Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1902-01-15
QUIET BEFORE STORM.
If II is a LaFollette-Spooner Pro-
granme, 1t Must Come
Quick.
sTALwARTs ARE TO NOMINATE
But May Be More Than One-Tricks
of Why Taxes Are
Bigger-Pure Milk the Cry.

sources candidates for the Republican
gubernatorial nomination may be ex-
pected to show their heads very
soon. The notably able speech Of
State Senator John NJ. Whitehead
In Madison has had the effect of
riyeting state attention upon this re-
markable man and he may later offer
himself, although it is by no means
certain that he viii do so. Such men
are strong with the voters, but party
managers" find them too indepen-
dent. They prefer more experienced
or pliable men; but as the job OF
knocking out the governor is confessed
ly big one, they may be forced to
throw their influence for Whitehead.
Some of the stalwarts, as Senators
Riordan, Kreutzer and the like, are
genuine admirers of the GAINESVILLE
man, and would like to legislate with
him in the executive chamber; but 9TH
ers would take him because they had
to.
1t may be the policy to set loose a
number OF candidates, in which event
later in the campaign the deep ones
of the eleventh story might make q
fresh and later choice. Politicians are
uncertain quantities. and the motto OF
those who throw in their lot with them
should be Blessed are those who ex-
pect nothing, for they shall not be
disappointed.
Again, when the campaign Is well
on, new and unexpected alignments
viii likely surprise those not on their
guard The governor is no tyro in the
political game, and those who expect
him to go uneVentfully towards the
state convention with only his loyal
senators and assemblymen to help, to-
gether with a few appointees, will like
ly be surprised. Political managers
representing large interests and con-
tingents, perhaps some that now seem
to be, or even are, antagonistie to the
administration, will probably turn up
preferring LaFollette to any other. 1t
is a many-sided game, and has more
phases in the revolving months than
the moon.
The Argument for Harmony.
Senator Spooner's friends who, for a
long time, inclined to a programme of
harmony-that Is, the reelection of
LaFoilette and Of Spooner--came to
the conclusion later that the desire to
down the governor was so strong in
many quarters as to make harmony
impossible. And yet, some hesitate.
If the war to the knife" should be
successful and Governor LaFollette
eliminated as a political factor, all
would probably lie well. Spooner
could be returned with hands down.
But suppose the governor got his re-
nomination. He would naturally feel
triumphant and his election would
drag into the legislature an increased
number Of assemblymen and senators
who shared his sentiments. To add
to complications every one comedies
that the Democrats will increase their
number Of seats in the legislature pos
sibly a good many. The fractional
fight In some districts viii throw the
outcome to popular Democrats I'M
doudtedly. Suppose they carried forty
seats next time, or even more De-
duct the members who shares a La
Toilette retallatory spirit, together
with n few for Mr.. Babcock or Mr..
Stevenson, or any one else who might
aspire to the seat--how much margin
would the Speoner men have to secure
the nomination in the senatorial party
c ns?
lnator Spooner is so strong in Wis
consin and his support so transcends
factloinal lines that do not believe
he could be defeated. Blu. one can
readily enough conceive conditions
under which he might be good deal
worried. 1t is for these reasons that
some political modus viyendi, by
which the present administration may
be sustained In the next state con-
vention, together with a united party
approving the return OF Senator Spoon
er has always seemed TO me judicious
and wise. 1t is true that many feel
the hour for harmony is past. But If
so. the party In the state has launched,
/ fear, on a shoreless sea.
Mr.. Payne Once More.
1t Is no small honor tc state to
have one of its citizens selected for the
pres dents cabinet. The disposition
In Wisconsin on all sides is 10 accept
tie honor in the spirit in which 1t was
given. President Roosevelt believed
he was adding to his official family a
thoroughly competent, disinterested
and blameless public servant. 1t is
up TO Mr.. Payne TO ill the specifica-
tions, and with the inducements and
sxigencies surrounding him, no loubt
be Will. The only pertinent structure
on Mr.. Payne's promotion is the fact
that his career has been associated in
the public mind with the comming-
ling OF corporate interests and political
influence. an evil in American life in
combating whirh Mr. Roosevelt hns