Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1901-10-31
LaFollette as a Factionist.
Cconcluded from page seven)


ing largely in the minority. Mr.. Haugen
was defeated ia the convention and
Upham nominated. but the agitation
Of the clamorous minority continued
without abatement.
la the convention Of 1896. Mr. La
Toilette himself was its candidate for
governor. but he. too, was defeated and
Scofield nominated.
The campaign Of 1896 was one of the
most important in the history of the
country. in that it involved the honor
and credit of the nation. 1t is very
strange therefore, that man aspiring
to political leadership should have re-
Trained from active participation in
that contest in support of his party I'M
til two weeks before the election, when
the battle had already bee won, and
nothing remained TO be ( ie by the
Republicans except the display of
pyrotechnics to celebrate the victory
which was certain TO be recorded at
the polls.
Iii the year following, however, when
there was no election pending. Mr.. La
Toilette found time To enter upon a
tour of political agitation. taking in
most of the more important county
fairs in the state He then initiated
in his own behalf the campaign Of lsas
which eliminated IN the shameful per
secution OF Gov. Scotield and the scaI-
dalous scenes in that convention Yet
despite the comprehensive organiZa-
ton of Mr.. LaFollette's following. he
was again defeated in the convention
by large majority and Gov. Scofeld
renominated
Mr. LaFollette refrained from sup
)rting his party in that campaign and
the result was that ia many parts Of
the state. notably in Dane county, his
followers largely voted for the fusion
candidate. But Gov Scofield was
nevertheless elected by 5000 major
ity. He had administered the affairs
of the state during his first term with
credit 10 himself and the state. So far
then, the minority led by Mr.. LaFol-
lotte was, ia its object and the methods
employed TO attain it, factioual move
ment in the meaning Of the dictionar-
les. Ii was, according to Webster's
definition "a combination or clique of
partisaus acting for their own interests.
especially greedy. clamorous and reck-
lsss of the party good and according
To the Century dictionary, "a party Of
persons having Il common end in view
and seeking by irregular means to
bring about changes in the existing
st ate Of affairs. 4 combination of per
sons using subversive or pervert meth
DDS of promoting their own selfish par
tisau views Indeed. it would seem
as if the photographers had Just such
a combination III mind in defining the
word faction.
IN 1900 still bent upon gratifying his
ambitions. Mr. LaFollette again came
forward as a candidate for govern
or. The nomination WAS also sought at
the time by several other Republicans
Of high standing and with good claims
on the party 1t was evident that the
contest for the nomination would be
spirited. Mr.. LaFollette who had met
with defeat in every Republican state
convention since 1854 evidently did
not wish to again take chances. SO 70
the surpriseof everyone he began early
opening negotiations with his oppo-
uents representing "A majority of the
party the so-called machine and
with the corporations Weary of the
bitter factional dissentions which had
kept the party IN turmoil and discord
for eight years aud longing for har-
mony. and placing faith III his protes-
tations in that regard. the leaders of
the majority yielded. and gave him a
clear fi,l] Party harmony WAS thus
restored. He was nominated by aecla-
nation and received the united sup
port OF his party al the polls. He was
elected by large majority and the Re
pat licans felicitated themselves upon
what they had reason 20 believe meant
the permanent restoration of harmony.
The import of the large majority nj
thar election is often enormously con
strued IT, instead of Mr.. LaFollette,
Colonel Hicks had been the Repupli
can candidate for governor. and if iu-
stead Of recommending or demanding
the enactment u primary election
law the Republican state platform had
recommended or demanded law regi-
lating the wearing Of eorsets. the result
would have been iust the same. That
election turned entirely upon national
issues whether the splendid admins
tration Of President Mckinley should
be indoreed aud continued. or whether
popalism should be cnthroued ia the
national government Mr. LaF'ollctte
ways inauEurttel under the most ans
picious surroundings Succeeding 10
the successful administration of Gov
Scotield. and With "a strong and united
party behind him. willing and ready 10
support him IN every effort 10 make
has administration a success. an oppor
tuuitv presented Itself to him, ~ sell
com falls 80 the Ut III au ambitious,
man ia putlie life al demonstrate Z