The Minneapolis journal., 1903-12-24
one CONVENTION
INSTEAD OF TWO
GOVERNOR LA FOLLETvTE'S
PROGRAM OUTLINED.
He Would Head the Delegation to the
National Where He Can Press tile
Issues for Which He Stands-His
Own denomination and Then, Per-
haps, the Senate, Part of His
Plan.

Special to The Journal .s, II Y
Madison, Wis., Dec. I "a - rhe 81 political
situa ton in Wisconsin, SO far as the sre-I
publican party is concerned. is rapidlysap=
preaching an acute stage. Beginning
early next month there will be@sofnet hing
doing almost constantly until the&sNotes
are counted next November. The political
program of Governor La Toilette. the;pug-
nacious leader of the major element, is to
hold only one state convention for the
election of delegates to the national con7
Vention and for the nomination of a state
ticket
Heretofore it has been the custom to
hold two conventions in presidential years,
one for the election Of delegates and the
other for the nomination of state officers.
Desiring to head the Wisconsin delega
ing that he can more easily control one
state convention, called for the dual pur-
pose mentioned, than two conventions,
each called for a single purpose, Governor
La Toilette has started his powerful ma
chine going to that end.
General George e. Bryant. chairman of
the republican state central committee
has called a meeting of the executive com
mittee early iE January to consider the
question of calling a meeting Of the state
committee to determine formally whether
one or two state conventions shall be held
and decide upon the question of date and
place Il AS the governor controls the COM
mittee, it is practically certain that only
one state convention will be held and that
in Madison early in May. The state com
1nittee will probably meet here the latter
part of January and issue the call
Where connor Figures.
The state administration program pro-
vides for the nomination sof Governor La
Toilette for q third term and the renomi-
nation Of the other state officers for the
customary second term, with the excep-
tion probably of Lieutenant Governor
James O. Davidson who is likely to be
thrown down. The report that Davidson
is to be discarded arises from the fact that
Governor La Toilette wants a strong man
flor lieutenant governor, who, in case the
governor is elected United States sena to1
to succeed Senator Quarles in 1905, car
lstep into the executive chair and continue
the war again. at the public service COR cor
It has been suggested that w. D. Connol
Of Marshheld. the millionaire lumbermar
who has been contributing liberallyeto:
ward the support of the state administra
tion organ in Milwaukee, would make 9
good candidate for lieutenant governor
/! TIe and the governor had a long conference
on the matter at Neillsville two weeks ago
but no definite understanding was reached
Mr.. Connor5 wants to be governor anC
| would like to head the ticket next year
3; The state admins tration men feel how
ever, that Governor La Toilette is the bes
man to head the ticket and they are urg
| ing ConEor to take the second place, will
! the understanding that if the La Toilette
men have the legislature and the governor
lis elected! United States sena tor. Conno1
will succeed to the executive chair.
Governor La Toilette has also suggested
| to Connor that he be a candidate for con
gress in the tenth district against Con
gress1nan Webb Brown, but CUnnor doe
not take kindly to the suggestion becaus,
he does not believe he can defeat the pres
ent incumbent.
Fight to Be Kept Up.
1t is Governor La Follette's intention II
| keep up his fight for state. railroad rat
commission and a primary election law
It is understood that if he heads the Wis
consin deega ton to the national conven
tion. he will endeaVor to have Incorporates
in the national platform declaration il
favor of the election Of United States sen
ators by direct vote Of the people.
i The governor will soon resume hi
speaking campaign which he started las
Isummer and followed until the last count
fair ended few weeks ago. During tn
winter months the governor will speal
l wherever he can get a gathering of vot
ers. which will be at farmers institute
and specially arranged meetings like tn
! one at Neillsville two weeks ago.
j The state administration is making ev
cry effort to defeat Congressman Babcoc
] of the third and Jenkins of the elevent
jdistricts, because it believes they are no
in harmony with it. An especially, stFenu
Gus effort is being made to retire Mr..Bab
/ cock The administration is also afte
the political scalp of Congressman Adam
of this district.