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

to the undoubted fact that NJ active
public sentiment has been back of the
movement. No good citizen sympathizes
with laW-breaking, nor is it part
of good citizenship to bring laws into
disrepute by seeking uo enforce them
as mere whim of few individuals.
l am one of those who believe that Law
and order should prevail, but know,
that if results are to be secured, bach
of the law and order, must be the
sentiment of the community. Senti
ment being lacking, movements fai
and the laws stand as dead letter
enactments. Laws are regarded ane
obeyed in every community almost,
where the public sentiment sustains
them, 80 far as enforcement is con
cerned. They are disobeyed and dis.
regarded where the enforcement is
against public sentiment.
The fault is not with the authorities
alone, but more largely with the
citizenship of community that goes
into partnership and cooperates with
those who evade and make a nullity
of the laws. The personal interest
has been delegated to such an extent
that the community sentiment is
dormant and unassertive. The educa-
tion of this sentiment is the remedy,
until it becomes. quick and alive and
grows powerful enough to compe
obedience.
In various ways In my officia
experience, l have had reason to note
the difficulties attending efforts seek
ing the reforming Of methods. In my
efforts. / have ever taken note of this
one fact, which stands out clearly anc
significantly. The great mass of the
people are not only honest, but
conscinetiously stand out for what il
honest and best. They are at times
deceived in their public officials,
because they assume that men selected
to enforce and make laws are honest.
In connecting myself with movements,
and in some instances initiating them,
for the correction of abuses IN the
public administration of affairs, the
majority of the people have never
failed to respond in way not to be
nisinterpreted, by the politician. Ar
honest man usually has the support Of
the honest citizen, and generally car
depend upon this in any emergency.
Then comes the need of public senti
ment to press movements to success.
fui result. The people are quick to
act when once they are convinced that
they have unworthy bestowed thell
confidence or that their confidence ha.
been betrayed.
In my public experience, I never
have found that the people were tardy
in their response to any merited cal
for their activity in behalf of better
government. Some times the voters
are ignorant of actual conditions be.
cause they have delegated too much
power to as we'll as too much trust in
those in public Office or to those who
speak for the good morals of THEN
community. When they wake up te
the deception practiced, public senti-
ment sets and acts assertively.
The influencing thought that I de-
sire to impress upon your consider
alton, ls contained in the statement
| fhuf tho po0rIo hn
results to be secured from the
machinery, civic and political, they
control. 1t these results are not forth
coming, one can usually look for a
change in men entrusted with the
duties of administration. The average
agent who needs the demands of the
people, through expressed public
sentiment, is reasonably sure of 1T
standing, AZ we'll AS of the support
The honest official, who takes the peo-
pie into his confidence, tells them of
his plans and purposes and inspires a
proper public sentiment, will meet
with their support and cooperation.
The dishonest official, who through
evasion and circumlocution, seeks to
deceive the public, is shortliveo.
In my relationship to the public I
ascrlbe whatever success I have been
fortunate enough to achieve to the
fact when ever have had plan in the
interest of the people, l have made
the people the judges and have ap-
pealed to them rather than to the
politicians. At times Ill CARRYING
sentiment favorable to proposed plans,
l have worked day and night to take
the masses into my confidence to let
them KNOW what l proposed to do IN
what | believed to he in their interest.
AS an Alderman of my city, l have
been called to vote many times upon
public questions which preplexed me.
l have always sought to ascertain
what the sentiment was, and upon one
occasion, conducted postal card
voting contest, upon question sub
mitted to every voter in my ward.
stood for what the majority sentiment
of the ward was; and in my capacity
as Mayor of Milwaukee, have always
sought to conserve the best sentiment
of the city and to ascertain what that
sentiment was.
may be pardoned here in saving