Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1909-09-17
s, A, COOK THINKS
IT is TOO EARLY.
MORE THAN A YEAR YET BEFORE
THE ELECTION OF Gov
ERNOR.
is NOT OUT FOR NOMINATION.
Reply to Judge Griff Thomas of Com
mittee Which Asked Him to
Stand
MORE CAMPAIGN EXPENDITURES.

Judge Griffith Thomas of Hurley has
received the following reply from ex-
Congressman S. A. Cook Of Neenah to
the invitation to become candidate for
the Republican nomination for governor,
which was urged upon him by a COM
mittee representing a gathering of Re-
publcans from all parts of the state III
this city nearly a month ago. The judge
was chairman of the committee sent to
Neenah to present the matter to Mr..
Cook, whose response is to the effect
that it is too early at present for can
didates for the goyernorship to announce
themselves, as the election will not be
held till November of next year.
Mr.. Cook says he is not candidate,
but does not say he would not run II
asked at more fitting time. He ac-
knowledges that he still retains, ambi-
ton to represent the people Of Wlscon-
sin in the Senate of the United States.
There is reference in his letter to the
subject of campaign expenditures, which
will be interesting reading. There Is
also an outline Of the principles on
which Mr.. Cook thinks the Republican
party should conduct the approaching
campaign.
The letter in full is as follows:
Hon. Griffith Thomas, chairman Of the
committee that waited upon me, August IL,
with resolution requesting that l become a
candidate for governor: Ny Dear Shiny
object in asking for time when your COM
mittee called was that l might learn more
Of the organization, the men promoting
same, and their determination to do.
am now prepared to announce to you,
and to any who may care to know. my
position and opinion.
Your meeting in Milwaukee, August 10,
as reported to me was in earnestness ana
make up fair index of what l see and
hear from many parts of the state: Men
In all the various occupations in life are
awake to the IA fact that it is time that f ata
stop and the welfare of the people, which
is Of vital Importance to the burden bearer,
be considered.
If the organization is conducted on lines
as stated by your committee in every county
of the state as q school Of education, the
organization will be of such magnitude and
high character, that it will be the factor
to be dealt with in making up the Repub-
ucan state ticket for 1910.
The organization should command support,
because of the honesty and integrity or
purpose of the men who are in the move
ment. Its aim is right, and on such lines
l will be one Of the assistants to the full
measure Of my ability.
Let the object be a government for all
without cl1ques or factions but conscious of
every right. Insist that each industry and
whether it be the banker, merchant, farm
er, railroad company, manufacturer, or the
man and woman who daily toll for sus-
tenance Of life for themselves and their
Avoid the demagogue and chronic calamity
bowler. God never intended this country
for such, or He would have fitted up some
locality, or provided seine position where
they could live, draw their salaries, blow
their trumpets, and die happy.
There are many good practical men in
Wisconsin to select from that would be a
credit to the state as governor, and l be-
lieye it a safe proposition to let their names
be known, that there may be an opportunity
n a1r STATEMENTS seldom harm ' anT honest
man" But my judgment is that it is not
best for the accomplishment Of the good
sought, that any man be placed on record
at this early date as the candidate Of the
organization.
As for me was last year, as is quite
generally known, in campaign for the
the idea that I was better fitted for that
important position than many others, bur
because many good citizens OF. the state
petitioned me to become a candidate, and L
believed l could do the work Of United
States senator on lines Of progress and for
the common good. I have not yet given up
that hope, or ambition if any care to call it
by the latter name
There exists under the present primary
law an opportunity and perhaps a necessity
for large expenditures of money and time
by the candidates or their supporters for in
dividual organization, whether it be for
state or county primary nominations. We
can all welcome a law by our Legislature
that will justly regulate and control same.
But it seems to me that 1t might be well
for some, at least Of those who are shouting
so loud about the expenditure Of money IN
campaigns, to pause long enough to care
fully examine their own case, and then tell
the people if they consider it less wrong
to take from the public treasury, In large
salaries and expenses, money that comes
from the over-burdened taxpayer, without
reference to good, bad. or no service rem
dered by them than 1t Is flo for indviduals to
Ice rendered In campaign provided for by
the law Of our state.
Let your platform be SO plain that all
may understand 1t. and strong enough TO
carry every citizen of Wisconsin who be-
lieves in government for all
The question has been and may be asked
by some what has Cook done to entite
him to be a candidate for GOVERNOR? In
answer will say:
ernor.
second-I do not claim that have done
anything very brilliant in my work for the
public But for the time that / was in
am willing to put my services for practtcal
assistance to the producer, the consumer,
and the upbuilding of our state, In compare
son with any other public official from this
who he may be, and the records at Wash
ington, and at Madison, can furnish the
facts, together with the results that have
been obtained.
As to my personal life, I can keep quite
busy most Of the time attending to my own
business; and respecting the right Of any
ideas, religious belief, and political methods
We can only Judge the future Of men for
public or private position by their past.
organization and the people of Wisconsin
whether l later on become a candidate for
any office, or am quietly let alone; and in
either case I trust you will ever find me
ready, IS in the past, to assist when and
where I can see 1t my duty to do so for the
honest success Of the Republican party ana
the good name Of our state.
Again assuring you of my deep and earn
est appreciation of the honor done me, am
very sincerely yours,
s. A. COOK
Neenah, September 6, 1900.