Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1912-10-08
GOVERNOR FAvORs
THE PR0GREsS|vES
McGovern Gives Out Statement
Making Known His Stand
SCORES TAFT AND WILSON
Declares That Neither of Them Are
Capable of Demanding Support OF
the Progressives-Says He VIII
Vote for Roosevelt.

Capable of Demanding Support OF
the Progressves-Says He VIII
Vote for Roosevelt.
Madison-A statement issued by
Gov. Francis e. McGovern. 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 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-
ted 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
1t 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
| shall approach the consideration of
the national problem, fully according
to others the same freedom of choice
l claim for myself
To begin with | 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
a 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 bride, the
Ballinger episode, the Charles R.
Crane tiasco, the passage of the
Payne-Aldrich tariff law, the Winona
speech endorsing this betrayal of par
" 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" esgi-
neered by e. l.. Philipp and w. D.
Conner, his vetoes of the wool, cot
ton. and steel tariff bills, his advo-
cacy of the Aldrieh 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 III
the very teeth of a nationwide pro-
test, make un a 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
l cannot support President Taft be
cause within the brief period of sin
gle term he has wrecked a great and
historic political party AS a Pro-
gressive i cannot support him be-
cause he is utterly reactionary and
grows more so every day. Let any
speech of acceptance four years ago
with the one he recently made at
Washington. If Senator Aldrich or
Joe Cannon ever delivered a more
standpat address it has escaped my
attention. He profoundly distrusts
the people and is utterly untitled to
lead them.
But multiplication of reasons is
Tho ono ohiartfop rhat
he was not honestly renominated and
is not now rightly the head of the
Republican ticket is enough His re-
nomination was stolen | was in the
convention and saw it done. 1t is
idle TO split hairs about minor
wrongs, to bother about the debauch-
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 of the
nominal majority of the Republican
convention are challenge 20 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 and
outrageous disregard OF public opin-
ION anu uTdISA uSudICe VI the re-
corded will of the people that cannot
be permitted to so unrebuked if rep
resentative institutions are to endure.
Nor can | support the Democratic
ticket. In Woodrow Wilson there is
much to admire. He is a clean,
wholesome, gifted and patriotic
American. But he is a free-trade
Democrat who believes in an anti
quated theory OF states rights and
relies for his election upon the sup
port of boss-ridden political ma
Yooate of doctrines which if put in
effect would enfeeble the government
at time when strong and efficient
administration is imperatiyely re
Quired.
can see no prospect of advantage
to the Progressive cause in the pos
sible victory of Wilson over Taft.
Should il occur il will be a moral
victory only. In such event the peo-
pie will have the satisfaction of hay
ing rebuked President Taft for his
reactionary policies, his defiance of
public opinion, and his alliance with
corrupt bosses; but this will be all
the good they viii ever get out of it.
There remains the new Progressive
marty. Whether we Judge 1t by its
platform, it's ticket or the compost
ton of the convention that gave IL
birth we are forced TO the conclusion
that above everything else it is genu-