The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1902-09-05
OUR MADISON LETTER.
Burnett" Says All Are interested
i'm LaFolIette.
NEXT WINTER TO BE CRITICAL
If His Reforms Take the Form of
Laws He Will Be National
Figure-ROoseyelt.

Madison, Sept. Z.-Ine East certain
Iy, and no doubt the coun-
try at large, is much interested
in the Wisconsin political situation.
Everyone l met in the East wanted to
know the significance of the war.
Here and there is thoughtful one who
can see some of the merits of the La
Toilette movement. AS is well known
the "Outlook" magazine editions fol-
low the Governors dOings with much
faith. They are willing to overlook
the crudities and the self-seeking in
view of LaFollettes undoubted sue
cess in curbing corporate power in
politics. The "Outlook'' sustained Pin
insists to this day that his was great
career for the Improvement and pro-
lection of the common people. The
Evening Post, of which Mr.. Oswald
Willard Through his father, and Hor-
ace White are Wisconsin suggestions,
has no patience at all with our Cover
arrant demagogue That paper is very
close to Wall street, of course, and
public men like Roosevelt and LaFol-
lette have other fish to fry and don't
care what Wall street thinks-in fact,
Roosevelt recently told some one this,
as his own attitude when demonstrated
with for prejudicing the popular mind
as to trusts. He said he had New Eng
land and the West and did not need
New York
But to revert to Eastern sentiment
and our own LaFollette. Most of the
men l taxed with tell me what great
man SpoOner u.s. and by Inference they
are prejudiced against LaFOllette.
But had little opportunity to see the
'gravel-train" come in. In other words
the tOilers who constitute nineteen
tWentieths of the nation are probably
for LaFOllette as for every one else
who makes a speciality of their inter
ests. Generally speaking, the well-in-
formed citizens traveller would meet
are strong Spooner men. Here again
an exception should be noted. One of
the outlook editors told me he
couldn't stand SpoOner He said our
man lacks the bedrock quality. l re-
minded the critic of Spooner's great
service in discrediting the subsidy bill
and said it was given to some to do
sensational things on the firing line
and others to bear the heat and burden
of the pack train-SpOOner's service
in the routine of the Senate in the
large fundamental legislation was
colossal. The only answer l could get
was that SpOOner's original attitude
was that this nation could not wisely
branch out into Pacific activities, nor
shoot down men engaged in assert
ing principles which are alike to
those that inspired the fathers of our
own nation in resisting English domin-
ion. He had shifted positions and
given the "OutlOok' people the notion
of a Waverer. They even went so far
effort to displace Spooner, the only
doubt in their mind being whether
Governor LaFOllette had deliberately
betrayed the State in gaining control
of the state convention. AS l was a
fresh, bleeding victim of this double
dealing | made it as clear as | could
that the Republicans of the State went
to Madison unqualified Spooner men
with no more thought of adopting a
platform undermining the great Sena-
tor than they had of attacking their
own parents that the force and
adrOitneSs of Governor LaFollette and
the handful about him were so great
as to impose upon the convention an
anti-SpoOner resolution, of which the
members We're first skepticaI. then
ashamed and now disayow and de-
clare null and void. The incident was
important and should be understood
in all its parts, for it threw search
light on Governor LaFollette, his
methods, his advisors, that lifted a
spell in many quarters and enable us
all to grapple future situations more
intelligently.
1t is believed down East that if
Governor LaFollette enacts reform
measures next winter it will make him
a national figure. With Roosevelt
renominated his running mate might
be looked for in the Northwest.
President in His Element.
l saw the President in Portland on
his New England trip which was at
tended by large crowds ana much en-
thusiasm. Roosevelt is in his element
on these excursions for like most pub
lie men, publicity and cheers are heart
lily congenial. Roosevelt is talking a
good deal and especially by his, Provi-
dence speech has displeased the
wealthy contingent. Wall street men.