The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1910-02-03
SEEKS PROGRESSIVE SUPPORT
Declares That He Has Been Urged to
Enter the Race by Many of His
Friends and That He Stands for Re-
form Legislation.


morning of the candidacy Of Frances
i. McGovern of Milwaukee as can
didate for the Republican nomination
for governor of the state, 1t is ex-
pected that Mr.. McGovern will have
many supporters in Kenosha as many
of the ultra progressive Republicans
of this city and county had signed
the call asking the Milwaukee man to
enter the field for the office. In his
Mr. McGovern says:
Among a free people public Office
is the recognized agency of self-gov-
eminent. AS such, it should be filed
not to crafty individual ambition,
however laudable, nor to advance the
official station of any person, however
deserving, but wholly from the stand
point Of the public service and solely
in the interest of the public welfare.
''Of the high office of governor at
the present time this is especially true
1t is no exaggeration to say that rare
ly in the history Of Wisconsin has the
situation relative to this important
position been more critical or the
necessity of exercising wisdom in fill
ing it been more commanding. Pub
lie questions of the gravest Importance,
political issues of the most vital signi-
ficance, government policies of wide
spread and enduring interest depend
upon the choice now about to be made;
for of necessity, the approaching cleo
tion will not be a mere scramble for
place among rival candidates for of
fetal honor or political power, but a
contest involving the perpetuation or
the overthrow of principles which
form the very foundation of free gov
eminent.
''This is so for historic reasons.
More than dozen. years ago, under
the farsighted leadership of our pres
ent senior United States senator,
Robert M. LaFollette, there was start
ed in this state political move.
ment which during the splendid
administration of President Roose-
Welt, enlarged in scope until it became
national. It's object was to correct
corporate and monopoly abuses, re.
store representative government to the
people, and secure greater equality of
opportunity for all. Notwithstanding
determined opposition shrewdly inter
posed at every turn, this movement in
favor of equal justice and common
fairness progressed year by year until,
in everything that pertains to sound
constructive reform legislation, Wis
consin was advanced in rank to the
very forefront among the common
wealths of America Then a halt was
made. Whether this halt shall be
followed by reaction and by ignomini-
GUS retreat or by advancement essen.
tial to the welfare of free and pro-
gressive people, the approaching cleo
tion will determine. And the decision
of this question will rightly oversha-
dow in Importance every other result
of the campaign.
81 believe in the progressive poli.
cies for which the Republican party
has stood in this state and in the ma
tion. [ have decided to become A.
candidate for the Republican nomina-
ton for the Office of governor at the
ensuing election, in the hope that by
so doing | may contribute to the
success of those principles of govern
ment in which an overwhelming ma
jority of the people of Wisconsin be-
lieve. This decision is based not M
on any assumption that I possess rare
or exceptional qualifications for the
office, but upon the fact that an indul-
gent PUBLIC, so far as it can informally
determine in advance the question of
availability, has favored my candidacy
as the one most likely to promote the
cause of progressive Republicanism in
the approaching campaign.
''For more than year personal and
political friends in all parts of the
state have urged me to take this stem
/ have been assured that public senti-
ment is increasingly favorable to such
action on my part, and from eyerv
quarter [ have been promised loyal
assistance and support. But rather
than imperil the success of principles
vital to the permanent welfare of the
people of this state, I have deferred
acting upon these suggestions until /
should be justified in saying as 1 do
now, that the announcement of nv
candidacy is at the request and with
the approval of very large proper
ton of those who believe in these
principles.
cat a later time l shall state my
position upon public questions nov
pending for solution before the people
of Wisconsin, and outline the issue,
upon which shall invite support