Watertown Republican

Face the Music.

The Bennett law will be the issue of the fall campaign in Wisconsin, and the Democratic party will come out plainly for the repeal of the law. The "managers" have not told us this, but we do not see how it can be otherwise. In fact, we do not think the managers can avoid it if they would. The threat of a few Bennett law Democrats to bolt the ticket and vote for Hoard will accelerate rather than retard the inevitable.

Look at the facts: The Bennett law is everywhere the topic of political discussion. The question is: Shall it be sustained or repealed? The fall elections will answer this question, and the people propose to make it answer the question. No political party can ignore a live issue such as the Bennett law has become. To do so would be cowardice, and there are enough earnest men in both parties who would spurn any ticket nominated on an evasion or a dodging of a plain issue.

Why should the state Democracy take a different position on the Bennett law than that taken by the Milwaukee Democracy at the recent election? Are not the elements the same in the country as in the city? Do the people of Dane and Brown counties like interference with parochial schools any better than the people of Milwaukee county? Is the Bennett law the acknowledged child of any other city more than it is of Milwaukee—whose city attorney framed it?

If an anti-Bennett law platform carries the solid and increased Democratic masses in Milwaukee county, is not that a strong indication of how the masses of the party feel in other sections of the state?

The Democratic party must take a stand on the Bennett law. If it takes an equivocal position it will merit the contempt of all men. If it favors the law it will virtually ask the thousands of Democrats in Milwaukee county who went to the polls against the Bennett law in April to face about and go in favor of the law in November. Only fools would canvass the possibility of such a thing.—Milwaukee Catholic Citizen.