Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1908-03-19


Isome cities. The American public,
az we'll as tho Republicans Of the
country, are having a hne opportun-
Ilty--to weigh this man of ponder
ous physeaque. Taft Is the exponent
of Roosevelt policies and as such Is
popular.
Two Opposing Heavy.weights.
Taft and Bryan are both heavy
weights and the humorous para
graphers give that as a reason that
they should be pltted against one
another. In avolrdupoIs Taft now
has the advantage. but Bryan Is
growing more cumbersome every
day.
AIertness IL Needed.
Someone has recently remarked
that in these strenuous times, the
country needs lean. lank man.
who thinks much and is a great OBJ
server" II is suggested that heavy
weights may be too easy-goIng.
In policies Taft poses as the sec
ond edition OF Roosevelt. II is a
matter OF speculation as to whether
he could be AZ vigorous as the Presl-
dent has been and Is today In prose-
cutting the trusts and other evil
doers.
Western Man Needed.
The real original in this line OF
work is vigorous and vlllgant sena-
tor La Follotte OF the live western
state Wisconsin.
Ia Follette. the Fighter.
La Toilette differs from any other
statesman now before the American
people. His record In public life
marks him as the most uneompro-
missing hghter in history. either OF
this country or OF any other. y
"Untn yoa knoV La Toilette, the
fighter" says the famous Washing
ton correspondent weilmann. you
do not understand the new idea In
politics. lie expounded Il, lie Inn
pressed II upon the state OF wisoon-
sin"
The new standard OF citizenship
which now obtains IN Wisconsin, the
awakened conscience. tho thirst for
knowledge OF actual conditions, the
new sense OF duty TO the state, all
are the results OF la Follette's years
OF preaching and hEhting.
Give Every Man a Chance.
nlgger and better than any one
or all OF the incidents which have
contributed to the regeneration OF
Wisconsin,. more vital than pTl-
mary elections. OF greater conse-
auenee than successful regulation
of railroad rates--is the determina-
tlon of the people TO control their
own government and make Il serve
the rank and ME Instead or the spe-
clal Interests, One essential OF .the
Wisconsin idea 10 the doctrine that
government exists Tor the purpose
of preserving free aud unIrammeied
opportunity for all individuals. and
not TO grant special privileges 10
certain interests, A second essential
Ia the belief that Il is the duty OF
the citizen 10 inform himself ON all
phases OF polltIes; aud the third es-
sentlal. Il that no ciiisen shall fail
70 exercise 70 the full hts opporsun-
lty % participate In government,
from nominations 10 elections
The WISCONSIN Idca.
This IA the Wisconsin Idea. This
Is the I.AFone,te gospel Primary
elections were bat an Incident.
means 90 an end Railroad regula.
ton h merely remedy for one Of
tie ercat evils. Tho abolition of the
railroad pass and the telegraph. tele-
phone and express frank Was the
nrst step IN breaking the power oi
,he railroads and othog public service
corporations, The passage al an
aeli-loeby law, torhldding paid lob
h>isis speaking 10 members og the
legislature about matters of leglsla.
tion, except al public hearings Ia
committee rooms. vas second step
"a the same direction. The passage
oi Law prohsbl,lng aay employe ~
= public service corporation from
heldlng paolle once without nrst
returning the passes o. sranks which I
he company slyes him. was Intended
% help serve the same paFp0se. The
lav compelling railroads aud other
pahllc service corporations 10 psy