The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1914-08-21
To the Voters OF Wisconsin:

The Home Rule and Taxpayers
League comes to you with another
message. The battle of the primaries
is on. Scores of candidates have filed
petitions asking that their names be
presented to you as representatives OF
their respective parties at the coming
election. Can you distinguish between
them? They may be classified as those
who are constantly seeking office, and
those whom the office has sought; as
those who have put themselves for
ward, and those whom the people have
put forward; as those who think the
people ought to do something for them,
and those who prefer private life, but
respond to the call of public service as
a duty. The League admOnishes you
to be careful in making the selection.
1t is not matter of party or faction.
1t is not a matter of furnishing an
enemy or rewarding a friend. 1t is not
a matter of political maneuvering for
advantage in some future contest. 1t
is solely matter of selecting the best
and truest men to serve Wisconsin now.
Never before in the history of Wis
consin were the people of this state so
profoundly stirred, so firmly and stern
" determined to right existing wrongs
and remedy past evils, to discharge
faithless and incompetent servants.
You cannot afford to make mistake
now. Let no small prejudice, no un-
worthy motive. no petty favoritism in
fuence you at the primary election.
The only thought should be how best
to serve the state, how to weed out I'M
necessary officials, how to abolish some
of the obnoxious laws that have been
recently enacted.
Another matter: In selecting candi-
dates, be careful to distinguish be-
tween those who are responsible in any
degree for the present condition of
things, and those who had no part in
such work, but on the contrary, con-
stantly protested against it. Let those
who got US into orr present trouble
stay at home. Do not a second time
trust those who have been Indifferent
to your welfare, who have betrayed
the trust committed to them. Select
men free from completely 'in past
wrongs, men who do not wear some
leaders tag, who will honestly and
fearlessly represent you.
Much has been said, and is now be-
ing said, about progress, progress
siveS," ETC., as if those words had
not universally known that it is these
so-called 'progressives" who are re-
sponsible for our present high taxes,
excessive commission government, and
the many other evils from which our
people are suffering. Is it progress to
increase taxation until in some in
stances it amounts to confiscation? Is
it progress to destroy local self-govern-
ment and build up in the state capitol
a bureaucracy as offensive as it is I'M
necessary? Is it progress to multiply
officials until, as in some of the offices
in the state capitol, they are almost as
thick as matches in box? Is it prog
ress to take from the people the right
and the power to build their own roads,
to run and manage their own schools,
to levy their own taxes, and to do
manv other things that from the found
alton of our state our people always
have done? Is it progress to spend in
the building Of some roads over $12, 00O
a mile when there is absolutely no eX-
cuse for such expenditure, and when
all men know that, if such a system OF
road building were to become general,
it would bankrupt the state?
The League calls your attention tC
these facts, and asks you to carefully
scrutinize the list of names submitted
to you at the primary election; that
you strike out those who are, or have
been responsible for our present higl
taxes, centralized government, and al
army of unnecessary office holders, anC
that you select those whom you cal
trust to give the people much needed
relief.
COMMITTEE OF THE LEAGUE.