USA > Wisconsin > Marathon County > History of Marathon County, Wisconsin and representative citizens > Part 20
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parties were divided among themselves on the great issue of remonitizing silver. No question since the Civil war had so taken hold of the people and divided them. The conventions of the great parties were followed with the utmost interest, and their platforms were eagerly applauded or condemned, as people chose one side or the other. It was the hottest contest since 1876, only more intense in feeling, and for a long time William J. Bryan seemed to have a long lead on the Republican candidate, William McKinley.
The presidential contest in Marathon county was excited as every- where else, and there were defections from the party here as elsewhere, which for a long time seemed to be wholly balanced by accessions from the other party. The older Democrats stood faithfully by Bryan's colors, they were in fact bi-metallists before the convention, and jubilant with the work of the same, and while they felt the loss of some of their former friends, they were materially assisted in the canvass by former Senator J. E. Leahy, who made a number of speeches for Bryan. The great debate between "Horr and Harvey" was distributed in thousands of circulars all over the county, and had its effect. The prospect for the Democratic ticket seemed bright until two weeks before election when it began to pale, and it became apparent that there was a strong resistless undercurrent against Bryan, and when the vote was counted, it turned out that Marathon county for the first time since its existence had given a Republican majority for president, small though it was. William McKinley received 3,958 votes; William J. Bryan, 3,829 votes; Alexander Stewart for congress, 4,095 votes; William O'Keefe, his com- petitor, 3.768 votes; but the Democrats saved the majority of county officers out of the general wreck, electing Karl Kronenwetter for sheriff, Carl Paff for county treasurer, William J. Gehrke for county clerk, Edward C. Kret- low for register, William N. Allen for county surveyor, and Dr. D. Sauer- hering for coroner, while the Republicans elected A. L. Kreutzer, district attorney and A. A. Bock, clerk circuit court.
The candidate for governor on the Democratic ticket this year was W. C. Silverthorn of Marathon county, who made a splendid canvass of the whole state, running nearly 4,000 votes ahead of William J. Bryan, and he carried Marathon county by 530 majority over Edward Scofield, a splendid home endorsement for the Democratic candidate.
Both assembly districts went Republican, chosing Henry M. Thompson in the western district and M. H. Barnum in the eastern district of Mara- thon county.
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1898.
Republican ascendency continued; the Spanish-American war broke out, and while the war itself was not popular in this county, still there was a feel- ing that the administration should be supported. Marathon county, through its militia, Company G of the Third Regiment, Wisconsin National Guard, took an honorable part in the war, which will be referred to later under the chapter of "The City of Wausau."
The election passed off rather dull with the following result in this county : For governor, Edw. Scofield, Republican, received 3,068 votes; N. W. Saw- yer, Democrat, received 2,765 votes; for congress, Alexander Stewart, Re- publican, received 3,217 votes; W. W. Ruggles, Democrat, received 2,723 votes. Both assembly districts were carried by the Republicans, electing G. E. Vandercook for the western and Herman Miller for the eastern district ; the county officers elected were Thomas Malone for sheriff; H. H. Manson for district attorney, William J. Gehrke for county clerk, Edward C. Kret- low for register, all Democrats, and Anton Mehl county treasurer, A. A. Bock clerk circuit court, and W. C. Dickens coroner, Republicans.
A. L. Kreutzer, Republican, was nominated for state senator of the twenty-fifth senatorial district, composed of the counties of Clark and Mara- thon, receiving 5.314 votes to 3.708 votes for his opponent, R. B. Salter, Democrat.
At this time business had revived; the effects of the panic were passing away, labor found ready employment with a tendency of a rise in wages, not the least caused by the large number of young husky men and workers who had joined the army.
1900.
When the political conventions for presidential nominations were held, mills and factories in Wausau were running full time, the people were satis- fied with existing conditions, and McKinley's re-election was only a question of majorities. The war in the Philippine Islands was still going on, and Wil- liam J. Bryan's declaration in favor of the independence of a Philippine republic did not strengthen him before the people.
In the election the vote of Marathon county was: For president, William Mckinley. 4.717 votes: for president, William J. Bryan, 3,768 votes; for governor, Robert M. LaFollette, Republican, 4,480 votes; for governor, Louis G. Bohmrich, Democrat, 4,018 votes; for member of congress, W. E. Brown, Republican, 4,635 votes; for member of congress, E. Schweppe.
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Democrat. 3,866 votes. Both assembly districts of Marathon county elected Republicans, A. L. Cook and Herman Miller, and the Republicans elected the following county officers : A. F. Marquardt, sheriff ; Anton Mehl, county treasurer ; W. J. Kregel, county clerk; A. A. Bock, clerk circuit court ; R. H. Brown, county surveyor; W. C. Dickens, coroner ; the only successful Dem- ocratic candidates were Fred W. Genrich, district attorney, and Edward C. Kretlow, register of deeds.
1902.
There was no change of any consequence in 1902, except the usual lighter vote in off years, so-called. For governor, R. M. LaFollette, Republican, received 3,745 votes; Dave S. Rose, Democrat, 3,657 votes; for congress, W. E. Brown, Republican, 3,749 votes; Burt Williams, Democrat, 3.515 votes. The eastern assembly district elected Herman Miller, Republican, but the western district went Democratic, electing Willis F. LaDu, and the county offices were again divided between the two parties, to wit: W. R. Chellis, Republican, sheriff; W. J. Kregel, Republican, county clerk; A. A. Bock, Republican, clerk circuit court; Fred W. Kitzki, Republican, coroner ; and Edward C. Kretlow, Democrat, register; J. C. Heinrichs, Democrat, county treasurer ; William H. Gowan, Democrat, county surveyor ; Fred W. Genrich, Democrat, district attorney, and John F. Lamont, Democrat, school superintendent.
The term of State Senator A. L. Kreutzer had expired and a convention was held at Wausau for the twenty-fifth congressional district of Wisconsin. The delegates from Clark county strongly opposed the re-nomination of Sen- ator Kreutzer, not on any particular ground, but merely because they claimed that Senator Kreutzer having had one term and he being from Marathon county, it was the turn of Clark county to name one of their citizens for this place, and they even threatened a bolt if their claim was not recognized. There was a little more than this claim of right on behalf of Clark county behind that opposition. Sen. A. L. Kreutzer had not been a blind follower of Governor LaFollette, but exercised his right as legislator to follow his conviction in matters not strictly party affairs. His course was not at all times wholly pleasing to the governor, who acted dictatorially and demanded unconditional obedience from all Republicans. In Clark county the followers of the governor held unlimited sway, and they no doubt believed that by the nomination of one of their own politicians they would rise high in the esteem and favor of the governor. But Senator Kreutzer's course had been quite satisfactory to the people of both counties; he had proved himself a very
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acceptable legislator and senator and was not afraid to go before the people upon his record. He was nominated, the delegates of Marathon county standing faithfully by him, and made the canvass, carrying both counties, although the Democrats had nominated a candidate from Clark county in the expectation of making gains in that county.
The result of the election was quite a vindication for Senator Kreutzer. He received in Marathon county 4,058 votes; in Clark county, 2,622 votes, against his competitor, Mulvey, who received in Marathon county 3,256 votes and in Clark county, 1,638 votes, giving Senator Kreutzer a majority of 1,786 in the two counties.
1904.
The Republican party got stronger and stronger in county as well as in state and nation, as shown by the following vote in 1904: For president, The- odore Roosevelt, Republican, 6,144 votes; A. B. Parker, Democrat, 3,225 votes; for governor, R. M. LaFollette, Republican, 4.782 votes; George W. Peck, Democrat, 4,566 votes; for member of congress, W. E. Brown, Re- publican, 5,695 votes : W. M. Ruggles, Democrat, 3,645 votes. Both assembly districts in Marathon county elected Republicans, Fred Prehn from the west- ern and A. F. Marquardt from the eastern district, and the Republican party succeeded for the first time in electing every man on the county ticket, to wit: F. F. Damon, sheriff ; William R. Chellis, register of deeds; R. H. Juedes, county treasurer ; John King, county clerk; F. E. Bump, district attorney ; A. A. Bock, clerk circuit court; R. H. Brown, county surveyor; W. C. Dickens, coroner. That year was the high tide of Republican ascendency; it never reached so high a vote as in that election.
1906.
There was a great falling off in the vote in the state election, as shown by the following figures: For governor, James O. Davidson, Republican, received 3,696 votes; John A. Aylward, Democrat, 3,435 votes; for member of congress, E. A. Morse, Republican, 3,920 votes; D. D. Conway, Democrat, 3,151 votes. But the Democrats regained the western assembly district, elect- ing Nicholas Schmidt member of assembly, while Aug. F. Marquardt, Re- publican, was re-elected in the eastern district.
The twenty-fifth senatorial district elected S. M. Marsh of Clark county in place of Sen. A. L. Kreutzer, whose term had expired and who was not a candidate. Of county officers the Republicans elected William R. Chellis
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register of deeds; John King, county clerk; R. H. Juedes, county treasurer ; A. A. Bock, clerk circuit court; R. H. Brown, county surveyor, and W. C. Dickens, coroner, while the Democrats succeeded with their candidates for district attorney, F. P. Regner, and Frank O'Connor, sheriff.
In this year for the first time all officers were nominated by direct primary, which law had been passed in the last term of Governor LaFollette, who made the passage of this act a question of party loyalty and thereby suc- ceeded in engrafting it upon the statutes of Wisconsin. But it failed by far in remedying all the political and social ills of the state, and the governor himself had occasion to oppose his party candidates nominated in accordance with this very act. An amendment which even he could not force through a very obliging and willing legislature, providing for a second choice, was passed under the reign of Gov. Francis McGovern, but it only had the effect of muddling up the situation still more.
It was pointed out as an argument against the primary law that under this act the poor man would have no chance to be nominated against a wealthy man, and this contention was fully proven when Isaac Stevenson received the popular nomination for United States senator after an expenditure of over $100,000, and as a remedy the "corrupt practice act" was passed, in- tended to put a barrier to the ertravagant use of money.
As to primary nomination so far as Marathon county is concerned, it may be safely said that if the main object of the act was to bring out the people to make their choice, it was not as good as the old caucus system was. There were at least three times as many people attending caucuses and elect- ing delegates than there were votes cast in the primary. It is clear that the people took more interest in the old caucus system than they do now in the primaries, but time may bring the change.
1908.
In this year Gov. R. M. LaFollette was a candidate for the presidency and held the organization of the Republican party in the hollow of his hand; only delegates friendly to support his nomination were recommended to the voters and had the support of the regular state organization; delegates for William Taft were opposed with all the vigor and determination of a remorseless triumphant party machinery. Among the few who had the temerity to offer themselves as delegates for William H. Taft was Walter Alexander of Wausau with Theo. W. Brazeau, a state senator from Wood county as a running mate. The whole power of the state administration
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which included an organization in every county was thrown against the two men. Brazeau was not entirely a novice in politics, having been through several elections before, but Walter Alexander was for the first time in his life a candidate for popular suffrage, and that on the unpopular side, too. Up to this time he had given his whole time to business, especially that of the Stewart Lumber Company, only helping some particular friend at times, for instance, when Alexander Stewart was a candidate for congress, but he had at all times been a consistent Republican and a supporter of that party.
To be a candidate for an office was a new experience for him, but he went into the canvass with an enthusiasm born of his conviction to be on the right side; he was one of the pioneers though young in years, and favor- ably known throughout the Wisconsin valley in business circles as well as to the pinery boys or laborig men and farmers. It is doing only common justice to Walter Alexander to say that he had the respect and good will of the people generally, and he had the honor and satisfaction of being elected on his own personal strength. His running mate, Theo. Brazeau, had not the same personal strength as Mr. Alexander and failed, thus giving W. Alexander the distinction of being elected as the only Taft delegate from Wisconsin.
The vote in Marathon county in 1898 was: For president, William H. Taft, Republican, 5,228 votes ; William J. Bryan, Democrat, 4.722 votes ; for governor, J. O. Davidson, Republican, 5,089 votes; John A. Aylward, Democrat, 4,804 votes ; for member of congress, E. A. Morse, Republican. 5.239 votes ; Wells M. Ruggles, Democrat, 4,656 votes ; for member of assem- bly, first district, Nicholas Schmidt, Democrat, 2,490 votes; A. E. Beebe, Republican, 2,070; second district, A. F. Marquardt, Republican, 2.763 votes ; A. J. Plowman, Democrat, 2,070 votes.
The Republicans elected their candidates: For county clerk, John King; county treasurer, Herman Vetter; register of deeds, William R. Chellis; clerk circuit court, A. A. Bock; county surveyor, R. H. Brown, and coroner, WV. C. Dickens, and the Democrats their candidate: For sheriff, John Sell, and district attorney, F. P. Regner.
1910 .- This was an off year, so-called, and the election caused no com- motion at all. The factional disputes in the national Republican party, which had been patched up with some difficulty in later years, became more acute, and while not manifesting themselves in open opposition to the party nominees asserted themselves by tens of thousands of voters staying away from the polls, some quietly voting with the opposition; but the factional differences in the Democratic party and discouraged by the many
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defeats which the party had suffered, prevented it from gaining that ascend- ency in the state which it might have reached under a strong leadership and united effort. The result was a large falling off in the Republican vote, with a perceptible gain in the Democratic vote.
The result in Marathon county was: For governor, Adolph N. Schmitz, Democrat, 4,087 votes; Francis McGovern, Republican, 2,952 votes; for member of congress, John F. Lamont, Democrat, 4,255 votes; E. A. Morse, Republican, 2,833 votes; for member of assembly, first district, Nicholas Schmidt, Democrat, 2,010 votes; first district, N. G. Tank, Republican, 1,185 votes; second district, A. J. Plowman, Democrat, 2,134 votes; A. F. Marquardt, Republican, 1,683 votes. The Democrats also elected all their county officers, excepting only county clerk, to wit : Frank O'Connor, sheriff ; John Schirpke, county treasurer ; John Sell, register of deeds; Kurth Beyreis, clerk of circuit court; William H. Gowan, county surveyor; F. P. Regner, district attorney, and Edw. E. Schulze, coroner; and the Republicans, John King, county clerk.
W. W. Albers was the Democratice nominee for senator of the twenty- fifth senatorial district, opposed by Dr. N. G. Daniels of Marathon county, the Republican nominee. This district was the same as in former years, and the vote for senator in Marathon county was:
For W. W. Albers 4,299 votes
For Daniels 2,849 votes
In Clark county -- For Albers 777 votes
For W. D. Daniels. 2,033 votes
which clearly shows that the defeat of the Republican candidate was brought about by the factional differences in the Republican party.
1912-The preliminaries to the Republican convention of 1912 so far as Wisconsin was concerned were exceedingly dull and one sided. Sen, R. M. LaFollette still held undisputed sway over his party, and he could safely leave the state to be taken care of in his interest by his numerous lieutenants, while he canvassed other states for delegates. But while there was a perfect quiet in this state, matters had taken on a wholly different aspect in the nation.
The beginning of the first session of congress evidenced the existence of two factions in the Republican party striving for supremacy and drifting further apart every day, plainly indicating that a day of complete rupture was soon at hand. The personally conducted canvass for delegates to the
ยท
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national convention by Colonel Roosevelt and President Taft was to say the least, distasteful to the American people. The rivalry between the Demo- cratic candidates was active, but not venomous, just enough to give a zest to the canvass. There was some strife between the adherence of Champ Clark and Woodrow Wilson in this congressional district, which resulted in the election of Edward C. Kretlow of Wausau and A. G. Pankow of Marsh- field as Clark delegates over their opponents, E. B. Thayer and R. B. Gog- gins of Wood county, who had no particular choice except that they were not bound to vote for Clark. The Republican delegates were A. W. Prehn of Wausau and E. E. Winkins of Marshfield, pledged with the whole dele- gation to Senator La Follette. At the Republican convention A. W. Prehn with ten others voted for the Roosevelt candidate for temporary chairman, the governor of Wisconsin, thereby earning the enmity of the senator and his adherents.
The rivalry between Taft and Roosevelt widened after the convention, and the sequel to that convention and the nomination of Theodore Roose- velt as the candidate of a third, "the Progressive party," is too fresh in the minds of the people to need any discussion. In the national Democratic convention at Baltimore, Woodrow Wilson, governor of New Jersey, was nominated through the powerful influence of William J. Bryan, and with his running mate, Thomas R. Marshall, governor of Indiana, a ticket was com- pleted, which gave entire satisfaction to the Democratic party. There were less sores left after the convention had finished its work than is usually the case. The sting of defeat of Clark after he had received a majority, but lacking the required two-thirds was lessened by the assurance that his elec- tion to congress and re-election as speaker of the house of representatives was a foregone conclusion. The heated words spoken by William J. Bryan and hurled back at him by the attacked delegates made honors easy between the affected persons, and the party went into the campaign with a united front as it had not done since 1892.
But there was no enthusiasm, no shouting, no heated controversies. State and county officers were nominated, and they made their canvass. Political meetings were many but not largely attended. The Democrats in this part of the country were unable to secure a speaker of national reputation and renown, and the brunt of the campaign had to be borne wholly by their own speakers. On the other hand Governor McGovern personally canvassed the county in his own interest. Congressman Mckinley, a very eloquent speaker, gave an address in favor of President Taft, Congressman Lenroot in favor of Theodore Roosevelt. Senator LaFollette delivered a long address
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in favor of - he did not say. He was very severe on Theodore Roosevelt, spoke rather disrespectfully of President Taft, and thereby indi- rectly contributed to the election of Woodrow Wilson.
Although many of the Republicans throughout the state threatened dire vengeance on Governor McGovern, who had declared for Theodore Roose- velt after receiving and accepting the Republican nomination, still the threat did not materialize to any alarming extent, and Francis McGovern received a small majority in the state over Judge Karel, his Democratic opponent, and was elected in spite of the fact that Milwaukee county, the home of both candidates, gave Karel the unprecedented majority of 15,000 votes.
The Democratic nomination for congress in the eighth congressional dis- trict was given to A. J. Plowman, who had represented the second district of Marathon county in an able and conspicuous manner in the legislature of 1911. His Republican opponent was Senator Brown of Waupaca county, a lawyer by profession, who had the immense advantage over his opponent of a majority in this district of 3,920 on the light vote of 1910 and a major- ity of 9,552 in the vote of 1908. Nevertheless, the Democratice candidate, A. J. Plowman, bravely and unflinchingly carried the forlorn hope of the Democracy, making a splendid canvass against overwhelming odds. In the election he received in Marathon county 4,310 votes and his opponent, E. E. Brown, received 3,690 votes.
The result of the election brought many surprises. Wilson and Marshall carried Wisconsin by a big plurality, Marathon county giving them 4,443 votes ; to William H. Taft, 3.033 votes; to Theodore Roosevelt, 1,274 votes; to E. V. Debs, Socialist, 597 votes; Francis McGovern received 3,865 votes; J. C. Karel received 4,374 votes.
The first assembly district elected for member of assembly, Francis A. 'Schilling, Republican, and the second district, Oscar Ringle, Democrat.
The Democratic candidate, Judge Karel, made his canvass on a platform demanding the repeal of the income tax law, which Gov. Francis E, Mc- Govern favored. It is now an open secret that the tax commission recom- mends not less than twenty-nine amendments to this law, and when so amended, as is most likely the case, its putative father will hardly be able to recognize the child. Still the cry that the income tax reached only the rich and made them pay, helping the poor, served its purposes. In the election of county officers, honors were divided, the Democrats electing H. J. Abra- ham for sheriff; John Sell, register of deeds: Kurth Beyreis, clerk of the cir- cuit court; John Schirpke, county treasurer; R. M. Frawley, coroner, and William N. Gowan, surveyor; the Republicans elected Edward Gorman for district attorney and Louis H. Cook for county clerk.
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The Socialist vote in the county increased from 275 for E. V. Debs in 1908 to 597 for their candidate.
As to woman suffrage Marathon county voted 6,446 noes and 1,924 ayes.
COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS.
This officer was formerly elected in the fall with the state ticket.
Up to the year 1882 the election for state officers were held in uneven years, and national election in even years, but by an amendment to the state constitution passed in 1882, the election for all state and national officers were ordered to be held in the same year, making elections bi-annual and in even numbered years. Under the old law the county superintendent was elected in the uneven years, then with the state and national election in the fall. He was the only county officer of Marathon county whose election up to 1884 was held in uneven years, and the persons who held the office in Marathon county were M. D. Coursey, a lumberman, then Jacob J. Hoff- mann, a Lutheran minister for the years 1866 and 1867, when he removed from this county. He was followed by Rev. Thomas Green, who held this office from 1868 to January, 1885; he was succeeded by Ludwig Findorf. who was county superintendent for one term from January, 1885, to Jan- uary, 1887.
J. P. Briggs was elected to succeed him and held the office for one term. from 1887 to 1889.
F. A. Strupp was elected as school superintendent and held the office from January. 1889, to January, 1895. In the year 1894 John F. Lamont was elected and re-elected four times and held the office until the law was changed so that the elections for school superintendents were held in the spring uninfluenced by political considerations. Declining to be a candidate for another term he was succeeded by J. F. Farrell, who was elected for two terms, was succeeded by W. Pivernetz, who is now holding his second term which will expire July 1, 1913, the term of school superintendent beginning and ending on that date .*
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