The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-10-06
La Follette's Victory.

Frankly, T he Journa is glad to
see La Toilette win the legal side of the
republican fractional controversy in Wis
to become impregnated with the heat
and bitterness of the fractional strife in
Wisconsin. We refuse to believe that
all the stalwarts are plotting rascals,
and that all the halfbreeds are schem-
ing villains. There are good and sin.
cere men in the rank and file as well as
in the leadership of both factions. If
this were merely a Wisconsin fight out
siders might not be justified in express
ing sympathies or judgments, but it has
become national concern.
Governor La Toilette may be much
that his enemies say that he is, and
have many faults that are attributed to
him, and still be worthy of the sympa-
thy of those who share his general
view of and attitude in politics. He
did not become deeply interested in the
political game until he realized how
greatly popular government is menaced
by the sordid mingling of corpo-
rate interests in politics., and to
what an extent the rule Of these
interests has superseded the rule of the
people. Wisconsin was a corporation
ridden state of the worst kind when he
began his fight, and the great selfish
interests closely allied to 1.-THE Sys.
tenn have fought desperately to retain
control of what was formerly, from
their point of view, one Of the "safest' u
states in the union. This mighty strug.
sonal equation must, to a large extent
be ignored. La Toilette, be he the no.
blest or the meanest of men, is fighting
the battle Of democratic government
against it's latest and most insidious foe
1t is battle that is going on in every
state, it is a battle that is being fought
in our own Minnesota.
The outsider can afford to ignore the
nice technical questions between stall.
warts and halfbreeds. From his point
of view La Toilette ought to win be-
cause in general he represents the prin-
ciples that ought to prevail, 49,"
The legal victory of yesterday will
be trivial enough, however, if Governor
La Toilette be defeated at the polls in
November AS there is no possible
hope of electing Cook, it will be nat
ural for the irreconcilables Of the anti.
La Toilette faction and for the cor.
porate interests to concentrate their
forces in support of Governor Peck, the
democratic candidate. 1t is to be hoped
and there is reason for believing, that
the struggle in Wisconsin has now
reached d point where, so far as the
state fight is concerned, party lines will
be largely ignored. Patriotic demo.
Gratis who share La Follette's views
will not be true to themselves if they
do not vote for him simply because he
is a republican and they democrats on
national issues.
In fights such as La Toilette is max
ing nothing plays more into the hands
of the adversary than the stiff main
tenance of party lines, regardless OF
the disasters that result to the state
and the interests Of the, people. II
would not be surprising if enough dem
| ocrats should vote for La Toilette tc
make him a winner by a considerable
majority, even if Cook should stay il
the field. At any rate, we hope there
are enough independent democrats il
the state to make up for any loss Gov
ernor La Toilette may suffer from E
partial detection Of the stalwarts.