Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1908-10-21
FREAR DISCUSSES
CAMPAIGN FUNDS
NO LAW FoRBIoS EXPENDL
TUREs NOT OF HONEST
NATURE.
AND IT'S DOUBTFUL If ANY
ACT CAN DO so coNSTl-
TUTioNALLY.

Lake Geneva, Oct. 13-The cam
paign was opened here last evening
by Secretary of State james A. Frear
After discussing the tar If and nation.
al issues he said: We are confront
ed with a peculiar situation in Wiscon-
sin that invites publicity for ruore
than campaign contributions or ex-
penditures. The arrows of criticism
have been directed by Mr.. Awkward
and others toward Governor Davidson
and Senator Stephenson. charging the
former with reactionary ideas and the
latter with spending money for cam
paign purposes. 1t is a commentary
upon latteriay politics that two men.
who have ever been trusted TO sup
port every reform law passed in Wis
conhin and have never faltered. are
now styled reactionaries. 1t is equal
ly noticeable that the democratic can
didate For governor and the democrat
ic candidate for United States senator
each spent more for his nomination in
proportion to actual ability to CON
/ tribute than was spent by Isaac
, Stephenson.
IT IS also true thai not one dollar
has been declared by Mr.. Awkward to
have been spent for dishonest pur-
j poses. and the expense has been one
Of degree and not of character No
law prevents such expense and it
may be questionable if any law can
be framed, consttutionally, which
will reach large expeditures. No par
ticular defense is needed for either of
j these gentlemen for the character of
the criticism is evidence of a desire
/ to only create dissensions among re-
publicans. Again, both Davidson and
Stephenson are competent to care for
themselves. and their business and
political integrity has for many years
been too valuable to the progressive
movement in Wisconsin to be OBJ
scured by false issues.
But here is another side of the
picture which explains the frantic ct,
orts now being made to divert atten
ton. One of the Milwaukee dailies
sa d that the democratic ldrty OF
Wisconsin is united and that gold
democrats would be found voting for
MI. r. an, Last week / met several
lie ding gold democrats of Sank coun-
ty who are openly supporting the nom
jnation of Mr. Faft. In Juneau and
Jackson counties the same was true.
In Marathon and Oconto the reports
We're OF the same character. Lead
ing gold democrats OF my home coun
ty are among the most vigorous de-
nouncers of Bryan while in old rock
ribbed Dodge county. | met gold DEM
oerats who viii not vote for Mr.. Bry.
an. Thousands of democrats. who
believe that the cross of gold free
silver, imperialism, government own
ership, free trade and other issues are
dangerous heresies are unwilling to
support the present democratic lead
or. Their votes are sure 70 swell
the majority that will be given IN
November by Wisconsin for William
H Taft.
There is another question that vi
tally effects the progressive demo
Gratis Of Wisconsin. The democratic
conveyance. with its gentle. patient
motive power. has been captured bv
the obstructive branch of the democ.
racy 1r1 the reins that guide are now
held by the reactionaries. Think of
lit' Mr.. Awkward and Mr. Brown pos.
ing as progressive candidates for gov.
ernor and United States senator
j After years of open pronounced oppo-
sition by active work and addresses.
Mr.. Awkward now assumes to speak
I for progressive ideas Where are
his high sounding opinions expressed
! at Oshkosh against the primary cleo,
ton bill and other reforms since en-.
acted into law? Does he forget his
open work against reform measures.
his suspicious against the state house
nj Madison? Why did not our demo
cratic friends nominate Adolph
Schmidt the Milwaukee lawyer, who
las stood for these questions for
years-the man who at Oshkosh
/ fought 10 secure the laws, Then OPP
posed by Mr. Awkward but now en-
dorsed by him?
Mr. Brown. democratic candidate
/ for United States senator, has ever
been opposed to railway regulation.
| primary elections and every other i'm
| portant piece Of progressive Iegisla.
/ ton IN Wisconsin. why was he chos-
on over Melvin Hoyt? However much
j he differed from his associates. none
questioned his honesty, sincerity nor
! ability and yet our democratic friends
placed the seal of their approval upon
the reaCtionary candidate who led the
Indignation meeting OF railway lobby
I Isis at Madison in 1908 How strange
an evolution in politics when Mr. Ayl-
ward and Mr.. Brown are found cham
pionuE the IDEAS OF the nan they de-
nounced and derided FOR Years. Sen
ator la Follette's mantle will fall on
/ the shoulders Of neither II will re-
/ main OF his own shoulders until he
( has carried out in governmental al.
/ fairs the great reforms accomplished