Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-09-01
THE BADGER STATE
Political Conditions in Wisconsin,
Analysed.
NO DEMOCRATIC LANDSLIDE
Republicans Sure to Garry the
State on National Ticket.
NO GERMAN DISAFFECTION
Special Correspondence Of The Evening Star.


son why so little is heard of its affairs.
Another reason is that its republican M
Jorities are substantial and so little
moved by passing currents of political SEN
timent that it does not get the advertising
which comes from being a doubtful state.
The prediction bureau OF the democra Tic
national committee sometimes puts Wis
consin on its list of claims" Seemingly
this Is more for the sake of variety than
for the purpose of fooling anybody. All
the signs which are now discernible show
that 1T is still firmly republican. In iS!b
1 travelled through the state in company
with Mr.. Bryan, and even then there were
hopeful democrats who told him that he
had good chance OF carrying It, The
election returns, which showed a majority
of more than 100000 for Mckinley, told a
different story.
No Radical Change.
In the present contest there seems to be
no radical change In the standing of polit-
icai parties. The only question is whether
republicanism having been at the flood for
several years, may not now be at the ebb.
That is the hope of the democrats. rather
than any change In the great mass OF
voters because Of either old or new issues.
The majority Of 1895 will not be repeated.
themselves do not expect It, What they
do count on Is a reliable party majority.
say. In the nefghborhood Of 10000 or $4,000.
With large foreign element in the state,
Wisconsin should afford some test of the
degree to which imperialism and militar-
ism, so called, have affected foreign-born
voters. When these subjects became prom
inent National Committeeman Henry C.
Payne and other republican leaders were
worried. When they went to Washington
they would tell the President their trou-
bleS, and take courage from his assurance
that the Germans and Scandinavians Of
Wisconsin would have no cause to oppose
the national administration on that ground
Their courage has grown as the Presidents
policy has developed. and at this time they
are ready to meet the issues squarely.
Feeling of the Germans.
The bulk of the Germans in Wisconsin
are Of the well-to-do classes. Their thrift
has had much to do with the development
Of the state. In this campaign I have not
been able to find that there is anything
like a landslide toward democracy. The
republican ranks were pretty well crowded
and some individual defectionS have
CURED. Apparently, a pro-Boer sentiment
among the Wisconsin Germans has had
more to do with their criticism of the ma
tional administration than any fear Of mil
itariSm or Imperialism But while this SEN
timent exists, and while the Germans have
been critical, their mood has not taken
them in large numbers away from the re-
publicans. They are rather chilly on ex-
panSion, but they are satisfied with the
financial legislation and business conditions
under the Mckinley administration, and
that Is holding the majority of them to the
party. The brewing interests, which have
been reported as anti-repubican because OF
the war tax on beer, have been Modified.
While they may throw their influence for
the election of a democratic representative
In Congress here and there. they are sup
ftv,rr fta o1 .f,,,-
The Labor Element.
In Milwaukee there has been a labor eIe-
ment In politics which has inclined toward
socialism. 1t has had some Germans and
Poles In its makeup, but has not been a
strong force outside Of local affairs. What
there Is Of 1t now leans to Mr.. Bryan
However, the democratic candidate does
not seem to be as popular in Wisconsin as
in other western states. Free silver was al
ways abhorrent to the Wisconsin people OF
all parties. This dated from the Garfield
campaign of 1880, when the hard money is
sue was fought to finish.
Among the republicans the luxury Of fac
tional struggles is something not to be
overlooked. Here in Milwaukee they in
dulged in 1t to the extent of permitting the
election OF a democratic mayor.
La Toilette and the GovernOrship
On the state ticket no open warfare is
Indifferent whether Mr.. r. M. La Toilette.
the candidate for governor. succeeds or
not. Mr.. La Toilette made a reputation in
Congress when. through his friendship and
support of Speaker Reed, he gained the dis
tinction of being the youngest member on
the ways and means committee which
drafted the Mckinley tariff. After his re-
tirement from Congress he took an active
part in state politics and antagonized for
mer Senator Philetus Sawyer. La Toilette
In his quest after the nomination for gov
ernor took his stand as the leader of the
reform element and was defeated once or
twice But this time his friends were able
to undermine the old machine and secure
his nomination by unanimous vote. This
did not mean that he was the unanimous
choice Of the party, but the older politi-
clans, when they saw they were beaten,
acted like good politicians, and by accept
ing the inevitable, succeeded in concealing
their weakness.
La Toilette and his neutenants are in
control and they are aggressive in assert
ing their leadership. Mr.. La Follettes
1t is declared, was victory
for reform and pure politics over rings and
bosses. Yet there does not seem to be
lack of practical politics on either side.
Governor Scofield is hostile to La Toilette,
and 1t Is said will not vote for him. This
Is personal matter between the two men,
and is not of interest outside Wisconsin.
The position of the Wisconsin republ-
cans or expansion is fairly reflected in
his leadership. They are conser-
vative. but they are not in favor of letting
go territory that belongs to the United
States, or Sinking responsibilities.
His Democratic Opponent.
The democratic candidate against Mr. La
Toilette is Mr.. l.. G. Bomrich. His nomi-
nation was not exactly accident. yet
1t was a surprise. Without rejecting on
Candidate Bomrich, the impression one
gets is that he Is not a heavy weight in
politics. He expects support because he
is German. The Germans speak of him
as a good fellow, and some of them may
vote for him out of personal liking. But
he is not going to take German republic
cans into the Bryan democracy.
Though Mr.. Bryan seems to lack the per-
sonai following in Wisconsin, which he has
In other states, he has succeeded in roofing
out the old democratic leaders. There is
no room for them under the new dispense
ton. Former Secretary w. F. Villas, who
gave Wisconsin prominence under the Cleve-
land administration, is another of the older
school of democrats who seems to be in
permanent retirement. He did not support
Bryan in 1896, and 1t Is understood that he
will not do so in 1900. But the regular
democrats say II does net matter. as Mr..
Villas is out of politics for good. 1t Is only |
a few years since he had such complete
control Of the Wisconsin democratic or
MI hat No