Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1916-11-02
WILLIAMS VICTORY
APPEARS CERTAIN
Expose of Philips Sham Economy
Turns All Classes Against Him.

For the first time in "A years indica-
tions point conclusively to the election
Of a Democrat as Governor of Wiscon-
sin. Exposure Of sham economy in
Governor Philips administration of
state affairs during the past two years,
which has vigorously been made by
Burt Williams, Democratic candidate
for governor, has aroused during the
past week the interest of all classes
in state politics. With the election
less than a week away and with the
forceful campaign made by Mr. Will
liams during the past week or ten days,
his unanswered charges that under the
present governor the state finances
would have been bankrupt on October
1st had not Governor Philip made an
appeal to the railroads for over a mil
lion dollars in taxes in advance Of the
time when they were due, have shown
the taxpayers that there are vital is
sues in the state contest.
The election of MI. Williams as gov
ernOr is predicted whether Hughes or
Wilson win out in the national contest
Wilson supporters among the voters
of the state are unanimously for Will
liams, while Republicans, both Pro-
gressive and Stalwart, have manifested
a great deal of dislike for the tactics
which Governor Phillip employed in
securing election in 1914 and his fail
To TO h
After the disclosures that have been
made by Mr.. Williams of the favor
itism shown the railroads, water power
monopolies, the insurance companies,
and other big interests, at the expense
of the taxpayers, and the disclosure
that if Governor Phillip had not taken
appropriations for highway purposes
from the general fund, thereby threat
enlng its bankruptcy, but had secured
them by tax levy, taxes in this state
would have been higher than they ever
were before, the Progressive element
is refusing to follow in the footsteps
of Attorney General Walter C. Owen in
endorsing Governor Phillip. Ovens
condemnation OF Philip before the
primaries has strongly influenced sup
port of Williams. Mr.. Owens present
support of the governor savors too
strongly Of politics to suit even the
formers adherents.
Mr. Williams appeal to the econ
omy" advocates who elected Governor
Phillip and have since realized that
economy was not practiced either in
cutting down the number of commits
sions, the abolition Of high salaried
offices, or in other lines of eXpendi-
ture, by the present state adminiStra-
ton, practically assures his election
Surprising to the voters has been
the refusal Of Governor Phillip to ex-
plain why he was forced to ask the
railroad companies for advance tax
PAYMENTS more than a month before
they were due. The recent report
by State Treasurer Johnson has dis
closed that without these payments
from the railroads in advance, the
state would have been bankrupt Oh
October LIST. Mr.. Williams over wee;
ago demanded to know why the Gov.
ernor in his message to the 1915 leg
islature declared that requesting ad-
vance payments of taxes was to be
condemned and should be stopped and
now has turned around and demon
strated that he did not mean what he
said.
Mr.. Williams definite stand against
favoritism to corporations and against
the excessive lobbying done by them
during the last session of the legis-
Iature, is spreading confidence among
the voters that he should be chosen.
This coupled with the unsavory labor
record Of Governor Philip and his
followers, which called forth vigorous
denunciation by the State Federation
Of Labor, and Mr. Williams program
of definite improvement of the work
mems compensation law, has won for
the latter the support of the grea:
mass of the laboring men Of the state.