Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1906-1908, 1908-01-31


strength when 1t acts with the people.
1t is driven from its vantage ground
when the people detect Its hypocrisy
and fraud.
am one of those who are proud of
Wisconsin aud the progress we have
made along every line conducting TO
our welfare. | would like to inspire
bruad and patriotic spirit of state
pride. One of such power and strength
that 1t would reach every community
and influence every citizen. 1t is this
spirit that builds states and insurss a
continuing development.
want a Wisconsin spirit, dis
tinctive and characteristic of high
grade men and women who achieve,
who do things worth doing, who are
not supinely content to accept what
is, but who aspire to the attainment
of what should be. The process may
sometimes be impeded with uncertainty
and the results slow in being attained,
but we have way of "gettimg there
in the results.
The VIrginian, who through the
accident Of geography, happens to
have his birth across the border line
into another state, regrets the incident
as in his spirit of state pride, ne
apologies for not beng a "born
V!rginian The Kentuckian never
fails to declaim about the blue grass
sweeps and verdant mountains of his
state, while we in Wisconsin, blessed
with the bounty of Gud's prodIgality
in resources, with an amalgamation
uf racial strength and the power and
determination of men who always
conquer, at times | fear, forget that
spirit OF state prioes TO which we are
justly entitled by the excellence Of
our heritage. | want to quicken this
spirit of a heJter appreciation as
applied to Wisconsin. Look at the
picture of what we have, in all that
makes for the welfare of our citizen
ship, and see if it, does not lead to keen
er pride in being of a commonwealth
unequalled in present accomplishments
and IN the road possibilities of future
achievements conduce of betterment.
In presenting these views to you for
consideration. have purposely avoided
the concretes of political Issues, deem
ing the occasion inoppOrtune for such
an address. | may he pardoned, for
briefly referring generally to the duty
Of citizenship as it relates to the
welfare of the state and community.
Under the primary election law, to
the citizen is given the widest latitude
of selecting candidates for office. The
day of packed conventions controlled
by few men and organized in their
interest is past history, | hope. This
step, while important, is not, how
ever, all there is to the scheme Of
popular government. After election,
too frequently the men elected grow
careless of the public interest believ-
ing that the people soon become
forgetful IN disragarding The activities
of their public servants. have known
instances where supervisors, aldermen,
members of the legislature and
administrative officers to act upon the
theory that they have no RESPONSE
bility to the voters after election
This would not be the fact if the
people held them to stricter account
ing in the discharge of functions they
deal with. Under our system, public
office holding is delegated power
and right, and unless abuses and mis-
representation are to follow, the
people must constantly be in touch
with the activities of their servants.
A careless. unassertive public senti-
ment begets Indifference ana in
| efficiency and sometimes dishonesty ON
the part of men elected to office.
In theory, every qualified elector Is
a part of government, but this is only
true in practical politics when the
voter lntelligently discharges every
duty and obligation of citizenship If
the voter permits the selfish interest
OF the politicians to govern, and not
the public interest, the intent and
purpose of government becomes but a
perverted instrument in unworthy and
frequently dishonest hands.
The craft and chicane of men
when it cumes to playing the game Of
politics is so much in evidence that It
would seem unnecessary to raise a
voiue of warning, but frequently the
further fact is presented, that the
people awaken when the damage has
been done
| am one of those whu could permit
no trespassing upon the peoples
rights and in order that this might
best be conserved, advocate the keep
ing alive and active all public senti-
ment which holds officials to d strict
accounting TO the people. Too fire.
quently there is an "afteI election
attitude which seems to indicate that
a decree of divorce has been granted
between the office-hUlder and the
people wherein the offics -hulder man
ages to keep his control of the
alimony provision without discharging
any duty on his part. This could not
be the situation if the voters acted