Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1902-04-24
DANGEROUS FOR spooMER.

However much the friends OF thu
governor may admire Senator Spoon
err, and hnwever loyal they may b
to him they will realize las the cam
paign progresses, that allegiance t
born lnen wheait comes to a vote. is
physical impossibility. They don
train in the same class and neve
will
appear. in the stalwart press OF thi
state Ostensibly, the papers tina
publish such stuff desire the re
election OF John G. Spooner to tn
Z. :. Senate, but in reality their soil
purpose is 10 defeat the renomina
tion OF Governor LaFollette and /
legislature that will enact laws :,
carry out his ideas for taxation re
form and better methods Of politica
nominations. In their desperation
they would force Senator Spooner to
lead the fight aginst the Governor
They purpose to make OF the Sena'
tor stalking horse to carry them
through the " hot gates which they
otherwise cannot pass to effectively
assault the Governor and his princi-
Piles. That the Senator may be left a
shattered wreck in the pass is naug hit
to them, If they but secure the spoils
of the conflict.
Presumably. all republicans hope
that their party will be in majority
in the next Legislature, and expect
in that event tie majority will be
united in the election of United
States Senator. But Wisconsin's
political history warns us that such
hopes and expectations may not be
realized. Political revolutions have
reversed maiorities, and party ami
mosties and ambitions have made un-
ity OF action by II publican legislature
impossible. 1t is generally conceded
that John &. Spooner ia the choice
of "a large ma jority of the republicans
of the state for senator; quite as sure
ly is Robt. M. LaFollette the choice
OF as large proportion Of the party
for governor. Among the Governors
supporters are many who are known
to favor Spooner's return to the SEN
ate. Ia all probability II number of
this class will be members Of the leg
islature. Suppose that through Spoon
er's influence la Toilette is defeated
for denomination, after a campaign
Of the severest acrimony, and II ma
jority OF the republican members
elect were his opponents, may it not
so embitter the members of the leg
islature who were LrFollette sup
porters aud favorable to Spooner
that they will change attitude as to
the Senator? Aud might not some Of
them even 20 to the length of refus-
ing to cooperate with majority of
their party in selecting a senator as
in the Carpenter-W ashburn case?
Or suppose that Spoouer actively
opposes LaFollctte's nomination, and
it is accomplished nevertheless, is it
not likely to estrange from the Soma
tor members of the legislature who
otherwise would be for aim? SO, in
either the success or failure OF the
Governor for re- nomination, il is dan
StAbuS ltl tNIlpPltfl " nav paw ~
the fight against LaFollette, and al
true, sagacious friends of the Senator
must SO see il. Already, the PERM
cious activity of government official,
who owe their appointments tC
Spooner, has hurt him more than nj
other influences. He acts wisely il
refusing to be drawn personally int,
the conflict, and all danger Of oppo
sitton to his reelection To the senat,
could be ended by cessation Of hos
tilty to the Governor on the part o
Spooner's appoin;ees and other pre-
tending friends of his.
The expected happened AT tn,
republican county convention las
xyaal Ifha attpn1unrp WINS npaur,