The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1914-04-23

Former Governor w. D. Hoard OF Ft.
Atkinson projected himself into the
state campaign all over the state with
vigor today when voters in every
county received from him letter cry
ing out against conditions as they ex
list in. the state at the present time
Scores1 of these letters were received
in Kenosha this morning. The letter
is in the nature of an open one and it
is a bitter arraignment of present con-
ditions In his letter FGovernor
Hoard says:
To the Voters of Wisconsin,
You are loudly and justly complain
ing of the oppressive and terribly ex-
pcnsiye system of state government
now being imposed on you. Stop!
Look! Listenl We practical citizens
and look at the question in a construc
tive way. For fourteen years you
have been in sort of political night
mare; hypnotized by set f very
shrewd and cunning politicians. You
are the victims of most cunningly
devised system which, from the pri-
mary to the last act of the legislature,
was intended to steal away your poll
tical control over your own affairs;
over your expression of your political
choice of men to serve you, and the
platform which should express what
you want and mean. This stealing
of power from the many to the few"
begins in the primary. Under the old
caucus rule, with all its faults, you
could come together in district and
county conventions and voice your
opinions. Under the primary you are
as silent as the dead. Then, when it
came to the making of platform,
your representatives, or delegates, not
nominees, set forth what you stood
for. Now you have not word to say
The candidates, under the silent con
troll of few political managers, make
the platform and advertise it as your
opinion and expressed will the de
mand of the people" Was there ever
a bigger falsehood, more transparent
humbug, a more plausible cheat, more
complete silencing of the peoples
voice8
Now the System has completely
changed the course of legislation under
its combined leadership with the uni
versity professors. Formerly every
legislature was master of itself and of
ats own procedure, Now we have forty
six rings, called commissions, in which
is concentrated the control over the
nature, purpose and passage or rejec-
ton of every law. Every member of
the senate or assembly you send to
Madison finds that he is powerles5 to
serve his constituents, or his state, in
a truly representative sense he must
come under this commission control or
remain a non-entity, You cannot be
surprised at the effect on him. The
effect finally upon legislation is the
passage of an overwhelming mass Of
crude, illdigested, impracticable as
well as oppressive laws, which of
necessity take an enormous amount of
money ous of your pockets.
Can you not see where the trouble
begins? You, Mr.. Voter, are nothing
but non-entity, and you have consent
ed to your own political emasculation
BY allowing this progressive scheme to
have control. 1t has called itself
republican, bu. it no more re-
sembles republicanism of the Abraham
Lincoln type, than does the rankest So
cialism. IN fact it is plain and un-
adulterated state socialism where the
people are not considered fit to govern
themselves, and must be corralled bv
lot Of INSCRIPTIONS non-tax paving
politicians, and made to pay grievously
for their abandonment of what We
once knew as a safe, sound republican
system of party action and state control.
"Now what shall w do, )" YOU save
First of all, keep this subject in mind
and don't forget it. Next, when YOU
come to the primary, turn out like
men. Don't leave the nomination of
members of the legislature to beg
carly twenty per cent of the party, as
you have done ever since the primary
was established. The primary is bad
in its results, but it is a hundred
times worse when you neglect it and
stay away from it. If a progressive
politician shows his head for office
anywhere, spot him. Let not a sin
gle guilty man escape. Vote him
down in the primary if you can, but
be sure to do so in the final election.
Take no stock in their recent milk and
water professions of economy. That
Is the same sort of progressive cuff
shat you have been fooled with all
along, and which you are paying for
now. Vote out the progressives in
either party. You have hae enough of
them. Put up the conservative men,
Then, whether democrats or repubi-