Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1918-10-24
WAR RECORD OF
Phillip SCORED
GREEN BAY MAN REFUSES
APPOINTMENT BY
GOVERNOR
VIII Not Accept Honor From Execu,
tive Whose Leadership Failed
in Time of Crisis, Is Reply
to Proffered Place.

Because Of his profound Disagree
ment with the utterances Of Gov
Philip with regard to war policiesi
and preparations, and his disapprovar
Of the stand the governor has taken'
on a number Of occasions, P. H. MARI
tin, Green Bay. has declined to accept
from the governors hands an ap-
pointment as delegate to the confer
ence on federal, state and local taxa
ton.
Opposes Governors Reelection.
In letter received from the COVER
nor Oct. 18th, 1918, Mr.. Martin re-
piled on Oct. 14th, 1918, declining the
commission, Mr.. Martin says he does
not feel that he can receive an hon
orary appointment at time when he
is speaking severely in condemnation
of the governors course, and actively
striving to bring about his defeat for
reelection. Mr.. Martins letter in part
is as follows:
"I would not feel justified in accepting
honor at your hands while continuing
public criticism Of your record as my
sense Of duty impels. 1t seems that you
should have appreciated this, since 1t
is known to you that I have spoken
publicly and frequently and very en-
phatcally in condemnation OF your
record, and I must preserve this free-
dom Of action uninfuenced by any
honor you can bestow, since it is my
purpose to contribute all that | may to
defeat your election. Not, indeed, be-
since measured by the spirit and vision
of Lincoln and millions OF other
patriotic Republicans you fall far short
of the requirements of the hour. IN TINS
r I~Off oh
Jbe defeated merely because he is a Re-
publican or elected merely because ne
is a Democrat. Let their records 1urnlsh
the acid test. So far as l know you
demnation Of the brutal excuses or the
Prussianized German government. II
has murdered our citizens, attempted
to strangle our commerce, conspred on
American soil to perpetrate deeds OF
violence made propaganda to supVert
and corrupt the allegiance OF our c1tl-
gems, sought to coerce the pollcy OF our
government: outraged all the avs ins,,n or
war and Of humanity, yet, no ringing
protest has ever been uttered by our
executive.
"Where we had a right to look for
leadership there was humiliating Sill
ence. In the presence OF TINS 1nsuit 10
this menace to the trust that we or TINS
generation must protect and hand down.
you utterly failed us.
Course Meant Allied Defeat.
.You favored an embargo, knowing
that 1t meant panic at home, the starVa-
ton of the victims OF Prussian nrutalty
order Of the allies and the consequent
triumph Of brute power. Truly, tnen
Germany would stand no nonsense from
America, it would take care of US when
the allies had been defeated. Then
what, Mr.. Philip?
''When accommodating insult and In
Jury spurred America to draw the sword
In defense OF our tbe r c9ni,zaton Of the
world, you faltered in duty and opposed
the declaration Of war by active e1torts.
Did you believe then that we had no
Just and adequate cause for war, or
did you lack the American VISION,
courage and sense Of duty or did you
lack sympathy with our cause or ala
you sympathize with Germany
posed conscription, though you must
have known that 1t was necessary,
democratic and just. You opposed
sending our troops abroad TO the Only
place where they could strike the enemy
and execute the will Of America. Such
craven attitude in the presence or IN
suit, injury and menace Is not IN RGep-
ing with American TRADITION ana t. l fau
"Your antagonism was doomed to ran.
The shirt of America had asserted 1tselr:
We had interpreted the vision and 1deal
Of Washington, Jefferson, Adams, JACK
SON. Hamilton anu Tic 6ICehI 1IiAi""1
md we are today proudly conscious OF
the heroism Of our sons In the discharge
of dangerous, but patriotic duty.
War Record Is Repudiated.
"Under these circumstances, do you
expect to gain position or honor Wh1l6
our sons hold positions of danger? Your
self-seeking is, in my Judgment. an in,
suit to the memory of our dead and g.
nockery Of the efforts of the living: NO
vote catching pretenses. no
egotistical claim of credit for what Wis
consin has done, no glory borrowed OF
the heroism Of the Thirty-second and
other American divisions, no belated re-
pentance should obscure this your record.
You are a war governor, indeed, but
with a record never to be forgotten. one
already repudiated by thousands ire
spective of party, and to be repudlateo,
let us hope, by other thousands. These
and other things in your record beget
in me such strong resentment that II
am constrained to return you herewith
your proffered commission"