The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1916-09-01

HAS Governor Phillip made good?
The question is pertinent just now be-
cause of the challenge issued in the
declaration of some of his opponents
that he has not. The. Democrat holds
no brief for the executive and will not
be special pleader for or defender of
his administration; but in the interest
of fairness to an executive who has
been uncompromisingly opposed by
cabal of political pirates it feels i'm
PEELED to write here the view that he
has made good to a remarkable degree.
He has stayed the flood of fadism that
was overwhelming the state and re-
stored to the government sanity and
system that cannot fail In the immedi-
ate future to place the commonwealth
upon business basis. He has estab-
lished order in the business of the state
where before was disorder and chaos.
He has brought to the state, in the
conduct of its affairs, business saga
city that has stopped the ever increas-
ing cost of administr alton and SO far as
possible has established economics that
in the future will result in even great
er savings to the taxpayers than ap
pear at present In spite of a dishon-
est and desperate factional opposition
he has succeeded in actually reducing
the cost of government in the period
of one term of office by nearly million
dollars for the year ending June Both,
1916, as actually shown in the record.
He has brought about start toward
abolishing the old state debt that for
more than half century has called for
the payment of reat interest charge,
amounting to more than $157, 600 an
nually He has established many
economics through the cooperation of
loyal men whom he has appointed to
office and made plans for the further
extension of these economics in the
future. And these things, and others
that could be enumerated, have been
accomplished by Governor Phillip even
in the face of an opposition that con-
tinues entrenched in the statehouse and
the activity of piratical cabal that by
devious ways managed largely to con-
troll the processes of legislation. 1t is
true that Governor Phillip has failed
to accomplish some of the things he
promisd in his first campaign for cleo
ton, but the reasons for these failures
was chiefly, that he did not understand
the character of the opposition OPP
position which, while the legislature
was in session, even went to the ex
IRENE of refusing to sanction legisla
ton proposed to reduce the cost Of
government by reducing appropriations
upon the recommendation of heads of
departments. No candidate was ever
known to accomplish all the things he
promised many have failed to keep a
single promise and yet have been pro-
claimed paragons by their partisans.
When LaFollette was first elected gov
ernor he promised to do many things
that he failed utterly to accomplish and
yet his failure was endorsed at the
next election. President Taft failed
aud SO did all of his predecessors to do
all the things which the platforms of
their times proposed. However much
The Democrat may disagree with some
of the things that Governor Philip has
done, however much it may be inclined
to oppose some of the things he has
proposed for the future, it feels that in
justice to an executive who has striven
honestly and faithfully for the public
veal these things should be said in his
support. Madison Democrat.