Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1922-02-22

the appointment as postmaster at
Lancaster to A. L. Sherman, propri-
etOr of the Herald. Mr.. Sherman is
not Progressive in politics tho not
Stalwart, but styles himself an indie
pendent Republican, title he has
we'll earned The offer was made by
telegraph. Mr.. Sherman declined.
The Herald thinks very kindly Of
the Sun and it's able editor, Mr..
Trace, whose fine radicalism is termed
'Bolshevism" by those who disagree
with him violently, perhaps hate him
but can't answer him.
However, we take exception to the
point Of view that independence in
political affairs is quite such a
lonely, exalted position as Mr.. Trace
would Indicate. There are a num-
er of the most prominent men anG
newspapers in the state of an indie
pendent turn in politics. The Mil
waukee Journal, our leading daily, is
of democratic persuasion but never
theless independent and not subject
to beck and call. Bert Hoard, editor
of the Fort Atkinson Union, is an in
dependent republican with the means
to stay that way and the nerve to say
what he LuluhS IGSdIulSSS VI WIZ II
hits. Merlin Hull, former secretary
of state and editor of the Black River
Falls Journal, is a real Independent
and takes orders from no man. He
came mighty close to being governor
too. Roy Wilcox Of Eau Claire, one
of the biggest men in the state, a
former senator and John Blaine's
closest opponent for governor, ran as
IAN Independent" VIM. j. Morgan,
present attorney general is an in
dependent although for purposes OF
political policy he draws support
from the Stalwarts. Francis e. Nc
Govern of Milwaukee, one of our able
men in this state, is ndependent-so
much so that he had to step out to
preserve harmony when Senator Hus-
-fines was killed and MCGOvern and
LenroOt were the field against Thomp-
son of La Crosse. The Independent
McGOvern, who had his papers filed
first did finely courageous thing
when he waived his rights and al
lowed LenrOot to take the victory.
Then there are innumerable men OF
less prominence and many small but
nevertheless influential newspapers
of decidedly independent turn. And
finally-the great mass OF voters are
absolutely independent They know
little and care a d sight less OF
the fine points of the old feud be-
tween Bob La Toilette and his CO.
terie of politicians and the La Toilette
haters whose thirty years OF battle
has only enabled them to say, We'll,
by , | have never voted for him
and never will" True enough, but
what does La Toilette care so long as
he keeps on winning? Having voted
against La Toilette as many OF us have
is. no doubt, consolation, but it is
melancholy one. One of the big
441,,;.ngs about the man is his absolute
disregard for his enemies, we al
mire him for that
But all thing pass and by the ma
ture of things Time will claim Bob La
Toilette and his ancient enemies very
shortly Bob is an old man now and
though he has held up and come PACK
wonderfully, nevertheless his pollt-
ical days are numbered. With his
passing the old group of StalWarts
will lose their issue.
When La Toilette goes as he must
go his machine will undergo dissolu-
ton New leaders will appear i'll the
political affairs of the state. VINO
will be the big figure? VIM. j. Nor
gan? Not by a joyful! John Blame
of Boscobel? We think so. Business
of more subdued cursing among the
Stalwarts.) And probably backed by
a strong independent vote
The day of the old factions is dying
and the day of the Independent is
dawning. The Herald has lurking
politicaI aspirations too-but not
along the line of being postmaster.
Some day, perhaps, We'll run for
-? In the meantime We'll try to be
honestly Independent.
The most serious charge we ever
heard made against Senator La Fol
lette was that he was willing to sput
hairs over war questions when the
country was in danger in order to APP
peal to the German vote, or what he
thought was the German vote. The
same charge can be made against j.
M. Nelson who took his cue from his
leader. With equal justice the charge
could be and vas made against e. l.,
Phillip. Wisconsin. war governor.
The same charge could be made and
was made against Senator Irwin l..
Lenroot on his vote on the McLemore
resolution and subsequent acts before
America entered the war. The same
charge could be made against halt
the newspapers and politicians in the
state. The Indictment if any exists is
against a fundamental OF human ma
ture-against that element in our
hearts which bids us consider our own
personal interest ahead of bold and
unbiased stand on matters of general
interest. Referring to the time we
speak Of politicians lacked the vision
TO see that America would blaze with
a fire of intense nationalism. Many
papers were the same. They thought
first of what they thought would
please rather than what they secretly
knew to be right. Only a few like our
great leader, Roosevelt, read the fu-
ture Alright and took a bold uncom-
TO ism