Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1900-07-12
LsFoLLE1rE at" sPooHER OUT.

Political denoument in Wisconsin
during the past week has been
highly sensational and very sig
nificant. First, impelled by the en-
phatic decision against him in his
own county, Waukesha, Long Jones
announced his withdrawal as IA CAN
didate for governor. Next came IA
similar announcement by Ira -.
Bradford. Then Whitehead publicly
informed US that he had ceased to be
a candidate. With these three as
pirants out of the field, the contest
for nomination is practically ended.
| La Toilette was always admittedly
strong in the respective districts
| where each of these had more or less
local following, and on their retire
ment it was at once conceded that
| he would receive most of the sup
port they could have held. His
nomination by an overwhelming ma
| iority is now conceded, even should
Stebbins and Rogers not withdraw,
as they probably will before the con-
vention assemblies, and the Little
Giant" of Madison will doubtless be
nominated by acclamation.
| This result is determined by the
masses of the party. The evidences
that great majority desired his
nomination. which led Mr.. LaFol-
| lette to become Il candidate, grew so
plain as the canvass progressed that
! the opposition could not fail to rec
| ognize it, aud they wisely concluded
to abandon II hopeless effort against
| the tide. Twice the popular de-
mand for Mr.. LaFollette has been
! defeated by combinations of strong
! political managers; it could not be
done third time. There is a point
| beyond which politicians dare not
/ 90 in opposition to the people.
LaFollette's name at the head Of
! the state ticket assures an enthusi-
astic campaign, and the election of
many republican nominees for con-
gressionpl, county and legislative
! offices ,hat otherwise might be
! doubtful; besides a grand majority
| in the state for Mckinley and Roos-
evet and the republican state ticket.
When the ballots are counted we
confidently prophesy that LA Toilette
will be found to have more votes
| than any other on his ticket, and
thus prove what we have ever claim
ed, that he is the most popular re-
publican in the state.
Senator Spooner's announcement
| that he will not be candidate for
denomination is the most surprising
| feature of the eventual week. Had
Mr.. LaFollette withdrawn from the
field as candidate for governor ten
days ago, it would have been no
more a surprise. There was no
greater probability of LaFollette's
! nomination for governor two weeks
| ago than there was of Spooner's
being returned to the T.. :. Senate
the day before he announced that he
would not be a candidate for re-elec-
ton. The little talk about combina-
tons To defeat him raised in the
gubernatorial canvass, served to de-
velope a strong sentiment in favor
of Spooner's reelection, prevalent in
the ranks OF the followers of the sew
eral gubernatorial candidates. This
had nothing TO do with the Senators
withdrawal. He retires voluntarily,
and with assurance that he could
continue in the position he So highly
graces, His action is determined by
purely personal and family reasons,
as he frankly states in his letter,
published herewith.
Speculation as to who will be his
successor is already rife. Several
are supposed to be ambitious for the
honor, among them Congressman
Babcock, w. ID. Hoard, Isaac Steph-
eusou, :. \. Cook, IL. NJ, LaFollette
and Congressman Cooper. In this
list are some worthy to wear Senator
Spooner's toga, and some on whom
it would be illfittiug.