Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1910-04-26
General Macarthur.

The suggestion of the PILOT thai
General Arthur Macarthur of Mil
waukee, would be the Ideal Candidate
TOR Governor has attracted attention
and is received with much favor. 1t
is due General Macarthur to state
that he did not even have an intima-
ton that his name was to be men
toned in this connection: as matter
% fact, the Pilot does not know
whether the acceptance of such NOM
ination would be considered, but
viewing the conditions that confront
the party in the coming campaign
and without illusions to the obstacles
to be met and to be overcome, we can
hope for success only with candidates
of exceptional ability and popularity.
Not even the general dissatisfaction
prevailing in Milwaukee would have
enabled the socialists to carry the
election had that partynot nominated
as its candidates men of recognized
ability-not one of its candidates on
the city ticket but what compared
fayorably with those on the other
tickets. A study of the election re-
turns will show that from 10000 to
12,0G0 of the vote cast for the socialis-
tic city ticket was made up of dis
Independents.
According to the census reports Of
1900, there were in Wisconsin, $40, 7l5
males over q years of age and this
number should now show an increase.
The total vote cast for governor in
1905 was 319,775, of which the demo-
cratic candidate received 103, ia, and
the republican candidate 1873, 526, or a
MA ifxr Of 4 in, n
presidential election-the total vote
cast for governor was 1857, 1874
less than were cast for president-of
which the democratic candidate for
governor received l65,977 and the re-
publican candidate PAP, 1868, or plural
ity of 1896, Notwithstanding the fact
that the total vote of the republican
candidate for governor was 4784 less
than the vote received by the party
candidate for president. OF the 80
members of the state senate, four only
are democrats and of the 100 members
of the assembly, 10 are members of
the democratic party.
Granting, therefore, that great dis
satisfaction exists, that the people are
weary Of the constant agitation and
that they are ready for change, the
problem that confronts the democratic
party in the coming campaign is, to
hold the full party vote as shown in
the 1906 or 1908 returns and in addi-
tion draw upon the opposition voters
for 10000 more, who will be ready to
come only if men of exceptional abil-
ity are nominated as candidates.
Those are the facts, and only as we
recognize them and properly meet
them can we hope to succeed. Since
the last issue of the PILOT, many
have assured us by mail and in person:
If chat is the kind of a ticket the
democrats will nominate, you can
count on my vote''-and this coming
fronImen of high standing, who never
havebeen with us, and who are but
samples Of that large, large class who
are anxious for change of political
conditions and methods in this state.
McGoYern, Lewis or John Strange
as the republican candidate for gov
ernor will hardly prove an antidote
for the tired feeling prevalent among
the rank and file of that party in this
state, bat even with either one Of
these as the opponent we can not
hope to win unless we offer something
better. 1t will be dangerous to the
prospects of success to view with over
confidence the carrying of two repub-
lican congressional districts by demo-
Gratis in special elections in the gener-
al hubbub of congressional and other
dissatisfactions and denunciations,
and in each of these cases it must not
be overlooked that the successful
candidates were exceptionally able
and popular men and received much
help from local unss ,tisfactory condi-
lions.
We believe that the situation in
Wisconsin demands the nomination
OF such a candidate for Governor as
General Macarthur would be-, and
backed by state and legislative ticket
made up of the best men in our ranks,
there would be no question about the
result. If General Macarthur is NOM
mated it will be because the people
want him and not because lie is a
candidate; if he should accept such a
nomination, it would be an assurance
TO the voters of this state that every
pledge and promise made will be
carried out and that every man on
the ticket will perform his duty. His
whole life has been made upof accom-
plishmentS, of duty well performed,
and his great experience as an admin
iStrator and executive would make
him the best Governor the state of
Wisconsin ever had He volunteered
wlen he became soldier, but to lead
in this fight he must be drafted.