The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1902-03-14
FOR ISSUE.
The Campaign Develops Nothing
Definite Personalities
Substituted.
INTERVIEWS WITH SENATORS
One Who Reported Himself Insuited
Faced by the Accused-24 Oieo
Factories, in Chicago.

Madison, Wis. March 1.-THE polit-
ical campaign goes forward with very
little of concre>a interest. There is
a world Of bici< erinG in the papers of
the various fac ions, but it does not ap-
pear what the row is about, except the
personal war Waged on Governor La
Toilette and the contra attack on the
Eleventh Story. Something is needed
to give the campaign point. This may
come about when Governor LaFOllette
takes up campaign issues definitely.
The stalwarts certainly advance moth
ing definite in the way Of an issue.
Some of them are telling the old curb
stone stories of the governors inter-
views with two Or three senators. It
is a strange thing about those inter-
views. / have heard both versions,
and they do not agree a little bit. No
one doubts that when Governor LaFOl-
lette discovered that senator with
whom he had campaigned, whom he
knew intimately, with whom he had
presented the issue of primary elections
before the senator's constituents in EN-
thusiastic meetings-nO one doubts
that the governor must have been sur
prised and annoyed when the senator
calmly told him he would not support
the primary election bill But that
there was any such outrageous, abu-
sive talk by Governor Lafollette is
definitely denied.
On one occasion during the session q
member of the lower house rode north
poured into his ears at length the de-
tails Of one of those interviews in
which Governor LaFollette had
stOrmed and denounced the senator.
The report was so astounding that
when the assemblyman returned to
Madison he conferred with some of his
fellow administration supporters and
they went to the governors office with
the matter
AS the delegation came in they
Looked SO serious and embarrassed that
the governor saw something was
amiss and he asked in great perturba-
ton for the cause. After considera-
bic halting the assemblyman who had
heard the tale of insult managed to
get out his message, when the gov
ernor who had heard and read much
like charges against himself, Said
''Now let's settle this thing here and
now
He rang a bell for a messenger,
whom he dispatched to Senator -,
requesting him to come at once to the
executive chamber. When the senator
arrived the governor laid the matter
before the senator in all calmness and
asked him if it was true that in their
interview recently as to the primary
election law the governor had stormed
about and said the denunciatOry things
as quoted by the assemblyman from
the narration on the train.
The issue was clear. The elusive
thing had at last been cornered.
What the Senator Said.
But the senator did not stand to his
ment was great. ''All a mistake, a
misunderstanding" he exclaimed.
throwing his hands into the air. '.Nery
Sorry-am due at committee meet
ing" and off he went.
These highly colored stories about
Governor LaFOllette's abuse of legis-
latOrs who did not agree with him
cannot be reduced to the affidavit
stage. 1t is time he feels strongly:
he is of the mastery, rather than of
the conciliatory type, in securing re-
suits. But the portraiture of the gov
elnor in the role of an abusive despot
l have not been able to verify.
Some Late Oleo Figures.
The census bulletin on ''oleo" in this
country has just been received Wis
consin does not cut much figure in the
industry. For the year ending June
so, 1899, it appears there were but
twenty-three dealers in the state.
They handled IA, 742 pounds, which
was less than l per cent of the total.
The reports show capital of $3.O23.-
GAG invested in the manufacture of
oleomargarine in the twenty-four es-
Establishments reporting for the country.
The value Of the products is returned
at S12,499,S12. The increase in plants !
III ten years was from twelve to TWEEN J
ty-four, though as far back as 1880 I!
there were fifteen plants. Legislation
discouraged the industry. OF the /
twenty-four establishments reported
for 1900. eight manufactured oleomar-
garine in connection with slaughtering !
and meat packing. Chicago has six
plants; Providence, R. l., three: In
dianapolis, Ind, two; Washington, D. !
c., two; Kansas City, Kan. two: Kan |