Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1910-06-21
Harmony.

lican ranks and few expected that
such could be the result: the most
that was hoped for vas to unity the
conservative elements ,of the party
and under the slogan "Stand By the
President" bring defeat to the insur-
gent representatives in Congress and
plant cactus on the political grave
of the little brass idol Of the uplitters.
1t would simply be impossible to
harmonic the conflicting, warning
elements of the republican party in
this state. To such extremes have
factional differences carried that
either faction will vote fer the can
didates of the opposition party on
election day if its own particular can
didates at the primary are not made
the party nominees. Under such
conditions aggravated by the dis
organizing influences Of the direct
primary-the most effective, harmoni-
zing influence is good licking, and
thousands of sincere republicans
recognize this and are looking to the
Democratic party to live up to the
opportunity afforded this fall by the
peculiar political conditions in this
state.
Nor is it all harmony in the demo-
cratic ranks. While there are not
the factions, cliques and internal dis
sentions, there is not yet enough of
that harmonious patriotic desire to
subordinate self for the good of the
party and the State The disorganiz-
ing influences that have cankered and
loosened republican party ties have
also had their effect on the democratic
party. Being the minority party in
this state and with the opportunity
offered by the primary there has been
too much of disposition to help
along the republican dissentions, and
1t is well known that but for demo-
cratic votes Robert M. LaFollette
could not have been reelected Cover
nor. This disorganizing influence of
the direct primary law has created
an element in the democratic party
to whom the least indication for sue
cess is looked upon as favorable OPP
'portunity for securing office irrespec-
tive of the effect upon the party and
it was largely due to that kind of a
continued spirit in both the demo-
cratic and republican parties that has
resulted in giving Milwaukee a
Socialist city administration
Then again, the doubtful honor of
leading forlorn hope, the require
ment that candidates must announce
themselves with personally con-
Quoted campaign at the primary, the
cost of hired supporters at so much per
and advertising and printing, all this
has not tended to give to the Demo
cratic party the best material as can
didates, and campaigns conducted un-
der such conditions have rather had
the effect of loosening party ties.
These evil influences have gone on
in this state for ten years, and dur
ing that time according to the 1900
census-240, 1878 boys have grown to
manhood in this State and have he
come voters.
What effect have the disorganizing
influences had on these young meni
How many have become strong party
men? How many are democrats
What have we, the older members OF
the party, done and what example
have we set them TO become Suchi
That, too, is an influence to be reck.
| oned with and that cannot be ignored
when we consider the factors and re-
quirements to be met to ensure dem
| ocratic success.
What the effect of this loosening OF
party ties and the lack of interest
and opportunity of the young man tc
identify himself with political
party organization has been, was evil
denced at the recent republican state
convention. The young man was SC
much in the minority that he did not
count-he was most conspicuous by
his absence. The roster of the con
vention read like the roll of member.
ship of an Old Settlers Club-white
hair or no hair was the prevailing
couture of the delegates. The young
man was not there-ten years is a
long time and during this period
there was no one to look up the new
voter to draw him to and interest
him in the party organization; he has
been growing to manhood as an on
locker of party factions, chickering's
and denunciations; politics to him
has been very largely an undignitied
scramble and squabble for the spoils
of Office and qualification of selfish
ends; the more capable and better
fitted for public service the more
ayerse is the young man to enter
such political arena, and We cannot
blame him, for with the experience
of the past ten years We are compelled
though with regret-to admit that
there has been gradual lowering OF
the standard in calibre, character and
ability of candidates for public Office
in this state. This is one of the nat