The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1914-10-15
FREAK LEGISLATION HURTfUL
Officials of the League Declare That
People Are Demanding Relief From
Burdensome Politics and from Heavy
Tax Levies on the Part of the State.

That the people of Wisconsin are
overgoverned and overtaxed is the
statement by the Wisconsin Home Rule
and Taxpayers League in letter be-
ing sent out to voters, regardless OF
party urging them to demand the re-
peal of obnoxious laws. By doing
away with some of the commissions
members of the league believe the
government can be simplifed and
run more econmically. The letter
follows:
To the Voters of Wisconsin,
Now that the campaign of 1914 is
on, the Home Rule and Taxpayers
League comes to you with an earnest
appeal for thoughtful, unselfsh and
patriotic action The candidates have
all been nominated. The platforms
have been adopted. The leaders are
in the field asking your support. Pru-
dence requires that you consider care
fully men and measures. Common hon
esty and good citizenship require that
you approve of and support those gov
ernmental policies that will in your
Judgment be best for all our citizens,
and that you vote for those candidates
who are most competent and capable,
and whom you can fully trust to be
loyal to you when once they are cloth
ed with power.
People Demand Relief.
Do not let narrow partisanship
either dim your vision or influence
your action. A few things are plain
to all. The people of Wisconsin are
! overgoverned. They are overtaxed.
There are too many officials. If there
is any truth in the statement That
government is best that governs least =
then our people have a right to protest
against the present condition of things;
and they do protest. They demand a
change. They demand relief from ex-
cessive taxation. They demand the
repeal Of obnoxious laws that deprive
them Of the right to manage their own
private business, to have voice in all
matters of local self government. They
resent the constant, unnecessary, eff
fensive interference of petty officials.
They believe in genuine, intelligent
democracy-that is, in government
ftof, for, and by the people. - The
league believes that we have drifted
away from such a government. We
have been, and now are plagued with
swarm of experts, specialists, and in
spectors, whose services are not needed,
whose activities demoralize business,
and exasperate our most enterprising
| citizens, and whose salaries and ex-
penses, constantly increasing, eat out
the substance of the people.
Too Much Freak Legislation.
Not only are our statutes overload
ed with freak legislation, but our con
stitution is in danger. Political folly
and partisan prejudice have combined
in an attempt to make our fundamental
law the receptacle of every fad and
fancy that afflicts the legislative tyro.
Wisconsin has grown; our people have
prospered; genuine progress has been
made under the constitution as it is,
as the men who founded the state
framed it. Do not permit those who
are responsible for the present condi-
tion of things in this state to tamper
with that organic law in and by which
the people are protected, and all their
rights secured. They have done harm
enough already. From all parts of the
state the demand comes for a repeal of
some of the foolish, unjust laws we
now have, instead of adding mischiev-
Gus amendments to the constitution.
We shall discuss these proposed
amendments, and show the dangers
they threaten, and the injustice that
would result from their adoption.
Lower Taexs Demanded.
To every voter, regardless of party,
we send this message: Whenever and
wherever members Of the league have
met they have invariably and unani-
mously demanded lower taxes fewer
commissions, less interference by petty
officials in the private business affairs
of our people, and larger measure of
local self-government. They believe
our government can be simplifed, and
run more economically, and that what
ever our people can do themselves in
the management of their local Affairs
they ought to be permitted to do, with
out interference by or G-ctation from,
any higher power.
See to it that in your different local.
ties the principles of the league are
clearly understood, and that support is
given only to those candidates who are
thoroughly in sympathy with US.
Committee of the League.
The league has headquarters in room
j, Marston block, Madison. Charles
L. Pierce of GAINESVILLE is president.