The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1912-10-03
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 pcogressves-SaYs He VIII
Vote tor Roosevelt.

vote LOT TfOOSeNtIl.
Madison. A statement issued by
Gov. Francis +. 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 eXempll-
fed in recent years is TO conserve ana
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 EOOu NlllEtl" F'icHi' '''f''A'''
whatever difference may tend to dl-
vide them upon other matters. But
it is no reason why they or those VINO
represent them in public station
should now dodge vital national is
sues. II is from this viewpoint that
! shall approach the consideration OF
the national problem, fully according
to others the same freedom OF choice
| claim for myself.
To begin with | cannot advocate
the reelection of Taft and Sherman.
AS progressive Republican ! lind
myself Numerically opposed to al
most everything this ticket repre-
sents. President Taft's administra-
tion has accomplished some good
things; but in the main its history is
a record of political Incompetence
and retrogression. The composition
of President Taft's cabinet as origin
ally made 'p, his political warfare
upon progressive members of Con
gress, in which patronage was admit
teddy used as a club or bribe, the
Balinger 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 Il. l.. Philip and w. -,
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 GuggeGheim and finally
his acceptance Of q denomination in
the very teeth of a nationwide pro-
test, make up record for laundering
subscrvence 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 a sim
gle term he has wrecked a great and
historic political party. As Pro
gressiye ] cannot support him be-
cause he is utterly reactionary and
grows more so every day. Let any
one who doubts this compare his
speech of acceptance four years ago
with the one he recently made at
Washington. If Senator Aldrich or
Joe Cannon ever delivered q 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
unnecessary. The one objection that
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 tho
purchase OF a scnatorship or TO waste
time talking about the right of the
people to rule II this nomination is
TO stand. The proceedings Of the
nominal majority OF the Republican
convention are challenge to the
moral sense and self-resDect 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 and Ib2Zcn defiance Of the re
corded viii Of the people that cannot
be permitted to 70 unrebuked If rep
resentatiye institutions are 10 endure
Nor can ] support the Democratic
ticket. In Woodrow Wilson there Ia
much TO admire lie is clean.
wholesome, gifted and patriotic
American. But he Ia free-trade
Democrat who believes in an anti
quated theory Of states rights and
relies for his election upon the sup
port of boGs-ridden political ma
chimes. As Democrat he In an ad-
yocate OF doctrines which il put ia
effect would cnfeeble the government
at time when strong and efficient
administration is imperatiyely re-
quired
can see 10 prospect OF advantage
10 the Progressive cause in the pos
sible victory OF Wilson over Taft.
Should 1t occur it will be q moral
victory only. In such event the pso-
pie viii have the satisfaction Of hnv.
ing rebuked President Taft for his
reactionary policies, his defiance OF
public opinion, and his alliance with
corrupt bosses; but this viii be all
the good they viii ever get out OF il
There remains the new Progressive
party Whether we judge Il by It's
platform, it's ticket or the compost
ton OF the convention that gave II
birth we are forced to the conclusion
that above everything else IT IS genu.