The nonpartisan leader. [volume], January 24, 1921, Image 6

About The nonpartisan leader. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1915-1921

Image provided by: State Historical Society of North Dakota

                
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BY CHESTER C. PLATT
(Editor of the Wisconsin Leader)
ANUARY 3 in Wisconsin was an event
ful day, particularly to farmers and
wage-earners, for the inauguration of
John J. Blaine as governor marked
the passing of the state' from reac
tionary control and the taking of a
lew place by the side of North Dakota as a Non
partisan league state. While the celebration of the
nauguration was unostentatious, damocratic in the
extreme, and devoid of large expense, yet all agreed
that it was imposing, dignified and called out a
much larger assemblage than ever before gathered
on such an occasion.
Representative farmers and Nonpartisan league
leaders from all parts of the state were present.
Emil Pladsen, state manager of the League, with
Mrs. Pladsen, and Senator and Mrs. W. C. Zumach
were members of the reception committee. Sena
tor Zumach is the office manager of the Wisconsin
branch of the League.
The inaugural address was delivered by Robert
C. Siebecker, chief justice of the state supreme
court and an old-time La Follette progressive leader.
Democracy, love of justice, hatred of despotism and
tyranny, and denunciation of special privileges and
immunities were the dominant notes in the speech.
The chief justice paid eloquent tribute to the inde
pendence and the love of freedom which character
ized the pioneer founders of the state.
GREAT THRONG CHEERS THE
SPIRIT OF THE WEST
The University regimental band furnished music
for the afternoon celebration and for the dance in
the evening. There was besides a mighty chorus
choir, drilled and led by Professor E. B. Gordon, and
composed of the Madison Woman's Club chorus, the
Catholic Woman's club, the Mozart club, the Mad
rigal club, and the Madison Choral union. A tre
mendous cheer went up from the throng in the
capitol rotunda and gallaries when the choir closed
the singing of "The West," by Douglas Malloch,
with the chorus:
"Men look to the East for the dawning things, for
the light of the rising sun
But they look to the West, to ths crimson West, for
the things that are DONE, are DONE!"
After the oath of office had been administered the
great silk flag of the battleship Wisconsin was un
furled from the center of the dome of the capitol
and the audience joined in singing:
"On, Wisconsin! On, Wisconsin!
Dost thou hear that call,
Marshalling thee to noble duty
In the fight for all?
On, Wisconsin! On, Wisconsin!
Battle for the right
With standard flying,
God will give thee might."
The state officials inaugurated wtere: Governor,
John J. Blaine, Boscobel lieutenant governor,
George P. Comings, Eau Claire secretary of state,
GOVERNOR BLAINE TAKING OATH OF OFFICE AT MADISON
Blaine Takes the Helm in Wisconsin
Five Thousand People Sing "On, Wisconsin!" as New Nonpartisan League
Governor Goes Into Office at Madison
Elmer S. Hall, Green Bay state treasurer, Henry
Johnson, Madison attorney general, William J.
Morgan, Milwaukee.
The three first mentioned received Nonpartisan
league indorsement. Mr. Johnson was friendly to
the League, and in the Republican platform con
vention voted against the anti-League plank cham
pioned by Morgan.
The inaugural ceremonies began at noon and
from 3 to 5 o'clock in the afternoon there were re
ceptions by the newly elected state officers. Five
thousand persons thronged the capitol and many
hundreds attended the receptions.
Senator Robert M. La Follette acted as the hon
orary escort for Governor Blaine, coming from
Washington on purpose to attend the inauguration.
Inauguration day brought a happy ending to the
senator, of a stormy and bitter period during which
he has been- persecuted, perhaps more venomously
than any other man in public life, his foes threat
ening his impeachment in Washington, while in
Wisconsin every effort was made by the reactionary
forces to besmirch his name and drive him from
public life. During 1920 in two primary elections
and in one general election Senator La Follette has
won a pronounced vindication, and he recognizes
that in no small measure this vindication has been
due to the active organization work of the Nonpar
tisan league. Those who took part in the cam
paign to destroy. Wisconsin's greatest son have had
Governor John J. Blaine of Wisconsin.
PAGE! SIX
HB
control of the state offices for six years. Their
utter and complete overthrow was one of the main
causes of the joy and enthusiasm of the inaugura
tion.
An informal dance at night brought the festivi
ties to a close and was attended by thousands. A
general invitation w&s extended to the public.
When the arrangements for the inauguration were
being made a reporter asked Governor Blaine:
"Do you really mean that there will be no invita
tions, no tickets, and actually ALL citizens invit
ed?"
"Yes," said Governor Blaine, "and it doesn't make
any difference whether they are CITIZENS or not.
EVERYBODY is invited."
To c^rry out the plan of achieving absolute sim
plicity in the entire day's program the governor's
secretary requested every one planning to attend
the ball to come in informal dress.
During the afternoon progressive and Nonparti
san women held a meeting and perfected a perma
nent organization, with Miss Ada James of Rich
land Center president, Mrs. Granville Trace of
Dodgeville vice president, and Mrs. R. L. Siebecker
secretary and treasurer. Miss James is a very en
thusiastic friend of the League and made a speech
in which she expressed her gratification with the
friendly co-operation between the League and the
progressive Republicans.
NEW GOVERNOR A FARMER
AS WELL AS A LAWYER
Wisconsin's new governor is a farmer as well as
a lawyer. With H. E. Austin of Boscobel he owns
a 284-acre farm. A ^rtew modern barn built by
Blaine and Austin is one of the best in the state.
It has a concrete feeding floor for the hogs, and a
running water system to all parts of the barn and
the feed lots. Since buying the farm the land has
been greatly improved by extensive fertilization.
Mr. Blaine has been a representative of his town
on the county board of supervisors, mayor of Bosco
bel, state senator and for two years past attorney
general. He was an independent candidate for gov
ernor in 1912.
Mr. Blaine was born on a farm jn the town of
Wingeville, Grant county, and graduated from the
Montfort high school and from the law department
of the Northern Indiana university at Valparaiso in
1896.
'Hie legislature, which convened January 13, con
sists of 100 assemblymen and 33 senators. Twenty
four assemblymen- elected had League indorsement
and a number of those who were not indorsed by the
League are progressive La Follette Republicans
from parts of the state where the League was not
organized. Governor Blaine, in his message, recom
mended the legislation demanded by the Nonparti
san league platform, and Leaguers are confident
that many of the reforms demanded by present-day
conditions will be accomplished under the leader
ship of the new governor.
Governor Blaine's inaugural address will be print
ed in the next issue of the Nonpartisan Leader.