The Watertown news. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1917-1919, 1918-02-06

ed when there was no war and who
has since been beyond the reach of the
people?
II that be the situation, then indeed
human judgment has ceased to exist
and that august body the United States
senate, has gone stone blind to every
fact that ought to control it's action.
The trainers of the constitution reas-
oned better. They recognized fully the
inability of the people to reach that
type OF public servants arrer they are
elected, and for that reason made the
senate itself the sole Judge of the
qualifications of it's own members. and
whenever any member of that body
violates his oath Of office or does any,
thing that disqualifies him as a sena-
tor in the eyes Of the senate itself, it
is the sole judge and has the full
power to expel such a senator, and
there is no appeal from it's decision.
l ask further, what has the state of
Wisconsin done, or failed to do that
it's loyalty must now be tested? Fur
thermore, what is going to be the test
of the proposed candidate who is to
elected?
War has been declared. The admin
istration requires no further support
upon that question. The state Is giving
full support to the war So will any
senator who goes to congress from
this state, whether he be elected or
appointed. Are those who stand for
an election going to demand of him
that he agree with the administration
| in every particular regarding the con-
duct Of the war? Or is he going to be
| allowed sufficient latitude to exercise
some judgment? If not, what is he
| there for? If he demands the right to
exercise judgment is that going to be
| satisfactory to the friends of an cleo
ton? If he will be allowed any free
dom where may his judgment begin
and where must it end?
1t would be we'll for the friends of
a senatorial election to draw the speci-
hcations of the senator whom they
wish to elect. 1 have heard none ex-
| cept that he must be loyal. Is it not.
| after all, merely a question whether
he be Republican or Democrat?
Following the Law.
There has been much discussion of
| the seventeenth amendment to the
| Federal constitution and various in
| terpretations have been placed upon
Its meaning. To those who are making
the statement that 1 am violating the
law in not calling a special election
| Immediately l will say that 1 do not
so understand the law.
The constitution and the vitaIizine
| statute clearly give me the right to ex-
ercise my discretion in the matter of
when l shall call an election. 1t would
be full compliance with the law and
the constitution if 1 did not call an
election until next November.
wish to say in the way of explana-
ton that if the right to appoint a
senator is given me such an appoint
ment will hold only until his successor
is elected at the general election next
| November
II any citizen feels that I am vio-
lating the law in not calling a special
election Immediately and wishes to
take issue with me upon that point, l
wish to most respectfully inform him
| that the courts are open to him and if
| the proper tribunal will order me to
| call an election l will give him the
| assurance now that I will comply
with the order fully l have no dispo-
sltlon whatsoever to violate any law
| or dlsObey an order of a court of pro-
per Jurisdiction
| wish to again refer to the question
OF cooperation. appeal to you citi-
zens to give the state and the govern
ment your fullest cooperation. What
ever your thought may have been be-
| lore war was declared by this coun-
try you have only one duty now and
| that is to your own country. No man
can be citizen of two countries, nor
| can any man be citizen of any coun-
Try for which he is not willing to do
his full duty as a citizen. The situa-
ZION is serious. This country cannot
| aHord to lose the fight that we are
engaged in. We must respond if If
takes every last man and the last dol
lar to save us. The government will
want your young men They must go.
nara as it may seem. The government
Will ask you to produce food. Remem-
Der that food is just as necessary as
men because men without food become
helpless. Men in factories must give
their cooperation to produce those
things which the government needs as
military supplies. There is work for
all, young and old, and we shall win
only II every one of us will do his
part and do it well.
Inc government will require mon
ey L ask you to respond in a most Ii
beral manner when the next Liberty
loan comes to us. This war cannot he
carried on by the banks alone, nor by
the rich alone. Every man must give
his savings. Remember that every dol
lar helps
We will need money for the Red
cross. Our soldiers rely upon that in
st1tution to care for them when thew
are SICK or wounded No man or wo-
man, boy or girl would wish to turn
down the outstretched hand of a sick
or wounded soldier. Give to the or
ganization and give literally
Remember, too, that our hosnitals
PACK OF the trenches will require the
aid of the Red Cross n,,rao I'M,