Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-07-17
! TURN down SPOON[R.
Republican Convention Refuses
Unqualified Endorsement Of
Their Senator.
Resolution Which Will Probably
Result In Spooner's Retire.
ment Is Adopted.
Sitter Debate on the Subject
Minority Report Defeated by
Close Vote.

Madison, Wis, July 1t.-Senator
John c. Spooner was endorsed
for reelection by the repub
lican state convention OF Wisconsin
last night, but the Endorsement had
such stout string tied to 1T that IT
practically amounted to a reputation.
1t is not believed here today that Sem
ator Spooner will again be candi-
date after what has been done by the
representatives of his party here.
The committee on resolutions, after
an extended and bitter session, reported
q radical platform, the first plank OF
which especially commended the ser
vices in congress of Senator Spooner
and hoped he would find 1t posslbl,
to reconsider his determination OF two
years ago not again to become can
liGate for the senate, standing in
support OF the platform principles here
adopted by Wisconsin republicans ane
for the election of a legislature pledged
to enact them into laws"
There were more conditions in the
resolutions, but the pledge asked of the
senator to stand by the platform If he
were to stand for reelection was the
nub of the matter and a minority re-
port was put in indorsing the senator
and demanding his reelection 'uncon-
jitionally."
The debate was frank. The stalwarts,
who claimed to be Mr.. Spooner's spe-
cial friends, acknowledged the senator
was not in full accord with the state
platform, but claimed he was too big
a man to be turned down by minol
state issues that his duties were ma
tional, and he stood on the national
platform, and that the adoption of the
majority resolutions was an insult to
him calculated to retire him to pri"
waite life.
The answer was no man was greater
than his party, that the republican who
represented Wisconsin in the United
States senate must abide by the Wis
consin republican platform, and their
arguments prevailed. The majority re-
port prevailed by vote of 7o914 to
s53k, and Senator Spooner seems to
be left or top of high roof from whic!
there is no fire escape and no ladders
at hand long enough to reach.
Most of the senator's closest friends
are NOW DidIIll.S tuc SldlN WIZ,
they say, used Mr.. Spocners name
for their own purpose ard have put
him in position from which he car
not retreat, while. had not the ma
iority report been opposed, the senator
could have accepted the platform as
a matter of course and been reelected
without trouble. Some Of them insist
that course is open to him yet.
The platform was full Of surprises
After reaffirming the last national plat
form and lamenting the death of Pres
ident Mckinley, it praised President
Roosevelt by ''testifying our confidence
in the ability OF his (McKinley's) sue
cessor" Following this was eulogy TO.
Gov. La Toilette, which produced the
greatest applause of the night.
Their came the surprises. There was
an expression of regret at the failure
of the last legislature'-for its failure
to redeem the promises of the platform
as to railway taxation and primary
law; condemnation 'of the pernicious
activity of the federal officials in this
state in violation Of the civil service
laws" for the part they played in de-
feating this legislatures, and their work
in the recent ante-convention cam
paign; demands for the equal taxation
of all railroads" and primary law Sc
lecting candidates by direct vote of
the people, with the requirement that
all candidates be called on to pledge
themselves to support these planks,
and ending:
I'VE record our censure Of all who for
selfish reasons have obstructed the
earlier fulfillment of party pledges"
This last was a direct slap at the
republican league Of Wisconsin, the or
ganization of the "stalwarts." whose
membership is entirely made up Of the
members of the last legislature who re-
fused to enact into law the planks of
the platform Of two years ago.
Congressman Babcock submitted to
the committee on resolutions plank
advocating tariff revision, but 1t was
thrown out by the committee.
After the adoption of the platform the
convention adjourned until tomorrow,
when the nominations will be made.
sarion esolut eoait 1t 20
UNIQUE RECORD AS A FIGHTER.