The Minneapolis journal., 1901-02-27

paper was a regular party paper Even
Roosevelt. in his La Crosse speech, put Usher
on a pedestal and patted him on the back.
Now he is doing the best he can to make
trouble for the La Toilette administration
The primary election law is having hard
Shedding at Madison. At least the anti La
Toilette people are raising a great hue and
cry against it. They are attacking the bill
IN detail and on general principles They are
arguing that it is . measure in the interests
of the bosses; it will be expensive; it will
obliterate the Independent voter; it is non
sense to let candidates frame the platform.
and anyway this is an important matter and
everybody ought to think about it some
more before trying such new scheme
The latest argument might have been ex-
cused during the summer silly season. Some
one has raised the question whether the
platform adopted by the state convention '.dei
manded' the law or only recommended,
II. The platform, as drawn up by the com
mittee, said demand but a stenographer's s
notes show that as read TO the convention it
was lrecommend. Now, it is argued, if
the platform simply recommended. the party
is under no pledge to pass the law, although
ID the nomination of La Folette the party
adopted the fundamental plank of the plat
form he has been fighting for these MANY
main issue of the state campaign
This is on par with the argument of an
other politician who asserts solemnly that the
state convention never really adopted the
platform. Only about 20 per cent of the
delegates voted aye, and the chairman never
called for the nays There are also funny
things in craftsmanship
La Toilette has not yet had much chance
uy1a ind Of
but if he keeps up the gait he has started in
appointments, he will do. They have been
uniformly good. The reappointment of
Charles R. Boardman of Oshkosh as adiutant
general could not be improved on General
Boardman's work in that Office will bear com
parison with that of any of his predecessors.
and among them were General Chandler p
Chapman and General Charles King He has
reorganized the state guard into thoroughly
efficient force, and his work during the
Spanish war, in getting the Wisconsin forces
to the front, gives him a high place Board
man might doubtless have got the Wisconsin
place among the generals, but he turned
in and worked enthusiastically for General
King. We wanted to command one of the
Wisconsin regiments but he would not de-
prive any of the regular colonels of the
honor. So he staid at home and did the
work, to give the others the chance at the
SlOIy- Lid FotlellS recognized MS worth, and
reappointed him, though he was a Scofield
relict, and follower of the old Sawyer cult.
In reappointing Judge William p Lyon of
Madison to the board of control. La Toilette
again showed his wisdom. He combines capa-
bility with the experience of years and age
has not dulled his enthusiasm for the work.
He was one of the earliest judges on the
Wisconsin circuits, and for many years he
held seat ON the state supreme bench And
his personal traits adapt him admirably to
the work of the board. The friends of E. r.
Petherick are making hard effort to have
him also retained as the democratic mem
beR with chance of success. He is a news
paper man of experience and he has added
to the board an element that has been valu-
able. Unless the governor undertakes to play
politics with the board, it is probable that
he will recognize the wisdom of keeping
.tDick" Petherick.
The friends of Colonel Anderson rather re-
sented his retirement from the tax board to
make place for Former Congressman Nils P.
Haugen of River Falls. But Anderson was
so peculiarly Scofeld appointment, hav-
ing gone to the position from the governors s
private secretaryship, that he does not seem
to have much Of grievance. Furthermore,
Mr.. Haugen is generally recognized as ad-
mirably fitted for the position.