Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1913-10-30
LOOKING AHEAD.

good grasp on the Democratic situation
in Wisconsin. In recent letter he
says
The Democratic leaders are plan
ming to be very careful about the steps
they take in the coming campaign.
There is at the present time more OF an
outlook for harmonious Democracy in
Wisconsin than there has been before
in many years. The leaders Of the
Democracy think that If the party is
not wrecked between now and election
by fractional troubles there is very little
question that it will carry the next
election. In event of Democratic
state ticket being elected, the outlook
is also that the next legislature will be
Democratic. This does not mean as
much, however, as it would in previous
sessions, for the reason that the people
now elect the United States senator and
this task does not devolve upon the
legislature.
so far rs the election of senator il
concerned, it is belief of the Demo
cratic leaders that there is very little
question but that the next United States
senator will be Democrat. 1t il said
that even should the Democrats not
carry the state administration election,
the party will likely land its senatorial
candidate. The majority Of the Demo
cratic leaders seem perfectly aware that
it would be the height Of folly for the
Democratic party not to name candi-
dates who are progressive for all their
nominations.
The talk Of the Democratic leaders at
the present time il all for harmony
program. 1t is recognized, however.
that there are many stumbling blocks
in the way of this harmony program
and it may be that before the primary
occurs it will be impossible to bring
about Democratic harmony. Certainly
it will be If the party dominates candi-
dates who are not progressive in the
best sense Of tae word, Anything like
the acceptance of "A conservative cand
date would be just as strongly rebuked
by the Democratic rank and file in the
coming campaign as it would be In the
past. The Democrats have good
opportunity for victory in the cleo
ton this fall if they stick to Demo
cratic principles, but the result will be
"A repetition Of past defeats If the old
time conservative lineups are permitted
again.
The Democratic rank and file Is not
conservative nor does it mix well with
plans for receiving the stalwart Re
publican vote 1t has been the fnult in
several past elections that the Demo
cratic party has thought more of the
results that would accrue from retain
ing the stalwart Republican vote than
it has of keeping its own votes within
its party ranks.
One of the faults of the Democracy
has been that here have been a number
of leaders in the party who have been
utterly unable to read the signs of the
times or seemingly to understand that
the days of long ago can not be brought
back, The Democracy of Wisconsin is
decidedly Wilson Democracy, and if
a Democratic senator replaces Isaac
Stephenson in the United States senate
it must be Democrat whom the
Democrats of Wisconsin believe will be
Wilson supporter after he is elected.
IL the candidate has the support of the
stalwart Republican leaders in the
state he will have AS little show of
election as have most of the Democrats
who have stood for that Office in Wis
consin in the past year, and the Demo
cratic nomination of man who who is
allied with the conservative wings of
either of the old parties, or perhaps to
both of them, cannot receive IN en-.
dorsement in Wisconsin,
The Democratic party has "A splendid
opportunity in the coming campaign
and it is an opportunity which it is to
be hoped will not be wasted. If the
Democratic leadership is wise, also,
personal politics will be forgotten in
the campaign and only real Democracy
will be considered 1t will remain to
be seen, however, whether such state
of affairs can be brought about The
party has the opportunity if it will only
stand by its principles,
The Democrat commends the publ.
cation of the above matter MS II good
Democratic press service.
The lesson which the Democrats of
Wisconsin need most to learn is So
plain that it ought not to require reit
Grafton. They need harmony, But it
must be real harmony. broad and deep.
in the support of true Democratic prin
ciples and policies. AS under the law
the candidates are nominated first and
the platform adopted afterwards, the
candidates should in themselves be u
platform of the right Sort 800 men who
have proved themselves to be forward
looking, level headed men with tn,
courage of their convictions. And wher
the platform is adopted it must be fol