The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1902-01-03
OUR MADISON LETTER
Political and Other State Affairs
as Seen by Orlando
Burnett.
MORE ABOUT TAX COMMISSION
Eleventh Story Movement a Divided
Camp on the Subject-Smau
Town Shipments.

Madison, Wis, Dec. 31.-The pol1tl-
cal situation continues in the same I'M
satisfactory state. The Milwaukee
Sentinel's editorial seeming to favor
the work Of the state tax commission
and tax reform generally was guarded,
but evidently carefully prepared. It's
claim that the commission was a stall
wart creation is good so far as it goes,
for ScOfeld and Whitehead rocked the
cradle; and there is no doubt that they
and many other stalWarts believed in
the commission and want it to go for
ward, wherever it may lead. The fact
seems to be the eleventh story move
ment is a divided camp on this ques-
ton, though, of course, no one cares
to pose publicly as opposing tax re-
form. There is an influential ''push"
which is specifically opposed to its
bunch of recommendations and breads
q fresh installment, and is vitality IN
Serested in governor and a legislature
which will block drastic features, OF
which the 100000 a year Increase Oh
the railroads is a sample.
Senator John Whitehead of James
Vile will talk to the Madison Six
O'clock club of taxation on Jan. g.
his first public utterance along this
all-impOrtant topic since he and others
broke with Governor LaFOllette-and
from the address the state will be ac-
Quainted with the feeling of stalWarts
Of the Whitehead type toward the tax
commission and it's work. The Sen
tinePs editorial was an indecisive
thing, but Whitehead is always clear
and direct and it may be his speech
will put things in better shape-at
least clarity the atmosphere.
If the stalWarts as a whole could
know that by giving the governor two
more years they would not thereby en-
tail his policies, a legislature of his
views and possible senatorial compli-
cations. Governor LaFOllette could
have his second term easily enough.
Much as some of the stalwarts thirst
for revenge, they shrink under the i'm
and woulG be willing to let the gov
ernOr have the honor, to which great
numbers think he is entitled. But they
do not realize his reform projects and
they think if they should allow re-
nomination it would be interpreted as
their overthrow and LaFollette's vim
dication with the attendant likelihood
of the success of all his policies and
his own promotion to higher honors.
Talk of a Third Faction.
Not a few men of the state are shy
of both the factions and there is a
splash of sentiment looking to a third
movement, which shall be loyal to and
advocative chiefly of tax reform (and
so escape the snares that may live
along stalwart success) and likewise
obviate the bitterness and distrust
which the stalwarts allege the LaFOl-
Ietto propaganda ScueIdleS
A leading Republican of the state,
a wise counsellor, when l called on
him. for an analysis Of the situation
and "a way out" could find nothing
more specific than this:
'"There is a great fault somewhere,
and leading men in the councils Of
the party should expose it and save
the party from factionalism which will
surely prove it's overthrow, for no par
ty is strong enough to support two
factions. Find the fault and expose
it,
Hall Skeptica1 as to Sta1warts.
Mr. II. r. Hall, the Dunn county
statesman, goes away for the winter,
to conserve his health, and declined to
discuss things political at this time.
He looks, however, for a campaign
before the caucuses are held, and
shares the views of many when he
writes: II can imagine the tax reform
the stalwarts will Champion Mr..
Hall is very strong with the rank and
file of our people, who believe in his
integrity and wisdom in discussing
public affairs. He has way of for
tifying himself with facts and figures
and he will be a powerful champion
for the denomination Of Governor La.
Toilette.
Mr.. Payne's promotion to the cabi
net raises a good many queries in
peoples minds, but make no doubt it
will be acquiesced in. He will make
an able postmaster general; and as
for his political past, it will take its
place in the march of events, for bet
ter or worse.
wisconsin's Small Town Shipments.
Every passenger through Wisconsin
has seen at small stations the freight
cars, fat and otherwise, that drag the
community's products to the big cities