GRADY HITS THE KOHLER CAMPAIGN EXPENDITURE
Grady Hits the Kohler Campaign Expenditure Tells Radio Audience Campaign Funds Vital Issue in Election MILWAUKEE—Assailing Gov. Koh-ler's action in going into the state supreme court last winter...
...To him might be most fittingly applied the lines of Kenneth Ellis: 'He was hated and feared by the greed grazed mob...
...It is not denied tha Mr...
...Is it less reprehensible and less subject to criticism and condemnation when it occurs right here at home...
...or by his silence he becomes a party to it...
...He and those supporting him have little to say upon the subject of the vast and unlimited expenditures of the last campaign, but every evidence is given of an intention to exceed if passible that amount by the expenditures in the present contest...
...There are two reasons for questioning the constitutionality of a law,'' Grady said...
...Those who favor his election prefer to divert attention from this issue and to direct their attack not upon the ability but the age of his opponent Phil La Follette, who at the same age at which Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence, enters this contest, equipped by nature with the weapons which the conditions of the coming fray demand...
...When his right to that office was challenged bet-aunt of alleged violations of the public policy of the state, he sought to have declared as unconstitutional the law that had stood upon the statute books of Wisconsin for 15 years, and upon the invalidity of which alone he at that time based his claim to the governorship of this state...
...Let II say to the world that there Is preserved In our slate the principal upon which the government wua founded, and that all may live witnessing the fulfillment, of the glud.some prophecy of Henry Chuttaii uttered more than a century and a quarter ago when he said: 'The American Republic based as it is upon the belief In equality of all men before its law, will live as the last refuge of the rights and mankind, the puradise of the world appressed and of the poor...
...I have voted that it you so conduct yourself as to be deserving of honor because of your possession of the virtues of honesty, integrity and courage, coupled with ability, that the right to public office shall not be denied you because you cannot expend $100,000 either personally or through some committee.' "My fellow citizens, you must either inarch with those who seek the preservation of the constitutional guaranty of equality of all men before the law, or inarch will those whose banner is soiled by disregard of the public policy of the state and who would deny that, constitutional right to those lucking fluaueial ability, and would use the power and influence of wealth to Imperil the purify of the elections in your slate...
...There we two reasons fur questioning the constitutionality of a law, the party raising it either fears the penalties and responsibilities for its violation in the past, or desires to commit in the future the acts forbidden by it...
...La Follette lived to see the day when the falsehoods of his political enemies were choked into the throat* of his vilifiers...
...There is nothing to be feared from free and open discussion, but everything to be feared from the desperate methods of those who behind the breast-works of wealth seek by excessive expenditures to control the elections as they have for the last hall century attempted to influence the legislation in this state...
...the amount authorized by law...
...1 have voted lo protect my right ui look Into tlie future with Ihe hope and anticipation that yuu, my son, may some day be deserving of political recognition by the people of your state...
...It is only in the wrongful use that the danger oi money lies...
...There has uevei* been an election in which the late Sen...
...You may rest assured that, it is not the youth of Phil La Toilette that is feared, but the blood that courses in his veins...
...Never before In the history of this state, and It la doubtful if ever in the history of any state, has a governor manifested such an utter disregard of the mandate of a constituency, or showed such disrespect for the legislature and a predecessor who had signed Hie bill...
...When the people of Wisconsin beheld the influence of money in tht elections in other states they issued U the legislature of 1913 the mandate tha there should be enacted a law limiting the expenditures of those who sough1 public office in this state...
...Let the result announce to the world that In Wisconsin the ideal of equality still lives...
...1 have voted that the equal opportunity to Mie rich and poor alike be pre.-erved...
...Kohler himself proposed the expenditure of $25,000 or more than sfa times the amount limited by law...
...that the chairman and secretary of tin state committee, appointed with hi consent and approval for the purposi of managing the campaign, declared in his presence that a campaign of the character designed could not be conducted for less than $50,000...
...Kohler Candidacy "The candidate of 1928 enters the present primary and asks a vote of approval of his record, his policy and of what has transpired...
...There is now imposed upon every voter the responsibility of establishing a precedent by which such conduct is either aproved or disapproved...
...Kohler placec no limit upon the amount to be expended in his behalf...
...Kohler in 1928 had been conducted in Illinois, Indiana or Pennsylvania, how many of the voters of Wisconsin would have expressed their approval of it...
...Important as are the issues in this campaign, none is so vital as that determining whether or not the people ol Wisconsin shall place the stamp of approval upon the vulgar expenditure oi money which characterized the election of 1928, and which is again threatened in the present contest...
...The party raising it either fears the penalties and responsibilities for its violation in the past, or desires to commit in the future the acts forbidden by it...
...Francis E. McGovern passed the corrupt practice act, whicl limited to $4,000 the amount of ex penditure by and on behalf of candi dates for the governorship at a pri mary election...
...He was loved by the toil scarred slave and his rest wag to come, when the gun and the drum should be burled in hatred's grave.' "And when the curtain was rung down on the eventful life of him to whom has been paid the deserved tribute of being Wisconsin's greatest son, the people of the stale thai had been so faithfully served by him arose and declared that so long as there remained one of the name, the heart and brain, even in death the name of Robert M. La Follette should not be stricken from the roll of the U. S. senate...
...that he was told at the same conference bj National Committeeman George Vits that it could not be conducted for less than $75,000...
...The voter cannot stand idly by and disclaim responsibility...
...It concerns the youth o: this day as he looks into the dim future in the hope that he may enjoy the equal opportunities of life...
...Not...
...They are not unmindful of the fact that for 30 years money has been ineffectual in any campaign against one of that name...
...tures of money, and in its braaei execution and its colossal scope hai had no parallel in the political history of this state...
...The determination of this issue involves something more than the candidacy of either Gov...
...The facts are known, hence he mu.<"t disapprove of it...
...In 1928 there was waged on be half of Walter J. Kohler as a cBndi date for the*governorship, a campaigi characterized by the wildest expend...
...In my humble judgment no governor has a right to seek the annulment of a law for the enforcement and respect or which he is by oath and official bound...
...II affects the whole citizenry of Wisconsin...
...The official elected to enforce the law that existed at the time of his inauguration ought to be the last to question its validity, and especially when he is personally charged with its violation, in the manner in which he secured his office...
...Let It sing to the winds and the sky the truth that it always ineniit...
...To whom, if not to the governor, can the electorate look for an example in the discharge of the duties of citizenship...
...Vulgar Expenditure Mr...
...I have voted that there shall not be established in this state the precedent that wealth can assert its Influence so a.s to deny the rights of any man, but...
...Kohler manifested in asking that the corrupt practices act be nullified," Mr...
...Criticizes Kohler Stand "The candidate by whom and in whose behalf, this great sum of money was expended, took the oath of office to preserve, respect and enforce the laws of this stale...
...Preserve Public Policy "The determination of this issue involves the preservation or destruction of the public policy of the state...
...Urges Phills Selection "I beg you to go to the polls and so cast your vote that when you return If your son asks you for whom you voted, you will not be obliged to say to him I have voted in favor of the policy hat Justifies the expenditure of more nan 25 times the amount limited by law to secure the governorship of this state i have voted in favor of appvov-ing the conduct of a governor in ati tempting to declare null and void the laws that established our public policy...
...I have voted in approval of a policj that under which henceforth and forever, you and other boys likewise situated are barred from the right of holding office in this state unless perchance the man of wealth refuses the honor.' "But on the other hand be able to say to him, I have voted In favor of the preservation of the constitutional right with which you were born, namely, the right to hold office irrespective of the extent of your property holdings...
...Oliver Wendell Holmes once,said: 'Sin has many fools, but a lie is the handle that fits them all.' "Sen...
...it rises high above party affiliations and party ties...
...state, exceeded $100,000 or 25 time...
...Kohler or Phil La Follette, it involves the future of the boys of this day who are not possessed of wealth enabling them to cope with I he unwarranted expenditures in political campaigns...
...Duty at Polls "Go to the polls and discharge the duty which you owe your children to secure for them equal rights and equal opportunities, regardless of their financial status...
...Its determination involves the preservation of the public policy of this state...
...I was one of the most wholesome an outstanding pieces of legislation o that efficient and memorable administration...
...He presented the regrettable »pec-tacle of a governor having taken the oath to preserve, respect and enforce it* laws, asking to have declared null and void this law which defined the rule of his conduct and which he found upon the statutes upon assuming the governorship...
...It involves th( cherished guaranty of the constitutior assuring all men the equal protectior of the law in its fullest meaning anc significance...
...In respectful obedience to that mandate the legislature under the direction and guid ance of Gov...
...Koh-ler's action in going into the state supreme court last winter to a*4c that the state corrupt practices act be nullified, Daniel H. Grady, prominent Portage attorney and former president of the board of university regents, declared in a radio address here Monday night that "in my humble judgment, no governor has a right to seek annulment of a law for the enforcement and respect of which he is by oath and official duty bound...
...I say to you fathers and mothers that the responsibility for the lights and the future of your children rests upon you...
...For 15 years that lav stood upon our statute books, deflnini the rule of conduct for those who sought the sufferage of the people...
...Grady asserted...
...that Mr...
...It was not only a disregard of the properleties, but a breach of official duty...
...The line of battle is drawn, enlist with the ballot as your weapon and the constitution as your shield, drive bark the horde who would deny your children the rights of American citizenship with which they were born...
...Thus is raised the question whether or not the constitutional rights of a great majority of the people of this state shall be denied them simply because they are unable to cope in the expenditure of money with others more fortunately situated...
...No one is subject to criticism because of his position...
...The governor of a state should set an example and serve as a guide to its» people...
...Forty years ago John Temple Graves, a grandson of John C. Calhoun, gave expression to a thought which is applicable today...
...Grady, who was the special examiner in the John Doe investigation into the Kohler campaign, declared that the paramount issue in the present gubernatorial campaign is "whether or not the people of Wisconsin shall place the stamp of approval on the vulgar expenditure of money which characterized 'the election of 1928...
...It means either the preservation and the protection of the rights with which man is born, or it means the sounding of the death knell of the political ambitions of the poor...
...La Follette was interested, In which if a million dollars could have turned the tide that it would not, have been in the state within 24 hours...
...In the most trying days of his life his enemies sought to politically crucify and socially ostracize him, but he arose, lived and died the best loved of them all...
...To the everlasting credit of the people of Wisconsin, time has proved that they were not mistaken in their choice...
...It is not denied that the amount expended by this and other Committees as reported in less than one-fourth of the counties of tht...
...Grady's address, in full, follows: "The welfare of the state must ever depend upon the free and open discussion of public measures and the full and fair consideration of the policies qualifications and records of its public men...
...He said: Men of honor cannot compete in the arena where the weapons are befouled and the prize though noble as it may appear in its abstract suggestion is stained in its corrupt achievement.' "The issue rises high and above the interests and fortunes of any candidate...
...If a campaign such as was conducted in Wisconsin in behalf of Mr...
...The facts in relation to that election, the conduct and record of the official who thus sought to vitiate the laws of the state are known to everybody...
...yet is its spirit, spent...
...There is no middle ground, there is no twilight zone, there is no excuse...
...Never before lit the history of this state, and it is doubtful if ever in the history of any state, has a governor manifested such an utter disregard of the mandate of a constituency, or showed such disrespect for the legislature and a predecessor who had signed the bill'' as Gov...
Vol. 1 • August 1930 • No. 38
