The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1901-07-19
SECOND TERM TALK.
VIII the Opposition Seek to Block
Governor LaFol-
lette?
MADISON POLITICAL GOSSIP.
chippewa Falls Institution to Add 300
acknowledgements Tombstones
VS.. Legacies to Philanthropy.

Madison, Wis, July 16.-Whether
the opposition to Governor LaFollette
will put a candidate into the field is
what everybody wants to know. Hith-
erto the feeling has been that While
the sO-called stalWarts had little love
for the governor they were Republl-
cans, the precedent of second term
should be respected, and, more impor-
tant, by avoiding friction over the gov
ernOrshp, the SpOOner senatorship
could be continued with dignity and
without opposition, and thus Senator
SpoOner be in splendid condition as
respects state support to go before
the country as a senatorial can
didate. This has been the plan as it
commended itself to many SpOOner
men. 1t is the modus vivendi that [
still think will obtain.
However, of late, there has been
talk of contest in the state conven-
ton by the stalWarts, on the theory
that if no opposition is made, the La
Palette men will not be content with
renominating the governor; but, en-
bOIdened by their power, will seek
to control the next legislature at
every point and even choose a sena-
tor who shall not be SpOoner. One of
the latter's friends put it this way:
1--WE are willing to allow a second
term to LaFOllette and if it was any
one else we could trust him to keep
hands off the senatOrship. But the
governor is hard hater and with
state convention made up wholly of
his suppOrters-We fellows lying
down from now ONT would not be
strange if the governor construed it as
instructions from the state to put one
of his friends into the Senate-nOt
himself for he has said that he was
out. 1t seems incredible and humilat-
ing that the step should be necessary
in view of John G. .SpOOner'S standing
and prestige, but we know the gov
ernOr and don't propose to be caught
mapping. We are driven to make a
fight for Self-prOtectiOn. There is no
disposition to rob Governor LaFOllette
the convention, or at least make a
strong showing, and with hostile SEN
timent in so many of the counties
the job will not be a great one.'
1t Would Mean a New Governor.
This is important, if true, and of
course, If an attempt to control the
convention should be successful,
magnanimity would disappear and a
new man nominated for governor. On
the other hand if the LaFOllette men
doWned their enemies, it might dim
the lustre and veneration in which
Senator SpOOner is held. He ought to
be, and his followers consider him
above the cIashings of state factiOnal-
ism.
But the step has not been deter
mined upon, and | doubt if it is car
rIed out. There may be announce
ments of candidates., but TO organize
the opposition is no easy task. In the
last campaign it was talked about for
weeks, and there was no end of hos
tiIity in secret, but only one man
james G. northumberland to get out
in the open and l always respected him
more fer it. He took the colors Of
F,,in +C Of
and shouted back bravely, Bring up
the regiment to its cOlOrS."
But there was no regiment. The
fellows who had egged him on de-
clined to get from out the protecting
shelter of the trees, and Monahan
came back alone.
SO now it will not be easy to dupli-
cate The administrations organization
StalWarts have some newspapers
which they did not have a year ago.
They have the sentiment and some
others, and they think the "Germania'
will stand by them. They cheer them
selves by the memory of the way
the day Of the Bennett law, and some
think With such a candidate rs Secre-
tary Of State Froehlich, the Germans
could be maSSed again. Whether that
gentlem2n would consent to stand up
against the governor, does not yet APP
pear. He will merely say now, Il
am not candidate for governor but
attending to the duties Of my office -
The governors friends do not see the
force of the Bennett law parallel as
the German nationally has no issue
against him, and he is putting their
fellow cOuntrymen into office with
clever persistence.
Then there is talk of Lieutenant
Governor Stone, Congressman Esch
and of Senator Whitehead. 1t is a
mixed-up condition of affairs and a
match would start a cOnfiagration
Not few of the LaFollette papers
e.