Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1910-05-24

"ho "CAC niSicu nave recovered
from their illusions, the ranks are
closing up and daily the conviction
is growing that with united front
and capable leaders victory is as
sured
But the uncertain conditions in
the republican ranks for any sort of
combined effort to elect the ticket
nominated at the primary again
makes necessary appeals to fair
minded democrats for aid and COM
fort to save the little brass idol Of the
uptJters from well-merited defeat,
and in this desperate effort the Mil
waukee Journal seems to have
undertaken the contract to line up
the fair minded democrats, since
without democratic support, Senator
LaFollette cannot hope to be nomi-
mated.
1t is a desperate situation con-
fronting the half breed-insurgent
faction and their little brass idol,
for in addition to their division as
to the most available candidate for
governor-whether Strange, Bark
er, Lewis or McGovern-none of
whom can command the united sup
port of the party, the conservative
element among the republicans has
called convention to be held in the
Auditorium in Milwaukee, June 9Th
to adopt a party platform and to
consider the ACCESSIBILITY of recon-
mending or endorsing candidates for
state offices to be voted for at the
September primary election.
This convention will surely start
something, and nothing in years has
thrown such scare into the La
Toilette ranks as this sane, appeal
ing call for state convention to
again place within the control of
the members of the party the form
ulating of the party platform and
the selection of their own candi-
| dates.
This call and this convention are
the beginning of the end of LaFol-'
letteism in Wisconsin. Frantic APP
peals to fair minded democrats will
be of little avail at this crisis. La
Toilette and his followers are en-
titled to no consideration whatever
from democrats; his insincere ap-
| peals to the fair minded in the past
have been solely to benefit his own
selfish ends and purposes. In the
opinion of Robert M. LaFollette
fair minded democrat is a democrat
who will betray' his. own party to
help Robert M. LaFollette and his
chosen crew to hold on to public
office.
This time these appeals will be in
vain. The deplorable political con-
ditions in this state demand a
change. The convention of the
conservative elements, in the re
publican party will do much good
in uniting those elements, though
they will not unity that party; that
convention viii only accentuate the
necessity for a radical change in the
political administration of the affairs
of the state. That convention will
increase the chances of democratic
success if all democrats will be fair
minded enough to recognize the OPP
portunity and select not Office seek
ers but draft the best and most
capable men as their candidates for
Office. Instead of giving aid and
comfort to near democrats who as
half breeds, insurgents or progress
sives would find no place in republi-
can ranks if they had the courage
of their convictions and were able
to GO out and earn an honest living
instead of DANGEROUSLY hanging on
to public Office, every democrat is
now called on to fall in line under
the Party Standard and follow our
chosen leaders in the success which
this year is ours.
Because the democrats are fair
minded they recognized the futility
of following false gods; they have
nothing to hope for from Robert
Nj. LaFollette; he has been a detri-
ment to his state and to his party;
he has been disorganizer and
breeder of dissensions, and now that
/ the members of his own party are
gathering the best there is III that
party for final struggle to rid it
self from his baneful influences,
fair minded democrats can best serve
their state and party by remaining
true and steadfast to their own
principles.
The fair minded democrats of this
State are to have a convention of
their own, and in the adoption of
their platform and the selection of
their candidates they hope to con-
vince the fair minded roters of this
state of whatever party or creed,
that while party victory may be an
aim, the sole and chief purpose is to
give to Wisconsin d creditable state
administration and return to this
state its standing in restoration
of the confidence and respect which