The Watertown news. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1917-1919, 1917-11-09
THE SENATORIAL SITUATION
BRINGS OUT LETTER

ten the following communication to
W. S. Goodland, secretary of the Wis
consin Patriotic Press association,
which has adopted resolutions in op-
position to temporary appointment
of United States senator.
Il have just opened and read your
circular Of Nov. 5, and shall comply
with your request for a reply by re-
turn mail.
In the first place l will say that 1
can see no rational reason for all the
clamor that is being made for the
holding of an election to prove to the
people of the nation that Wisconsin is
loyal The very proposition you put
forth, stated in the terms you employ,
is an insult to this loyal state. AL
ready, as result of the ill-timed agi-
tatlon you and others are carrying on,
papers outside the state ure printing
faring headlines, declaring "Wiscon-
sins Loyalty in Doubt" "Test to be
Made of Wisconsins Loyalty" and
the like
"As loyal citizen of this state l
resent the imputation you are helping
to put upon this loyal commonwealth.
Wisconsin has shown it's loyalty in
many ways and will continue to show
it in every manner the situation calls
for, if we intellectually bend our
efforts to the legitimate activities on
patriotic lines demanded by the war
situation
Gov. Philip has clearly given his
reasons for desiring to make AN ap-
pointment and to deny that they are
at least worthy of careful considera-
ton is not to show the broad-minded
spirit to be expected of an editor in
these critical times. You say in your
letter that the people of Wisconsin
are overwhelmingly loyal, yet you
hold that to meet certain vague and
irresponsible charges by persons out
side the state it is necessary to hold
an election to prove that it is loyal.
Your position, it seems to me, is
not only untenable, it is most often
sive. Patriotism in this crisis con-
sists not in lip service, but in things
actually accomplished for our coun-
try. These things Wisconsin will con-
tinue to do in spite of La Toilette and
his satellites, in spite of socialists or
pacifists and in spite of disloyalists of
whatever stripe.
Your plan would simply give these
people the hearing that they crave
The so-called Peoples council was
driven from city to city in it's efforts
to hold convention. No community
would tolerate them. Yet you would
make the entire state of Wisconsin
rostrum from which the whole dis
loyal crew could expound their re-
pulsive doctrines"
These are days when the energies
OF all our people should be conferred
on the support of the national govern
ment and its stupendous tasks. To dis
tract the attention of the people from
these duties, to encourage the dissi-
patton of their energies in useless
wrangling, is not the part of patriot
ism. Remember, these disloyal ele-
ments thrive upon publicity and wax
fat upon dissention. You will not de-
crease the number of disloyalists or
diminish their influence by the agita
ton you are carrying on or by the
holding of two campaigns in which
their propaganda would be given full
sway. 1t must be very clear that the
effect would be rather the opposite.
The criticisms of Wisconsin by
persons living outside the state are.
SO far as | am aware, based wholly
upon the attitude of Senator La Fol
lette. To charge the people of the state
with responsibility for his personal
views, voiced after and not before his
election, is so Outrageously unjust to
our citizens as to require no rejoind-
er other than that which has been
made and is being made in the hearty
and loyal support of the government
in all things pertaining to the war.
Personally 1 am happy to say that I
did not contribute to the election of
Senator La Toilette, which is more
than may be said by men who are
high in the councils which adopted
the resolution that you sent me.
LUZ Iulo ID o. tlL1c LII WHICH all per-
sonal political prejudices should be
overlooked and forgotten and 1 very
much regret to say that in the recent
discussion of the governors sugges-
ton have noted expressions that be-
tray small and petty animus In his
position I do not question in the least
Gov. Philips patriotic motive.
l sincerely believe he desires to do
what is best for the country. I do not
question your own good faith, but at
this juncture a warning may not be
untimely against the disastrous re-
suits that would ensue from allowing
personal prejudices to get the upper
hand. We must all be Americans and
forget old factional and partisan diff
ferences.
my own desires is, first that a pa
triotic and able American of no mat
ter what party be chosen to succeed
Senator Husting, and second, that
the traitors within our borders be
given no unnecessary opportunity to
be heard and spread their influence
have every faith that Gov. Philip
would, if given authority to make
temporary appointment, name such
man as | have Indicated II this were
done, affairs would go on quietly as
before and all the turmoil which
would be certain to bring Wisconsin