The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-09-29
WISCONSIN WAITS.
Delayed Decision in LaFolIette Case
Embarrassment.

Madison, Wis, Sept. 29.-The decision
was not rendered in the LaFoilette case
today and the politicians of both fac
tions are compelled to wait with what
patience they can summon for another
"A hours at least.
Judge CASSIDY is still unable to at
tend court. 1t is possible that some
action may be taken in the case to-
morrow or Saturday.
If a decision is not made at this term
of court then the people of Wisconsin
VIII have to wait until October Is to
learn whether Robert NJ. La Toilette
or Samuel Cook is entitled to call him
self the regular Republican candidate
for governor of the state.
When the supreme court will decide
the question is guesswork- The decision
was expected this morning and Senator
Quarles headed a long line of Wisconsin
politicians which filed into the court
room to hear it delivered. Chief JUS
tice Cassidy, however, was abSent-he
has been and is yet ill-and Justice
WlnSlow presided. He went on with
the regular proceedings of the court,
handing down some decisions and then
hearing arguments and receiving briefs.
So the procession marched out again.
There is a story in Madison that the
court is badly divided on the case; that
Chief Justice Cassidy is in favor of
recognizing the La Toilette faction, as
are the two Democratic judges, while
the two Republicans, exclusive of JUS
tice Cassidy, favor the ''stalwart'' con-
tentions.
This delay has complicated politics
in Wisconsin greatly-state politics at
least, and perhaps national. General
Apathy may rule in other common
wealths, but he has not commission
here. Every man and woman, and
most of the children, are talking poll
tics, but it is all state politics. They
know in a general way that Theodore
Roosevelt and Alton B. Parker are
running for president of the United
States, but that does not seem to con-
Germ them.
What they are talking about is La
Follette's chances of reelection. and
will George w. Peck be able to beat
him? Nobody seems to take Cooks
chances seriously.
Out of this has come a danger to
the national ticket which some
thoughtful men think they see. They
are arguing that if the people pay
more attention to state issues than to
national ones the larger issue is apt to
be forgotten in the smaller and if
should elect a Democratic
governor it might easily elect Demo-
cratic set of presidential electors, as
Wisconsin and Illinois both did in
1892, when the question at issue in
each state was purely local one-the
school law.
The danger men who are more con-
cerned in national than in state poll
tics see in any more delay in the judi
cial determination of the status of the
rival claimants for the name of Re
publican" on the official ballot is that
the longer the matter is delayed the
more bitter will become the factional
feeling. Already it is bitter enough.
1t has gone way past the argumenta-
tive stage and reached the denuncia-
tory one-personal denunciations.
The Steffens article in McClure's
started this vituperative
campaign between the two factions. 1t
was only match, however, but every
thing was ready for it.
The "stalwarts'' blame Governor
for that article. They say
he inspired it.