Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1918-03-12

Then there is Joseph e. Davies.
who is the candidate presented by the
democratic organization and the rec
ognized representative of the rank and
file of the party in this state. Mr.
Davies is man of splendid ability
and unquestioned loyalty. He resigns
as member of the Federal Trade
commission, of which he has been
chairman, to enter this senatorial
compaign; he has been a staunch sup
porter of President Wilson and his
policies, and is in close touch with
the administration His platform will
appeal to all loyal voters, without
distinction of party, and his election
in republican state-would perhaps
more strongly emphasize the whole
hearted loyalty of the State of Wis
consin than would the success of any
other candidate.
! So here we have the candidates from
| among whom we are to select our
Mathew Hale Carpenter, John c..
SDOOner, or William F. Yilas-great
| representatives, honored for their
ability and their loyal devotion to the
Country and State, whose distin-
guished service has set a standard
for efficiency difficult to attain-and
almost unhoped for in the free for all
scramble which the unrestricted pri-
may invites and affords to little men
whose willingness to serve is exceeded
only by their undesira bility. And
there is cause for worry. Were the
people of this state to choose only
between Joseph Z. Davies and Irvine
L.. Lenr0Ot the result could be awaited
without anxiety both are loyal and
capable. But the probable outcome
OF the primary with the involved con-
tingencies at the election, offers such
an opportunity for harm and miscon-
struction as to create a real danger.
Victor Berger having no opponent
will be the socialist candidate. All
indications point to the selection of
Joseph L. Davies as the democratic
candidate. With the election confined
only to these two candidates, there
could be no question about the result.
The complication and the doubt arises
with the injection Of the third party
candidate, and whoever he may be
we shall face a scrambled situation.
1t would simplify the solution if Mr..
Thompson should emerge from the
primary as the republican candidate,
for the socialist, pro-german and anti
administration vote in the State would
be divided between Berger and Thomp-
son and concentrate the loyal vote,
without distinction of political party,
on the candidacy of Joseph E. Davies.
II McGovern should be the primary
republican nominee, then the Thomp-
son bolsheviki vote would be thrown
for Berger with the danger of his
election and doubling of Wiscon-
sins humiliation. Ii Lenroot is the
republican primary selection there
will not only be a closer republican
and democratic, party alignment with
the Thompson bolsheviki vote to Berg
er, but in addition many of the dis
gruntled McGovern adherents, especi-
ally in Milwaukee with it's city cleo
ton vote traded and switched to
Berger, for during recent past years
Milwaukee has been quite a bargain
counter for political cast-off remnants
and the socialist vote has in times
past been quite an asset in the politi-
cal fortunes of McGovern, so even
with Lenroot's nomination the defeat
OF Berger is by no means assured. In
whatever way we analyze the situation
the solution seems to demand waving
political party affiliations and make
certain a practical demonstration of
loyalty by the election of Joseph f.
Davies.
This may cause quite a wrench
among my republican friends. But is
this not a crisis? Does not every in
terest, State and Nation, demand a
dedication to the Flag and a declara-
tion of Loyalty that will once and for
all time remove all suspicion that Wis
consin is one of the Kaiser's Colonial
possessions?
What great principle of the repub-
lican party will be smashed by the
election of Joseph E. Davis as a clear
ly defined declaration of Wisconsin's
whole-hearted loyalty? What great
principle of the republican party
| would be maintained by his defeat
that is greater than the practical
| demonstration of the answering
| loyalty of the people of the state ?.
Paul Husting was not great man
he was elected not because of any
greater fitness but because Of dissen-
sions in the republican party-he be-
came great only by contrast, and for
doing only what every American was
expected to do who never knew but
one country and could recognize but
one flag-and for this alone has his
memory become honored. And this
honor, we sorrowingly accord.
No one now can foretell what divi-
sion of party lines there will be after
| the war. did not vote for the re-elec-
ton of Woodrow Wilson because he
kept us out of war; am glad now he
was re-elected-a man of destiny for
whom fate had stacked the cards-and
on whom, to make the World safe for
democracy, there has been conferred
more autocratic power than on any
ruler on earth, that the World war
may reach a final and successful con-
clusion. One-fifth of the voting popu-
lation railroad employees included)
of the United States are now already
on the payroll of the Government,
and this does not include the millions
to be called into service that the
lifted lid of He'll may be firmly
ciamped down for all time After the
war it may require determined
bitter political battles to re-
habilitate democracy within our
own boundaries and return into
the hands of our own people the
determination of the limitations of
49,. II u.