The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-08-21
TROUBLE AMONG WISCONSIN RE-
P~lHIICANS.


The Republicans of Wisconsin are having
an experience which should be a warning
to those i'm other States, as 1t seems TO
illustrate the danger of big majorities and
of trying to build up a political machine in
the interest of one man. The State. ms
everybody knows, is generally Republican
by a large majority. 1t gave Mckinley 1O6.-
600 majority. and in the last state election
II. NJ. La Toilette, the Republican can
didate for Governor. was elected by a
plurality of 10S, 900. The present trouble
seems to have grown out of the efforts of
Governor La Toilette to build up a machine
for himself and to control the party by
means of "A faction. The platform on which
he was nominated and elected last year
contained a declaration in favor of abolish
ing nominating conventions by legislative
enactment. and that all candidates for
State, legislative, congressional and county
offices be nominated at primary elections
upon the same day. by direct vote. under
the Australian ballot" For several years
before his nomination for Governor Mr..
La Toilette had bitterly opposed and at
tackled the leaders of the party in the
State. lie had been twice defeated as a
candidate for Governor. and it was thought
when he was finally elected that he would
endeavor TO unity and harmonize the party.
The platform declaration in favor of a
primary election law contemplated a law
the people at large. but the Governor
seems TO have construed 1t differently.
When the Legislature convened. instead of
comforting with the party leaders relative
to tho framing OF a bill which should be
acceptable to the party. he had a bill Sc
cretly framed which he presented to the
Legislature virtually as an ultimatum and
demanded its passage. The measure was
offensive in itself and was made doubly so
by the manner of it's preparation and pre-
sentation. and leading Republican members
refused TO be coerced into its support. An
other bill was introduced and a bitter hght
followed between the Governor and thA
Legislature. resulting in the defeat OF his
bill and the passage Of one that was free
from Objectionable machine features and
that was approved by the rank and file Of
the Republican party throughout the State.
but which he vetoed. The dictatoriaI and
f~actious spirit shown by the Governor in
this fight and the breach IL caused led 10
the appointment OF a committee TO draft a
plan for the reorganization OF the party.
This committee has issued a declaration
OF principles and a call for the organization
OF a new Republican League. The call is
signed by a majority of the members of
both houses OF the last Legislature. After
r~eciting that many unwarrantable inter-
ferences with the exclusive powers OF the
Legislature and attempts To coerce acquies-
cence in unreasonable acts and unwise
experiments at the last session were con-
trary to the welfare OF the people OF Wis
consin. and created bitter fractional differ
ences in the Republican party" IL says:
The party must not permit itself TO be d.
vided and possibly destroyed by fractional
disputes. It's urposes are too high. It's
work too important 20 be dominated for
personal ends" The league has estab-
! lished headquarters in Milwaukee and will