The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1922-12-07

possibly be applled TO the ponce ana
welfare powers of state, Wiscon-
sin is submerged by political ex-
perimentation extravagantly applied.
The theory seems to be that business
activity is essentially corrupt and
requires the service of some state
policeman with a club to command
common sense observance of the
rules of decent human conduct in the
relationships of life and business.
More policemen to assess and col
lect taxes, more and more to enforce
this, that and the other requirement
with respect to lawful pursuits and
activities. This state, under this
application Of governmental power,
is the controlling guardian in the
affairs of Wisconsin citizens. Pro-
perty rights, the vesting of the legal
title, still remains a sort of an in
dividualistic function, preserved
doubtless, so that the tax eaters may
be sure of their salaries. In the
privilege of paying taxes, and this
also under the control of the Madison
beaurocracy, is the individual stress
ed with the freedom of being forced
10 pay the maximum exactions.
How loudly has rung in Wiscon-
sin, campaign after campaign, the
clarion cry to preserve representa-
tive government. The torturons
drama of a peoples loss if self gov
eminent, the subjugation of the
masses to the few, the doleful knell
Of cherished rights and liberties, de-
picted for twenty-five years mp and
down Wisconsin,, like horrid night
mare, seemingly real because of the
very intensity of the picture paint
ed. Always has the picture been
the same, varying only in the politi-
cal vigor of its presentation. What
is the answer
Representative government has
never been threatened by the forces
of corrupt corporation control, the
Quixotic wind mills erected at the
cross roads to intimidate the poll
.ical suckers of Wisconsin. The on
ward march marking the destruction
of representative government in this
state is evidenced by the constant
boring from within. The invasion
and subsequent supplanting the radi-
al transforming of our system of
government, through legislation,
through count interpretation,
through an even charging scope OF
prescribing and limiting lines, re-
moving of safeguards, the new inter-
oretations of laws to fit old funda-
mental affecting human relation
hips, until the tried and all-the-time
sufficient SATELLITES of our form of
government, have been lost taken
away and abridged. This is the price
Wisconsin has had to pay and is pay
ng for their Socialistic eclipse. Tear
IF the mask of political charlantry,
and what is disclosed? The blanch-
ng skeleton, only, the frame and
semblance of powerful and sufficing
organism in government. Repre-
sentative government, indeed in
Wisconsin? Instead of representa-
tive government we have an abnor-
NAL application of the police powers
# the state and court construction
based upon ime-preserving express
sons and interpretations Of the
General welfare clause of our con-
stitution.
The money to the. taxpayers has
,een and is enormous. A Socialistic
form of government-stat regula-
ion, state control, state supervision,
state enforcement-or necessity
sreeds an army of tax eating, para
site forces. AS at present consti-
uted, the Wisconsin form is without
system, because one bureau overlaps
another in duties and work, all being
jealous Of prerogative and powers.
State Socialism means state guard
ianship, and this, in Wisconsin, has.
supplanted representative govtrn-
ment. How much further this ex-
tension will be carried by the legis-
lature which convenes in January, re-
mans to be seen. The extent is
possibly only limited by the~patience
Of the taxpayers to provide furtherto
he pay roll requirements of the
system.
Twenty-Five years of promises with
out substantial money-saving gain
to the people. Instead of saving
money, every theory imposed has
brought greater cost in taxes. Just
what the limit is or when it will be
reached, is of little or no concern to
the tax eaters. Their chief con-
Germ is to find other wind mills with
tapping sails and more grotesque
outlines with which to bait the suck