Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-10-31
RACE AND RELIGION
Figure as Factors This Year in Wis
consin's State Politics.
CUNTEsT OVER THE BENNETT LAW.
The Democratic German Vote Neutralized
by Other Losses.
PARTY LINES STRANGELY CONFUSED

MILWAUKEE, October 30.-Wisconsin is
| this year in the throes of a political conflict
the like of which has never before been
| known in the history OF the State. 1t is
semi-racial and religious in its character,
and has sprung up suddenly out of the pas
sage of law which at the time of its enact
ment did not even give rise to murmur.
| 1t is in reference to the now historical
Bennett law, which passed the Wisconsin
| Legislature at its last session and which
| calls for the compulsory education of chill
| dren between certain ages during por-
tion of each year. Sorse time after its
passage Milwaukee newspaper, the Cath
olic Citizen, pointed out that the effect Of
the law would be to destroy the parochial
school system, and at once an agitation for
its repeal was begun by the German Cath
olics and Lutherans which swept over the
State like an angry torrent: }
DISCONNECTED ONES ELECTED PECK.
Its political effect was felt in Milwaukee
last spring at the mayoralty election, when
the discontented element elected George W.
Peck, the Democratic candidate, by over
| 5000 majority. This disaster alarmed the
Republicans, and many feared it meant the
loss of the State. But Governor Hoard
would not agree to temporize, and came out
emphatically for the maintenance and en-.
forcement of the law.
The Democrats, on the other hand, thought
they saw grand opportunity to make
great move on the political chess board. To
secure the disafected vote for their ticket
they declared for the repeal or material
notifications of the obnoxious legislation
and placed in nomination for Governor Mr..
Peck, who had just carried Milwaukee BY
such an enormous majority on that is u.
ONLY AN EDUCATIONAL ISSUE.
The Republicans, on their side, renomi-
mated Governor Hoard, who had taken such
an unyielding stand on the question and
therebTcommitted their party to the main
tenance of the Bennett law. As result the
tariff, the silver question and all other issues
of the day have been eliminated from ths
State campaign and the educational issue
reigns supreme. Every other issue is
dwarfed for the time being.
The Republicans claim that they stand
for the preservation of the public school
system and that the real issue is whether
Church or State shall be supreme. The
Democrats are urging the sanctity of the
home, the preservation of the Christian in
huence and customs, and are pressing the
sentimental side of the question strongly.
The question Of language also enters
largely into the fight. The Bennett law re-
quires that children between the ages of Z
and IA shall be instructed in the English"
language in four elementary studIes-viz.,
reading, writing. arithmetic and United
States history.
LUTHERANs AROUSED.
The Catholic and German Lutherans, and
they are large percentage OF the popula-
tion in Eastern Wisconsin, declare that this
means crusade against the German lam
guage, while the other side declare that En-
glish is the language of the State and must
be paramount. Party lines in this contest
have been broken down to some extent. The
whole Lutheran vote has gone over bag and
baggage to the Democratic party, because
they believe that party is not in favor of in
terfering with their church schools.
Wisconsin has been safe Republican
State for many years. 1t gave Grant in
1868 plurality of "a, 15O, and in 1872 it
gave him 1880. 1t was nearly lost by
Hayes IN 1876, his plurality being only
6, $50; but in 1879 Republican Governor
was elected bya plurality of $4,000. Gar
field had in 1880 a plurality of
%, 763. The following year the Democrats
lost the Governor by 1900, and in the
tidal wave of 1882 they carried the State on
the Congressional vote by 6,957. Blaine
had in 1884 plurality Of IA, SOS, and Harri-
SON in 1888 21, ,321. Governor Hoard ran a
little behind Mr.. Harrison, his plurality
being 20, ,253. At the same election the
Prohibition vote was Il, 373, and the Union
Labor vote 8, 1885,
PRoHIBITIoNIsTs LOSING.
It is already clear that there will be q
falling off of the prohibition vote this year
and that probably half OF it will be cast for
Governor Hoard, as that element is anti
foreign and strongly faVors the Bennett
law. There is no vitality this year in the
Labor party. The German vote is largely
massed IN the eastern and lake counties,
which have always been heavily Demo-
cratic.
1t is in Milwaukee county that Mr.. Peck
will ma We to make his greatest gains among
the Germans. Milwaukee county in 1888
gave Harrison a plurality of 1902 and
Governor Hoard had 3, 1S4. But 4, 494 votes
were cast for Streeter, the labor candidate
President and 4,647 Tor Powell, the labor
candidate for Governor. The prohibition
vote was only 333.
Putting Peck's plurality at 5000 in the
county he will be making gain OF 5000
over the figures OF 1888. Putting his gains
among the German Lutherans and Catholics
elsewhere in the State at 1900 he would
have net gain of 20, 900, which should give
him the State. But to neutralize these
gains there are the losses to be expected
from the members of the Wisconsin Ben
nett Law Democratic League, who are said
to number 10000.
To win Mr. Peck will have to largely in.
crease his recent majority in Milwaukee,
and many think it reached the highest
mark last spring.