Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1912-10-04
GOVERNOR FAvORs
The PROGREss|VES
'acGovern Gives Out Statement
Making Known His Stand.
SCORES TAFT AND WILSON
OeclsFss That Neither of Them Are
Capable OF Demanding Support of
the Progressives-Says He Viii
Vote for Roosevelt.

Madison.--A statement issued nv
Gov. Francis e. McGoyern. in which
he announces his support of Col.
Roosevelt for president, is in part as
follows:
AS the head of the Republican
state ticket / feel that the people of
Wisconsin are entitled to a plain
statement concerning my attitude on
national issues. The split in the Re-
publican party which resulted in plac-
ing Two national tickets in the field
can no longer be ignored.
The paramount duty of the people
of Wisconsin is to promote their own
welfare. The first business of those
who believe in the high civic ideals
their state has espoused and exempli-
he'd IN recent years is to conserve and
still further advance what has been
SO we'll begun. The Progressive move
ment must not be checked or defeat
ed here at home. Not in form mere
ly but In substance and spirit it must
go on. This is common ground upon
which all good citizens should stand,
whatever difference may tend to di-
vide them upon other matters But
it is no reason why they or those who
represent them in public station
should now dodge vital national is
sues. 1t is from this viewpoint that
l shall approach the consideration of
the national problem, fully according
to others the same freedom of choice
l claim for myself.
To begin with l cannot advocate
the reelection of Taft and Sherman.
AS a progressive Republican / find
myself Numerically opposed to al
most everything this ticket repre-
sents. President Taft's administra-
ton has accomplished some good
things; but in the main it's history is
record of political incompetence
and retrOgression. The composition
of President Taft's cabinet as origin
ally made up, his political warfare
upon progressive members of Con-
gress, in which patronage was admit
tedly used as a club or a bride, the
Ballinger episode, the Charles R.
Crane fiasco, the passage of the
Payne-Aldrich tariff law, the Winona
speech endorsing this betrayal of par
ty pledges, his dismissal of Clifford
Pinchot from the public service, his
interference in the politics of Wiscon-
sin two years ago through the So
called telephone convention" engi-
neered by e. l.. Philip and w ID.
Conner, his vetoes of the wool, cot
ton, and steel tariff bills, his advo-
cacy of the Aldrich currency scheme,
his political alliance with Senator Al
drich, Joe Cannon, Boss Barnes, and
Senators Penrose, Murray Crane,
Smoot and Guggenheim and finally
his acceptance of denomination IN
the very teeth of nationwide pro-
test, make up record for laundering
subservience to selfish special inter-
ests, reactionary personal inclination
and reckless defiance of the popular
will unexampled in the history of the
presidential office. AS a Republican
| cannot support President Taft be-
cause within the brief period of sim
gle term he has wrecked great and
historic political party. AS FRO
gressive | cannot support him be-
cause he is utterly reactionary and
grows more so every day. Let any
one who doubts this compare MS
speech of acceptance four years ago
with the one he recently made at
Washington. If Senator Aldrlch or
Joe Cannon ever delivered more
standpat address it has escaped my
IL. he NANeA
the people and is utterly untitled to
lead them.
But multiplication of reasons is
unnecessary. The one objection that
he was not honestly renominated ana
is not now rightly the head or the
Republican ticket is enough. His re-
nomination was stolen. l was IN the
convention and saw it done. lt is
idle to split hairs about minor
wrongs. to bother about the deDaucn-
ing of common councils, to resent the
purchase of a senatorship or to waste
time talking about the right OF the
people to rule if this nomination Is
to stand. The proceedings or the
nominal majority of the Republican
convention are a challenge to the
moral sense and self-respect OF every
member of the party. Not alone was
there dishonesty in the seating OF
delegates: there was fragrant ana
outrageous disregard of public opln-
ion and brazen defiance OF the re-
corded will of the people that cannot
be permitted to go unrebuked IL rep
resentative institutions are to enoure.
Nor can / support the Democralic
ticket. In woodrow wilson theIe 10
much to admire. He is clean'
wholesome, SulSu ahu P's
American. But he is free-traae
Democrat who believes in an anti,
Quated theory of states rights anu
relies for his election upon the sup
port of boss-rioden polltlcai ma
chimes. AS a Democrat he is an al
vocate of doctrines which II put IN
effect would enfeeble the government
at a time when strong and ericlenl
administration is imperatlveV re-
Quired,
/ can see no prospect of ADVANTAGE
to the Progressive cause In the pos
sible victory of Wilson over laIt;
Should it occur it will be morai
victory only. IN such event the peo-
pie will have the satisfaction OF nav
Ing rebuked President Tart Tor ms
reactionary policies, his defiance OF
public opinion, and his alliance win
corrupt bosses; but this will De al
the good they viii ever get out OF IL.
There remains the new Progressive
party. Whether we judge II Dy lts
platform. its ticket or the COMPOSE
ton of the convention that gave lt
b;rtb we ore forced to the conclusion