The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1915-12-23

or injure the present state officers.
They are only doing what the state
officers before them have always
done. But for the purpose of bring
ing home to you the great need of
organization among ourselves, that
we may force, through the power of
the vote at least, our state officers to
recognize us and if possible, help us
in building of the Great North
Country. Organization is necessary.
If North Wisconsin was organized,
we could dominate every legislative
session from this time on, on every
single matter of interest to Northern
Wisconsin.
will cite to you a couple of per-
sonal experiences to show that we
are not even taken seriously by our
state officers. In 1913 | had some
part in passing law, known as the
State Loans to Farmers which
provided the loaning of the Trust
Funds of the State, amounting, to
about 5000, 900. 90 year, to settlers.
Said loans to be inspected and APP
proved by state officers and not to
exceed SO per cent of the farm
value, and to be made only for one of
three purposes -buying of live stock,
buildings, or clearing land. Our
state treasurer, secretary of state and
the attorney general are the officers
in charge of these funds. And,
though | know, and have had letters
from several farmers who have made
application for one of these loans,
not one of them has ever been made.
And the people who have written
me, claim that they have nev er
had an answer to their applications.
And these funds continue to be
loaned to municipalities on bonds,
etc., at per cent interest to the
state, whereas, on the farm loans
proposed, we are willing the state
should collect per cent. Does
this seem fair?
Again: An officer in the State
House told me, while in his Office on
legislative matters, that he really
felt it wise state policy to keep this
lake, stresm and forest country in
tact and natural in its wildness. He
said he believed that it was worth
more to the state, as an attraction
to the outside sport lovers, than it
would ever amount to as an agricul-
tural district.
Do you wonder that a man feels
like whipping something, or some
body when they dare talk direct to
you like that?
1t reminds me of little verse
read somewhere, describing fight
ing lumber-jack. 1t ian something
something like this:
"They rolled him out of the blan-
kets, out into the light,
His eyes were red with the tears
he had shed,
And now he wanted to fight.
Screaming a stream of curses,
He struck as he raved and swOre,
He Aoored Joe Lacrosse, and
the swapping boss,
And announced he was ready for
more"
Now that was about my feeling |
then, and time has not changed it
much. We fellows here in Northern
Wisconsin have got to organize and
fight, and we will be spit on, until
we do. And, this meeting is good
step in the right direction.
The young fellows teaching, prac-
ticing medicine, law, agriculture and
horticulture, all have their problems,
and they should have state aid and
encouragement, not just a Thank
You" for your vote. And we can
make them give us what we desire
if we will all band together and
through the officers of these different
organizations and our northern press
demand our due, knowing that we
are going to have the backing of our
members in the legislature and the
votes all over the north to enforce
our demands.
The old lumber kings, through
their workmen and the caucus used
to do it. We fellows through organ
ization, the press and the primary
can do it again.