Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1916-02-08


of.
L fell. We made some stirring
speeches on the way down to Madison
in our sleepers. l think l made the
best speech of my life, when l pointed
out the sacrifices / had made for the
party welfare, from the days of the
organization of the original 18th
Story League to the present day. l
reverted to that sorrowful organiza-
tion because l had learned on the
quiet that it was to be revived and
that | would probably be called upon
to perform the strenuous labors that
had laid down when we closed up
our headquarters in the old Hermann
building. All, those were fat days,
and the coin of the realm was not so
hard to get. That was where | got
my start, but my mistake was in be-
lieVing that it would last perpetu-
ally. That was the mistake of all of
US. Some were even more unfortu-
nate than myself. They have had to
go to work
AS the dome of the capitol loomed
before us, we were filled with joyful
anticipations. Had not the governor
recently been our guest, and had he
not at that time told us what good
fellows we were? l gathered in some
of this bouyancy myself, and a jaunti-
ness l had not felt in years possessed
me, as l recollected how nearly | had
come to being the governor of this
great commonwealth. And then l
blushed to think how much better l
would have performed. l had prOmiS-
ed economy. With me, the original
discoverer, economy was a passion.
With him who became governor it
had been merely a promise, a prom
ise given with no intention of being
kept, and which in fact had never
been kept. If | had been governor,
it would not have been necessary to
go about the state making excuses
and with tears in my eyes, blaming
the wicked progressives for my fail
ure to keep my promises. I wondered
if these thoughts were not beginning
to come to the voters, if it might not
be possible for me to carry off the
honors that should have been mine
two years ago.
When these thoughts surged
through my brain, had not yet seen
the governors new road roller. This
convention was pulled off for his es-
pecial benefit. We as a delegation
had about as much show in the con-
vention as the ordinary rural dele
gate did in the good old days. In
those days we had look in. At Mad
ison, even this was denied us.
The governors lieutenants informed
us that the principal business of this
convention was to restore power to
the hands of the rightful rulers, to
destroy LaFolletteism and LaFollette,
to select a delegation to the Nation
al convention that could be relied up
on not to stray after Teddy, Bob or
any other unsafe candidate. 1t was
also intimated that the governor
might want the job of u. S. Senator.
If he took it, he wanted it handed to
him on a golden platter. Did not the
legislature some years ago hand the
same Job to LaFollette on a silver
platter? Now he wanted to go them
one better. This did not seem so bad
to me. In fact | liked the idea, al
though It nearly killed some of our
delegation, You see if Philips de-
cides to take the nomination for Sem
ator. it may be that his mantle will
descend upon Me. | was the logical
candidate two years ago. / am will
ling to concede this. All, things be-
gin to have a rosy aspect. The more
/ think of it, the better it seems to
me. 1t is the first evidence of states
manship the governor has shown.
He is an astute politician. Had he
let the matter come to a vote at Mad
ison, he would have been beaten, and
my hopes for recognition would have
been spoiled.
/ never fully appreciated what a pa
triot Senator Hudnall was until af-
ter | had time to collect my thoughts
and viewed the sQuashed remains of
the glorious phalanX from Marathon
county, noting with what exceeding
skill their hides had been removed.
AS a coup | consider it even superior
to the one LaFollette pulled off at the
opera house here a few years ago,
when he removed sundry hides and
/ hung them up on the curtain for in
spection. Bob's attack then had been
expected, and his flaying had been
done with a knife, leaving more or
/ less gore i'm its wake, but the Philips
machine had done its work cleanly.
/ There was no sign of gore and dis
membered hides. Just a fattened
+ boom.
/ In view of the unexpected develop
ments of the last few days, it is pos
sible that may appeal TO the voters,
TO the rabble, and take my chances in
the primary, that thing abhorred by
all good-office hunters.
/ Col. III. o. Tair.