Evening star., 1902-07-31
Effect Of Gov. La Follette's
Machine.
SPOONER'S FRIEN DIS
BELIEVE THEY CAN GET A LEGIS-
LATIvE MAJORITY.
Assistant Attorney General Pradt's
Statement as to the Inside Work
ing Of Recent Convention.

Louis A. Pradt, assistant attorney gem
eral. now acting attorney general. was at
his home in Wisconsin when the republican
state convention was held there. When
asked by Star representative today for
an expression of opinion about the political
situation In Wisconsin he said:
During recent trip to Wisconsin 1 i'm
proved the opportunity to attend the re-
publican state convention at Madison. The
result of that convention, so far as the
naming of candidates was concerned, was
foregone conclusion, for Gov. La Toilette
was known to have over three-fourths of
the delegates upon whom he could rely, not
only for his own reorganization upon plat
form Of his own choosing, but to carry
through his slate for the other state
| offices also. Hence the convention might
very well have failed in elements of inter
est had it not been for one thing, but this
most mOmentouS-La FolletteS Jealous
hatred Of Senator Spooner. Moved by this.
La Follette's first and most exultant use
OF MS convention was to inspire the adop-
s,Tn sn1a OF Of patform containing studied in
with a practical purpose, too, and not out
OF pure venom-and that purpose was, be-
yond doubt. to goad Spooner into a dec
laration that he would under no circum-
stances consent to be candidate for re-
electton-a purpose which, happily has
failed.
Conditional Endorsement Of Spooner.
"Of course 1t was not to be thought Of
that state convention Of the republicans
OF Wisconsin should be held without MAX
ing fitting public reference to the record
OF Senator Spooner during his present term.
record as debater. orator, statesman and
chosen adviser Of two Presidents, which
has placed him in the very front rank of
the great men, not only of his party, but
whole nation J.9E
| lette's opportunity, and he made the most
of 1t by causing the adoption of resolu-
ton paying high tribute to Senator Spoon
er's eminent and patriotic service in the
United States Senate, and pledging him the
| enthusiastic support of the party in case
! he should be candidate for reelection,
| but upon the gratuitously offensive condi-
! ton that he express his willingness to
| stand as a candidate in harmony with the
| sentiment and in support Of the platform
| principles Of the convention.
1.-The true cuSsedness of this conditional
| Endorsement (something absolutely with
| out precedent In the history Of the state)
| lay in the fact that the platform was os-
sentially a LaFollette platform, and con-
| tained radical declaration for primary
election law abolishing all political caucuses
| and conventiOns-a proposition which meets
the disapproval Of the thoughtful and con-
| servative men OF both parties, including.
| doubtless Senator Spooner. And so the
| senator was virtually called upon to give
bonds for his repubicanism by declaring
a
| Folletteisms, with very strong sulphurous
scent Of populism!
1.-THE effect was to bitterly intensity the
! dislike and dissatisfaction of the stalwart
| wing Of the party and to call forth the
disapproval of the more conservative sup
! porters of LaFollette, Ex-Governor Hoard,
Senator Stout and others.
Friends Of Senator at Work.
THE friends of Senator Spooner. many
Of whom are prominent supporters of La
Toilette, are now earnestly at work in ev-
cry part of the state to secure the nomI-
nation Of republican candidates for the leg
islature who are unconditionally for the
reelection of the senator. And at least
| 75 per cent of the republicans of the state
are enthusiastic in their admiration Of
Spooner and devotion to him. there could
| be no possible doubt Of the result II 1t
| were not for the fact that LaFollette Is
| eXhausting every resource of his political
machine to compass the election Of a leg
! isature composed Of his creatures. This
machine is as extensive, complete and
! shameless as that of Tammany itself. 1t
| is reinforced and officered by horde of
| state employees such as was never before
| known in the state. 1t was through their
| systematic and untiring work during the
| past six months that the governors ma
| jority in the convention was largely Sc
| cured. So far, however. the indications are
| all for Spooner, and I have no doubt that
| he will have large majority In the COM
| ing legislature by which his successor is
| to be elected.
| But even then there remains a bitter
| fight between the populistic element (al-
| ways an uncertain quantity in the party,
| and in the state for that matter, for La
| Toilette counts on large democratic vote
| and the representatives of true republican
| principles. The result at the coming cleo
| ton is uncertain, despite the fact that the
| state gave President Mckinley over 1000
plurality in 1900. carrying the whole state
| ticket with him. The democrats are alive
| to the situation and will nominate ticket
| that will receive the support Of many re-
| publicans who prefer anything else to La
| Folletteism.
| But whatever the outcome this fall, the
| fight will go on until Wisconsin Is cured of