
step, and the necessity of extending
the experience of the people in the
management of their own affairs. We
started with an annual apprOpria-
ton of $l,OO0,OO0, and have now
reached 81, 100000, without any ma
terial addition to the efficiency OF the
government, and adding only to the
ponderous and complicated character
of the centralized machine at the
capitol The real masses of the people
have not yet had opportunity to ad
vance one single step in the direction
of popular government. We must
commence sometime, and we should
have started in that direction in
place of creating the consolidated de-
partment. But perhaps something
will be done this winter;a declaration
in the form of a proposed law, if
nothing more.