The Washburn Times

Senator Roy P. Wilcox opened his state-wide speaking campaign for the Republican nomination for governor with three speeches on Monday. At noon he addressed at Sarona an audience composed largely of farmers discussing marketing conditions, and especially his work in the last legislative session on the Wisconsin marketing law. At four o'clock he spoke in Shell Lake along lines similar to those at Sarona, winding up the day with a large meeting at Spooner at night, composed largely of railroad workers and business men.

The Senator was in fine voice and spirits as he started out on a campaign which will take him into every county, and will last for more than two months, averaging four speeches daily. The audiences were responsive and friendly and seemed to like the Senator's method of handling the subjects discussed. He announced in his speeches that he would for the next ten days confine himself to a discussion of one or two principal subjects and would then summarize what he had said into a formal platform to be issued then.

At Spooner he dwelt particularly on industrial and social problems, giving the most time to labor legislation and industrial unrest. He explained and followed quite closely a part of the Reconstruction program filed February 5, 1919 by the special Senate committee of which he was chairman.

He complimented the railroad men for remaining at work during the war without insisting on increased wages, and also for waiting now so patiently for the award of the labor board, even to the extent of fighting their own men to keep the cars moving.

Some striking statements which may be called the keynotes of the Senator's campaigns are

Two years ago I asked the voters of Wisconsin Republicans in a campaign in which wholehearted support of our Government against foes was the outstanding issue. The enemy is now silent in defeat. Today the fight is to decide whether the American idea of equal opportunity and development of the individual under representative, constitutional government in a republic, shall prevail against the philosophy of class struggle and collective government for a collective citizenship of a socialistic state. Make no mistake as to the issue. Make no mistake as to its nearness. The non-partisan league officered and organized by red card socialists, is the same old error under a new name. It represents only a change of tactics. It is a desperate effort to bring Marxian socialism to the farmer and city worker in such a form that it will appeal to both alike. It entices the farmer with glittering generalities about cutting out the middleman. North Dakota is floundering in chaos. Minnesota has barely escaped. Our rallying cry must be "Save Wisconsin".

"It is perfectly impossible to believe that shifting our problems to a class conscious, socialistic state will bring peace on earth to men of ill will. Mutual forbearance is necessary. Only a frank recognition of the essential partnership between labor, management, capital and the public, animated by the principles of justice will cure our social ailments."

"The task which we have before us is to place the government of the state in the hands of those who follow a constructive program, progressive enough to meet the changing needs of the time, yet not so radical as to threaten constitutional government, destroy existing social organizations, or lay undue burdens of taxation upon our people."