The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1909-02-20
A PAINFUL INCIDENT

6hAbo0S hoS CSSh put hPOA bh~
people of Wisconsin by Senator La
Toilette, who is the truest the most
active and about the noisiest of all
the professional friends of the
people. In the state of Wisconsin
they hold primaries for the direct
nomination by the people of United
States Senator'S. Senator Stephen
son was nominated at the Repubil. |
can primaries and ought to have
settled it. The people had COM
manded their Legislature to elect
MIR. Stephenson. But when it
came to the voting at Madison
there was opposition. There lower
house was obedient to the popular
mandate; in the Senate consider
able nmber of Republicans did not
vote for Stephenson, and now the
voting in joint session is blocked by
a resolution to investigate the camp
aign expenditures of M. Stephen
son in the campaign that preceded
the primaries. Curiously enough
MIL Toilette, whose good angel
Mr. Stephenson has been expending
money in advancing the fortune Of
the lion-hearted champion of the
people against the corporations, and
depending it in sums sufficient, as
most men would say, to earn Mr..
La. Follette's lasting gratitude, now
turns against him and assails him
as malefactor of great wealth.
But the personal question bet
ween La. Toilette and Stephenson
is negligible when we consider the
graver question involved.
| The direct primary for the nomina.
ton of all sorts of officers is as
everybody knows, the noblest and
most benefcent invention OF man.
Mr.. La. Toilette has told the
people of Wisconsin probably NOR e
than a million times that the direct
primary gives expression to the real
voice of the people. 1t regulates
. the bosses into innocuous desue-
tude, it battles the aspiring mani
pulator, it abolishes corruption.
Trusting to the assurances of
Mr.. La Toilette, Wisconsin enacted
direct primary law and has now
I had experience of it. The people
voted for Stephenson. The Leg
islature declines to elect Stephenson.
and La Toilette opposes his election,
This is rebellion. A more revolt
| ing instance of inconsistency and
? ingratitude has never come under
our notice. Why does La Toilette
/ oppose Stephenson? Incredible as
! I it may seem, he and his following
: charge, in effect, that Stephenson
t bribed the people to vote for him.
The other candidates for the
, ISenate spent their small change,
lonly trifling sums like SII 900 and
$50, 900. Against Stephenson they
I make the monstrous accusation that
he spent all the way from SIo6 ,ooc
/. up to $25o.oo Once before, when
La Follette's candidate for the Leg
/ Iislature and for the Speaker was
!. defeated at the primaries in his dis
e triet, the Senator charged that the
$ Interests" had by the shameless
e use of money got the other man
e nominated. 1t is a painful Incl
dent. If these things can be in
! La Follette's own state, what are
i direct nominations coming to?
We have the disposition, certain
i, ly but we can scarcely find the
II words of coincidence adequate tc
express our sorrow that Governor
> Hughes and the advocates of direct
nominations in this state should al
= this solemn moment be confronted
: with the horrible example o.
:, Wisconsin. 1t is bad matter, take
!, it either way. If La Toilette car
prevent the election in the Legis
: lature of a candidate named by the
:, people, then any boss in any state
may defeat the popular will. If or
i the other hand Stephenson did, II
! fact, corrupt and poison the very
! source of political power all the fn'
!, preaching in favor of direct nomi
;, nations must be blotted out of t II
= bright lexicon of youth and hope
: We have been told that the direc
primary was the one thing needed
: to prevent any old money-bags of I
;, lumberman from grabbing Sen
:, atorship. Stephenson is the riches
J man in Wisconsin. That is again
st him. But if he actually by tn,
!, corrupt use of money, ifuenced tn,
r. the free-born electors of that state
: than the case looks black for tn
, people. Anyhow, the dreadful ex
L ample of Wisconsin is pretty form
! liable obstacle in the pathway o
: Governor Hughes bill-Mes0 NorI
y Times.