Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-07-20
WISCONSIN FACTIONS.
Stalwarts Trying to Down Governor
La Toilette.

Washington, July 17.-Word comes
from Wisconsin that the two Republic
can factions in that state are locking
horns for a fight to the finish. The
issue will not be decided until a year
from this fall, but the campaign is be-
ing waged this summer, and is for
blood. The "stalwart" Republicans
have started in to utterly clean out
Governor La Toilette and give evidence
of their appreciation of the seriousness
of the task by starting SO far ahead
Of time.
Senator Spooner, Senator Quarles,
Representative Babcock and nearly all
the members Of the delegation in the
House are said to be in the movement,
convinced that there will be no peace
in Wisconsin as long as Governor La
Toilette remains in political power.
A Wisconsin statesman who was in
town today said that a community of
interest exists among the men named,
for one reason or another which has re-
suited in the formation of an alliance
against Governor La Toilette offensive
and defensive but mainly aggressive.
Senator Spooner 1t is said, is giving
| the movement his sanction without be-
| ing so active. His harvest is garnered
and in the barn, but he is lending a
hand to the other chaps who still are
perspiring In the field.
| Senator Quarles is described as the
most interested one Of the lot, as his
seat in the Senate will depend upon the
the legislature next to be elected. Gov
ernor La Toilette has been keeping his
enemies guessing as to his own inten-
lions; they don't know whether he in
tends to stand for third terms as gov
ernor Or become a candidate for the
Senate.
The object of the "stalwarts is to
disable him in advance and render his
efforts futile hereafter, in whatever di-
rection they may be used. 1t is said
that Mr.. Babcock's interests lie in the
fact that his congressional district
includes some of the strongest La
Toilette counties in the state, and rath-
err than keep up coalition with La Fol-
lettc he will try to stamp out La
Follettsm and convert the district.
Anyhow, Mr.. Babcock is spending the
summer in Wisconsin and putting in
full time looking after his political
fences which needed no repairing from
Democratic inroads.
| Governor La Toilette, it is said, is
running amuck against all the regular
tenets of the Republican party and,
according to the allegations of his OPP
ponents, Is trying to build up hybrid
party with socialistic, populistic ten
denotes. All of which is exceedingly
distasteful to the conservatives like
Senator Spooner, Mr.. Babcock, Mr..
Payne and their friends.
| Governor La Toilette IS at this time
addressing farmers gatherings and
chautauQua meetings throughout the
West. in the course of his speeches de-
claring onslaught against the trusts;
asserting that the money power has the
people by the throat. and charging the
railroads with tyranizing over the pro-
ducers and consumers.
In Wisconsin he wants further taxa
ton of the railroads, adjustment of
political caucuses and conventions and
a direct vote of the people by pri-
maries. He is a dramatic talker and
arouses great excitement wherever he
speaks. He goes at his subject in
hammer and tongs style, takes off his
coat, gets warmed up and divests him
self of his collar. He calls the four of
clubs by it's right name, and if he can
find any picturesque borderings to trim
it with does not fail to do so. His
course in Wisconsin has aroused bit
| terness which can only be assuaged, 1t
is declared, by his complete political
humiliation. His humiliation is by
no means imminent, however, as his
enemies we'll realize.
The situation in Wisconsin is said to
be very disturbing to the national
managers of the Republican party.
who hope to see harmony restored be-
fore the national elections come along.
The "stalwarts" say the only way to
restore harmony Is to kill off La Fol-
/, lette, and favors Of the federal adj
ministration are not being given to the
La Toilette faction.