Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-10-28
D|SCORD IN WISCONSIN
Republicans Badly Split Up
in State.
FIGHT ON SP00NER
GOV. LAFOLLETTE TRIES TO
FORCE THE SENATOR'S HAND.
Probability That the Democrats Will
Be Defeated, Just the
Same.
Special Dispatch to The Evening Star.

MILWAUKEE, Wis, october 2S.-W lScon-
sin will remain In the republican column
| but she will probably not have a full re-
publican congressional delegation. There
has been intense discord in the republican
party during the past four years, and differ
| ences between party workers have been so
| bitter that success seemed out of the ques-
| ton. But the calls from the stump for har-
mony, by Senators Spooner and Quarles,
during the past ten days have had Won
derful effect. Republicans will now get
| together far enough to blast the hopes Of
the democrats There are various grounds
for doubt, it is true, but when everything
is weighed the conclusion must be favorable
| to republican success, although the congress
| sional delegation will probably include one
democrat
| The elements of doubt are in the fractional
| strife referred to- the congressional reap
| portionment, which has given the state
eleven districts instead of ten, the social
| istic upheaval caused by the antitrust agi
| tation and the coal strike and general
| apathy among voters of both of the leading
| parties.
| Gov. Lafollette's Enemies.
| Gov. Lafollette, who is standing for re-
election a primary election and railroad
taxation platform, has been bitterly opposed
| by the so-called stalwart wing of the repub-
| lican party, which Is accusing him of Sc
| cretly opposing the reelection of Senator
| Spooner. The latter has not advocated the
| governors primary election and taxation
| propositions, and the stalwarts have feared
| that the governor might be able to compass
| the defeat of the senator, notwithstanding
| the fact that many of the governors legisla
| i've supporters have been pledged to Spoon
| er by their nominating conventions. When
| Spooner appeared on the stump and coun-
seled party harmony, by asking all repub-
| licans to vote their ticket from governor
down 1t was thought the breach had been
| healed. But at Appleton, on Saturday, the
| governor was asked If he was in favor Of
| the unconditional reelection of Senator
| Spooner now that the senator is making an
| earnest campaign for the entire republican
| ticket. The governor replied: Il am stand
| ing for the success and for the principles
Of the republican party, and the day and the
hour that Senator Spooner raises his voice
| for the principles Of the republican party,
| as laid down in the state platform, l will
| raise my voice for his reelection to the
| United States Senate, because I then can
do SO in conformity with the platform of
my party"
Declaration Has Sinister Ring.
This declaration has a sinister ring to
stalwarts. 1t will be remembered that Gov.
Lafollette's friends in the state convention
refused to Internationally indorse Senator
Spooner for reelection, but made their In
dorsement dependent upon the senator
| support of the primary election and tax
| alton planks of the republican platform.
| There is ground for fear that Gov. Lat0l-
| lette's Appleton declaration may undo some
| of the harmony that was so quickly
wrought by the speeches of Senators
Spooner and Quarles. But the governor
| himself has been making vigorous stump
| OF the state, talking courageousiy to the
| people concerning the coal ba1ons, the
| trusts and tariff reform, topics that are
| alive in every corner of Wisconsin, and he
| has undoubtedly won a great many votes
| from democrats as well as lukewarm re-
publicans. His views in regard to corpora
| lions and taxation are SO radical that they
| are acceptable to many democrats who are
| sore because of their own partys abandon
| ment of the primary election Id.a, and the
governor will therefore receive the votes of
| thousands Of old-time democratic voters
| Mayor David S. Rose of Milwaukee the
| democratic candidate for the governorship,
| has studiously avoided principles in a cam
| paign for disaffected republican votes. He
has gone so far III this vote-trapping policy
! that he has alienated thousands of work ng
| democrats. who will cast their ballots for
| Gov. Lafollette.
Chairman Bryant's Prediction.
Chairman Bryant Of the republican state
| central committee predicts the success of
the republican ticket by plurality Of be.
| tween 10000 and $4,000, while Chairman
| Warden of the democratic state central
| committee says Mayor Rose will have about
10000 plurality. Chairman Bryant's inside
| figure is probably near the mark.
| The congressional delegation will prob
ably consist of ten republicans and one
| democrat, although appearances indicat ,
| narrow pluralities for three republican can
| didates.
| There seems to be no doubt as to the re-
| turn of Senator John c. Spooner for an
| other term. although Gov. Lafollette's dec
laration at Appleton indicates trouble un.
der certain circumstances