Langlade County, Wisconsin - Chapter 10, 1922

Chapter 10

Political Parties - Federal - Whig - Democrat - R epublican - Green Backs - Socialists - Non-Partisan League - Progressives - Retirement of Old School leaders - County political henchmen - Personal Politics in County Affairs - Political Wire Pulling - Langlade County Women in Politics - The Political Wigwam of 1896 - War with Germany Breaks Party Ties - Labor to the Front - Weakening of Party Lines - The Battle Line of 1924 - Presidential Vote of County 1884-1920.

In the Colonial period of American history there existed no political parties such as are prevalent today. Not until 1760, when the English insisted upon a severe policy toward the Colonies did two factions develop, one favoring self government and the other favoring obedience to the crown government. Thus was born the Colonial Whig and the Tory groups and with their birth American political history began.

The initial party organization commenced in opposition to measures sponsored by Alexander Hamilton, which included the establishment of a National Bank. In this conflict of ideas developed the Federal and Anti-Federalist - the former led by Alexander Hamilton, the latter by Thomas Jefferson. The Federalists gained control of the new United States government with the election of George Washington, but in 1801 were overthrown by the Anti-Federalists, who during their quarter of a century of power, changed their party label from Anti-Federalist to Democratic- Republican, Republican and finally Democrat.

The National Republican party, created during the Monroe "Era of Good Feeling," the Anti-Masonic party of 1832, the Whig party of 1836, the Liberty party of 1840, the Free Soilers of 1848, the American or Know-nothing party of 1856, the Republican party of 1856, the Green Backs or Nationals of 1876, the Laborites of 1884, the Peoples Party of 1892, the Socialists of 1892, the Populists of 1896, the Socialist-Labor Party of 1896, the Prohibitionists commencing in 1896, the Progressives of 1912, the Farmer-Labor Party of 1920, all have been organized as a result of divided opinions on some burning principal or issue of national interest.

Political history of the county began when Squire A. Taylor made his fight for the County of New, in 1879. A year later, as we know, in February, 1880, the name of the county became Langlade. The Wolf River settlement and its leaders opposed the establishment of the county-seat at Springbrook or Antigo. Francis A. Deleglise and his followers accepted the creation of New County nonchalantly. This is evidenced by the following petition to the Oconto County Board of Supervisors : We, the undersigned inhabitants and electors of that part of Range eleven (11) that lays in Oconto County* do hereby make application to you to establish and organize a town out of and comprising the above mentioned territory and to call said town the name set opposite the majority of the signers hereto.

petit oners desired townships 31, 32, 33, 34, 35 36. 37, 38, 39, 40. 41 and 42. North, Range 11 East "be detached irom all previous town organizations existing under authority of the Oconto County Board and that the townships be organized and named Antigo." The first town election was to be held April 5, 1881. A. D., at Niels Anderson's store. This was directly in conflict with the Chapter 7, laws of 1880, approved February 19, 1880, in which New County was changed to Langlade County, (with Antigo township as a part of it) and in which Oconto County had no jurisdiction since 1879. It demonstrates the livalry between the Squire A. Taylor group on the Wolf River and the settlers in and adjacent to Antigo.

Total number voting - 59. 50 for Antigo - 9 for Springbrook. "Two would not sign on account of the majority being for Antigo," said the petition.

The campaign of 1884 was Langlade County's first dip into Presidential politics. September 25, 1884, a Blaine and Logan Club was organized with W. H. Blinn as President and A. L. Ross, Commander. October 16, 1884, a great celebration and torch parade was held by the Blaine and Loganites in Antigo. The procession, headed by a brass band, proceeded from the Antigo House (corner of 5th Avenue and Edison street) to the Opera House (south of site of Vivian Hotel), where Hon. W. C. Bailey of Green Bay spoke in ringing terms for over an hour on impending issues. The Republicans appealed to Civil War veterans to support Blaine and especially Logan, soldier and G. A. R. Commander.

The Democrats were very active in support of Cleveland and Hendricks. A Cleveland and Hendricks Club was formed with Attorney Thomas W. Lynch as President and W. H. Dawley as Secretary. Their street parades, torch processions and county campaigning kept the Plumed Knights of the Blaine and Logan Club on the alert. Many prominent speakers visited Antigo and spoke on the paramount issue, the tariff.

After the election the people of the village thronged to the Milwaukee, Lake Shore depot, where telegraphic returns were received. The bulletins were scanned with eagerness to cheer or lament as the report dictated. Rivalry was not over when voting ceased as the Republicans charged the Democrats with "being too boisterous while awaiting returns."

Newspapers played an important part in the campaign. The Langlade Republican was strong for Blaine, while the News Item was for the Cleveland- Hendricks ticket.

Pioneers are of the opinion that Antigo has never since witnessed such earnest political torch parades, pow wows and active political campaigning as the great election of 1884. While Blaine carried the county it was only by 126 votes.

The Campaign Of 1888

The campaign of 1888 turned the tide in favor of the Republicans and Benjamin Harrison, with free trade as the paramount issue, went into the President's chair. Langlade County endorsed Cleveland in the campaign by 1192 votes as against 774 for General Harrison.

The election was equally exciting as that of 1884. When the returns showed Harrison and Morton as the victors a great log cabin demonstration was arranged, Saturday, November 10, 1888. Music, a procession, banners, horsemen and a general "bang up" prevailed. An amusing incident of the 1888 fight was related by an old timer telling how William Marthinson carried David Clements from Weed's mill to Clement's residence, a considerable distance, as payment of a losing end of an election bet.

The Great Fight For Free Silver

The most exciting campaign in the history of the nation for years was the McKinley-Bryan contest of 1896. The coinage of free silver at a 16 to 1 ratio was the dominant issue. McKinley carried Langlade County by approximately five hundred votes. The campaign held sway over the entire nation from the time nominations were made until the inauguration of President-elect McKinley. Bryan, magnetic orator, toured the country speaking to great crowds everywhere. Republican and Democrat leaders were sent into Langlade County to aid their respective parties. Rallies, torchlight parades, political speeches and barbecues enlivened the campaign in which party lines were broken and crossed in so many ways making its local phase notable in Langlade County political history.

The Political Wigwam Of 1896

The citizens of Antigo, chiefly Republicans, with the aid of some Gold Democrats and free silver proponents alike, realized the need of a large meeting place during the political election of 1896. Accordingly carpenters, laborers, politicians and office seekers all joined hands and erected a monstrous wigwam, as it was called, on the present public library grounds.

The great poles were hauled from the Kingsbury & Henshaw land just west of Neva road, opposite the McHale farm, north of Antigo. Most of the labor and material was donated. The framework of the wigwam was erected with great speed. A substantial building paper covered the rough wall boards. The interior was equipped with plank seats and a platform. The seating capacity was between fifteen hundred to two thousand. Antigo had a Bryan Club and a McKinley Club during that hot fought contest.

Republican and Democrat campaign speeches alike were given in the wigwam. More interest was evinced by the women of the county than ever before.

Bryan was defeated but as he said "the year 1900 is not far away, the campfires of patriotism still burn" and the great Commoner to this day is a leader in American politics. The campaign of 1900 resulted again in the victory of McKinley and the Republicans. Langlade County gave McKinley five hundred majority, the vote being 1596 for McKinley and 1084 for Bryan. The paramount issue was the monetory system and the tariff.

In 1904, Alton B. Parker, Democratic presidential nominee was defeated by Roosevelt. Parker charged his defeat to followers of Bryan. Roosevelt carried Langlade County by a thousand votes.

The campaign of 1912 is notable for developing the Bull Moose or Progressive Party under the leadership of Roosevelt, who defeated LaFollette of Wisconsin for Presidential nominee. William Howard Taft, eminently qualified, was nominated at Chicago by the Republicans. Some thought the nomination to be unfair and the Progressive party was the result. Senator La Follette broke with Roosevelt after the latter's nomination. Meanwhile the Democrats, through the influence of Bryan, nominated Governor Woodrow Wilson of New Jersey and with the Republican forces divided the results were easy to forecast. Wilson was elected. He carried Langlade County by five hundred votes. Roosevelt lead Taft in Langlade County and gained a greater vote than Taft in the nation.

In 1916 with Europe at war, the United States neutral, Woodrow Wilson was swept into office on a platform, "He kept us out of war." Langlade County endorsed Wilson, giving him two-hundred more votes than Charles Evans Hughes, Republican nominee.

The campaign of 1920 was one of the most memorable in the history of the nation. President Wilson, broken in health, his ideals of a League of Nations shattered, looked on as James M. Cox, Ohio war Governor, leading the Democrats in a remarkable uphill battle, was overwhelmingly defeated by the Republicans, who nominated Warren G. Harding, U. S. Senator from Ohio.

Langlade County went Republican by two thousand votes. The paramount issue was the League of Nations and America's foreign policy. The Farmer- Labor party, new born, made a creditable showing. The Non-partisan League gained a following in Langlade County. The campaigns of 1884-1896 and 1920 are considered the most remarkable in American political history. We can only await the year 1924 to see if these contests are not superceded.

The Year 1924 Is Not Far Away

The battle lines of politics are beginning to be arrayed at this writing. The Democrats have many leaders as McAdoo, Pomerene, Bryan, Cox or Walsh,

Presidential possibilities, but a dark horse has ample time to come up. Warren G. Harding, if alive, will unquestionably be the Republican choice again. The Socialists may replace Debs with a man younger than he. Soldiers of the World War and the women will play an important part in the contest. The dead progressives of 1912 may be reborn under a new title. Borah, La Follette, (who will be re-elected in November, 1922), Johnson of California, James A. Reed and France of Maryland would be the timber for the new political coterie. The conservative policies of the Republicans are now a target.

Langlade County since its organization in 1880 has had, in its past and present political history many leaders who acquired their controlling influence through their own personal prestige and cordiality rather than through party principles. The day is passing when men adhere to the narrowness of a one policy or party. Party lines are weakening. A man's character, his ability and his honesty figure largely in local politics. For that reason Langlade County may be Republican on national issues, but largely Democratic on local affairs.

The dominant parties in the county have been Democrat and Republican. In 1884 and afterward for sometime the Prohibitionists or "third party" element was strong. The Socialist Party has been stronger in late years. There candidate for U. S. Senate, Victor L. Berger, received 420 votes in the county in 1918. The Non-Partisan League organized in the county in 1919. Allied with various labor organizations in a Farmer-Labor League this party swept the county in the 1920 primaries, but was defeated in the general election. The Republican McCoy Club (Col. McCoy, of Sparta was then Democrat candidate for Governor against J. J. Blaine, Progressive Republican, whom the standpat Republicans repudiated) of Langlade County played an important part in the defeat of the Farmer-Labor group. The Republican county committee was captured by the Farmer-Labor League and is still in their control. Issues resultant from the World War broke party ties. Democrat county officers have been retained almost without exception, save for Sheriff, for many years. In 1922 the important battle in the county appears to be between the Progressives and the Stalwarts for control of Republican party affairs. "Rings," political aspirants, so-called amateur political "bosses" and "one man power" are talked of in the county.

Since Organization To Date

In 1880 there is no record of a Presidential vote in New County, but in 1881 a record of a Gubernatorial vote is given in Langlade County. Langlade County has voted Republican majorities six times and Democratic majorities in Presidential elections four times.