Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1914-07-29
THE SENATOR SHOWS HIS HAND

For years Senator LaFollette and
Governor McGovern have worked
hand in hand in politics in Wiscon-
sin, and even in the campaign of two
years ago, when the governor was a
candidate for reelection, the senator
advised republicans to support him,
In spite of the fact that coldness
had arisen because McGovern, when
sent to the Chicago national conven-
tion as LaFollette delegate, de-
serted In favor of Roosevelt. Nc
Govern is now a candidate for United
States senator to succeed "Unkle
Ike" Stephenson, while Lieu
tenant Governor Tom Morris, is the
LaFollette candidate for the same
Office. The parting of the ways has
row been reached for these two
statesmen, however, the same as it
mas been reached in other years by
former supporters of LaFollette, like
Hoard, Bancroft, Strange and many
more, and LaFollette in his magazine
comes out with a signed editorial in
which he charges McGovern with
being responsible for the present high
taxes and of a violation of his trust
60 the people when he was elected
governor. In the course of his
editorial the senator says:
There is complaint of high taxes in
Wisconsin this year. There is reason
for it.
The annual appropriations for uni
versity and normal school buildings
were excessive.
THE appropriations for highways
were much beyond the amount which
can be wisely and economically admin
istered.
These appropriations doubtless car
ried with them others which are Justly
open to criticism.
<'Such a course begets waste and
looseness in administration
1T is no excuse to say that it is not
graft; that no dishonesty is charged;
that the money was appropriated for
worthy purposes.
Those who conduct government
assume grave responsibilities. The
appropriation and expenditure of the
peoples money is the execution of a
public trust.
The executive office is clearing
house On appropriations. There is focused
detailed information on all legislation
pending and passed; there the appro-
priations are listed; there the aggre-
gates are known. And there is lodged
the final power in one hand to insure
the passage of an appropriation or to
smite it with a veto that makes an end
of 1t. There are no associates to be
argued with or convinced. There
stands the Executive nnder the consti-
strength the equal of two-thirds of
all the members of both the assembly
and senate combined Whenhe says
This is an unjust tax burden upon
the people, cannot approve it" or
The aggregate of these appropria-
tons VII compel the levy of a state
tax and Is greater than warranted at
this time, return this bill without ex-
ecutive approval for your futher con-
sideration," then the bill is dead as
Julias Caesar"
When the burdened taxpayers arose
In revolt last winter against the un-
precedented increase in appropriations
and extravaganza in conducting state
government, they were called Char
barrie yawpers" by Prof. Adams, of
the tax commission, and told by
other defenders of the state admins
tration that they didn't know what
they were talking about. Now it is
getting around to point where all
of them. are forced to admit that the
people were right about it, and be-
cause they want the votes all of the
candidates are pledging themselves to
a more economical course. There
promises to be shaking up of thin gs
when the voter gets his whack at
some. of them next fall.
tF9ANSON'S REPLY TO NAGLER