The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1900-06-01
bob" And THE PRESS
Sentiment Towards His Candi-
dacy as Shown by Papers
of Wisconsin.
HAS MANY sTANCH CHAMPIONS
Some Warm in Opposition, Others Re-
gret He "Came QUIT" Still Others
Welcome Him Impartially.

all the political gossip at the cdpItdl of
the state and if one believed one-fisth
of all he heard he would soon be in
sane.
Mr.. LaFollettes splendid machine
began to move the day after his an
nouncement. Seven thousand pieces
of mail matter moved out to other
parts of the state within forty eight
hours, and 5000 more pieces went out
the next day. The output is now daily
and persistent. Mr.. LaFollette be-
lieves In the power of the printed
word and this is a form of machinery
which is above criticism, it the print
ed word tells the truth. The LaFollette
people are very confident that they
will secure many delegates whose first
vote at the Milwaukee convention OF
Aug. s may be complimentary to
Whitehead, Long" Jones, Stebbins,
Rogers or Bradford. Mr.. LaFOllette's
circular letters to political leaders over
the state are mildly drawn and not
in tone with his former defiant utter
anceS.
Talk of Alliances.
His enemies are using the argument
that he has an alliance with one or two
power, whose principles and aims in
life are about as different from what
LaFollette has been supposed to stand
for as Millions paradise Lost" differs
from the discredited play "Sapho."
There is much talk of this alliance OF
virtue and vice, of aStute political
trickery and a propaganda Of the OPP
pressed, and If there is any truth in
it, of course, it will hurt LaFollette
when the common people find it out.
If Mr. LaFollette is tempted to tie
up with these sharp schemers who are
for advancement and make not even
a pretense of looking after the inter-
ests in the common folks he will soon
find himself listed In popular appre-
citation as a thorough-going politician
after office like the rest Of them.
The Spooner Issue.
The relations Of all these guberna-
torial features to John G. SDOOnerS
continuance in the senate is obvious,
though at least two of LaFOllette'S
closest friends have asserted that Mr..
LaFOllette has absolutely no intention
to seek this senatorial honor Ii this
is so, and Mr.. LaFollette SO puts it,
Enthusiastically Gas he says he will it
will make more friendly atmosphere
toward him and strip some of the
state senatorial contests this year of
their bitterness. Sixteen senators are
to be elected (Of the thirty-three in the
full body this fall and they will vote
for United States senator in January,
1903. SpOoner is now doing the best
work of his life In Washington, and
no doubt divides with Allison and
Hoar the leadership Of that body, be-
sides being President McKinley's
spokesman. He refused recently to
preside over the state convention at
Milwaukee and evidently takes the
ground that his public services, and
not personal hustling over the state,
must speak for him. His friends,
however, are looking out for his politi-
cal interests, and if the fact that he
may be the presidential nominee in
1904; If the fact Of his supremacy in
the senate does not secure him re-
election, his friends over the state will
do the necessary work to land the hon
or.
The Press end Mr.. LaFoIIette.
Most Of the papers of the state have
had an opportunity to state their opin-
VOL Va MI. 11df OllotCS
Sentiment seems to be divided as to
it's expediency. On the one hand are
his admirers, already pledging to him
their local delegations, while there are
a good many minor chords indicative
of the old suspicion and much frank
hostility. The most vigorous Opposi-
ton comes from Bradford's district
the Seventh-and from Lacrosse,
where Mr.. Ellis Usher, in his Chroni-
Gle, is outspoken in his opposition to
the LaFollette movement and is rein
forced by the Republican Leader of
that city. The Eau Claire Press is
kindlier in tone, but nearly all that
country stands pat for Mr. Bradford.
The Black River Banner, in this same
Seventh district, breaks away for the
Madison attorney. In this same Jack
son county, however, Senator McGiI-
vray Is outspoken for Bradford.
The Eau Claire Leader says that
LaFollette has ''some followers here.
but his supporters decline to have their
names printed. Some state later on
they will stand for an interview" The
Leader reiterates the strength IF Brad
ford in that section.
The GaleSville Republican wonders
whether Tramplealeau county will go
back or "stay on the Bradford win
ming band wagon" The Tomah Jour
nal doubts a long harmony. The Eau
Claire Telegram thinks the new candi-
date means more disturbances.
Senator Withee of Lacrosse is
frankly opposed to Mr., LuFollette and
pushing hard for Bradford. and he
looks for an anti-LaFollette combina-
ton on Bradford or some one else.
The West Salem Nonpareil puts it
this way: I'VE believe that the gentle
man will make a mistake if he per
sists in maintaining his present posi-.
ton. and that he will be beaten out
is almost an assured fact" Warren's
Index says: THE county fair
speeches on pure politics made by
LaFollette four years ago are now
bearing fruit, in a substantial Bob
colony in each county in which he
spoke. LaFollette is an able man.
but there are otherS''
In Whitehead's District.
In the First district. where the
Whitehead movement is we'll organ
lied, Cham Ingersoll, the Beloit editor
who, with the GAINESVILLE Gazette and
leaders of that city, with Judge Orion