Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1910-05-17

your committee as demoralizing in
their influence. in every way, and as
reflection upcu the good name of
the state.
1.-THE system of using state EN-
ployes to work politics in behalf of
an administration in power at the
expense of the public treasury. as
practiced during the La Toilette
administration according to the
testimony, is not only demoralizing,
but is dishonest and corruptins IN
its influence upon the affairs of
state. Such practices debauch the
public treasury and reduce state
employees to the position of political
vassals subject to the power de-
handing such work of them
The testimony before your com
mittee would indicate that during
the administration of Governor La
Toilette large part of the political
work in the state done on behalf of
the administration was conducted
by state officials, state employees,
and game wardens, many Of aohom
cere employed almost erclasirelg on ac-
count Of their ability to manipulate pol
tics IN the interests Of the adnunistra-
ton, and many of whom charged the
state for time and expenses incurred
on political excursions at the re-
quest of the administration. de-
bauching the public treasury to
crafty tie political ambitions and
policies of the administration under
which they served.
THE general trend of the testi-
mony shows that Governor La Fol
lette used state employees as part of a
great political machine to pe,petuate his
political poaoer and control; that he
caused the appointment of deputy
state game wardens and other state
employees with view to their re-
puted political ability to control GER
tain districts and to secure the
election of delegates favorable to
the wishes of his administration
that these officials were more num-
erous during political contests; that
their time was occupied in politics
during such contests; that their
per diem and often their expenses
were charged to the state and paid
out of the public treasury, when
their work was almost wholly of a
partisan political nature; and that
Governor La Toilette approred the er-
pense uouchers achich made 1t possible to
pay for such services out Of the public
treasury"
cit also appears from the testimony
that Governor La Toilette used this
4arge political army to secure the election
or defeat, as he thought fit Of members Of
the legislature
The testimony also discloses that
over forty state employees were sent
into Grant county during the caucus
elections of February, 1904, to swing
the delegates in favor of Mr.. ]. ].
Blaine, then candidate for congress.
The time and expenses Of many Of these
state employees ,oaS charged to the state,
approved by Gocernor LaFollette and
paid out Of the public treasury. In
this connection one of the witnesses
in answer to the question, How
many game wardens were in Grant
county when Blaine was candidate
for congress? replied "Oh, / don't
know; think the woods were full
of them" Another witness testified
that forty eight state employees
we're counted leaving Grant county
after the caucus. This occurred
when Governor LaFollette was most
strenuously advocating election re-
forms for the state of Wisconsin.
Many Of the game aoardens employed
under the La Toilette administration
testified that their chief ,oork Uas politi-
cal.
During the LaFollette admins
tration, Accord ng to the testimony,