Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1914-07-01
THE STATE CONVENTION.

Tuesday of last week, was attended
by over five hundred earnest men from
all parts of the state, who feel that
the situation of affairs in Wisconsin,
IS such as demands a change in policy
and the placing the state government
IN the control of men who will put a
check upon the paternalism and
bureaucracy through which the state,
with its numerous commissions and
boards, sends out its emissaries from
Madison in a system of supervision
and offensive interference in private
and municipal business, and should
give back to the people larger right
for home rule in the management of
their local affairs; for policy that
will give US a more economical adj.
Eninistration of state government and
put an end to the growing burdens of
taxation, that have increased 400
per cent since 1900 while population
mas only increased II per cent; to
protest against the activity of the
university in politics and demand that
the faculty thereof shall devote their
time to the university and not be
otherwise employed uHder pay; and
for the nomination of candidates for
state offices who will be in accord
with such sentiments.
The platform adopted is in no sense
extreme, and contains much that will
appeal to the judgment of men whose
minds are not warped by partisan
prejudice.
The Milwaukee Journal, which is
known as the most bitter of the state
press in its attitude toward conserva-
&ism, which it universally refers to
as "toryism," has some very good
things to say of the convention, not
only in its report thereof, written by
a staff correspondent, but editorially
as we'll. 1t says:
The convention and spirit in which
Mt was conducted has raised the cues
ton in the minds of thoughtful men as
to whether it does not mark the be-
ginning of the end in their internal dis
senSiOns and divisions, and point new
political alignment.
1T was certain that sooner or later
the self-respecting young republicans
c0f Wisconsin, who believe in conserva-
tive republicanism would protest against
the prostitution of their wing of the
party through alliance with tory demo-
Gratis This protest was sounded at the
convention and it was the the stand
ing out feature of the whole gath.
yering. 80 49, -
That Mr.. Philip, (the man whom
the convention named for governor), is
q man Of unusual ability is an undoubted
fact. Active in politics as he is he does
not believe in bossism. That sort of
HbIag is repugnant to him. Probably this
twas the first Embossed convention
: which many who attended it had ever
seen. III 1T had been more bossed some
of its results would have been better
The convention deserves the re-.
sspect OF the state as a straightfor-
ward meeting of those republicans who
hold to old ideas of the purpose and
policies of government. In leadership
and spirit it honestly represented these
men. tllhe ticket nominated is COM
ipesed of worthy men,
Some of the planks in the platform
are very much like the declarations
adopted by the nOn-partisan conven-
tlOns held in this and other counties
East winter. Extravaganza and In
creased taxation, state interference
IN municipal and private affairs and
the activity of the state "bill
factory" in proposing and directing
Iegisiation were the principal things
opposed by those gatherings. This
non-partisan movement is yet to be
heard from, and what it will try to
accomplish is likely to have an i'm
9ortant bearing upon election results
Ehis fall. One effect of the move
1aent, however, is very apparent at
Ghe present time. Every man,
regardless of what faction he re-
presents, who has thus far in the
present campaign come before the
public as a candidate for Office, has
felt called upon to admit that taxa
f1ion has gone too far and that
Eetrenchment is necessary. In spite
OF the defiant attitude they took at
first, their penial that taxes were too
high, and the assertion that they
would be still higher; their con-
6emptuous allusion to the complaints
Of the burdened taxpayers who dared
20 voice protest thereat as
barbaric yawpers, j." every man jack
of them now is ready to admit that
the pendulum has swung too far in
the direction of extravaganza and
that lower appropriations must here
after be the rule.
With six or seven candidates for
governor asking the support of the
people this year some surprising
things are likely to occur, and the
zaspirants for high office have many
anxious hours ahead of them on the