Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-11-03
LA FoLLETT&'S DEFEAT
STALWARTS CLAIM THEY WILL
BE ABLE TO DO THIS.
Most of Them Will Vote for Peck for
neutrality-suspicious. Situa-
ton Clearing.

Special Correspondence of The. Evening Star.
MILWAUKEE,, October 81, 1904.
A notable incident bf the campaigning
in Wisconsin at the beginning of the last
week for electioneerfng Is sudden as
sumption of confidence on the part of the
stalwarts that they will be able to COM
pass the defeat of La Toilette. AS though
it were preconcerted, there was talk all
along the stalwart line at the close of
last week of a remarkable change that 1t
was claimed had swept over the state.
Today this talk has given place to dec
larations that the stalwarts have the
governor "coopered." A leading stalwart
worker who says he has been over fif-
teen counties gives this rough calculation
as the basis Of the claim: The total vote,
allowing for fair increase, will be in
round numbers 100000. OF this total the
democrats will cast 225.00O, the social
democrats $4,000, the prohibitionists 5000
and the republicans $4,000 With these
figures the stalwarts show that IL only
small percentage of the republican vote
is cast for Peck La Toilette will be beat
en-. But their figuring is wild Although
the vote will probably come out in Wis
consin next Tuesday, owing to the hot
ness of the campaign, there is no basis
whatever for the expectation that 1t will
reach 500 900. The total vote in 1906
eight years ago-was 444,091, while that
of 1900-four years later-was only AL
S97.
Normal Republican Majority.
There is mistaken idea that the nor
NAL republican majority is about $4,000.
Prior to 1890 and 1892, when the state
went democratic on a .semi-religious is
sue, the republican plurality during
period of ten years ranged from 1000 to
10000; but since the recovery of the state
by the republicans their plura1ities have
ranged much higher. For instance, in
1894 William H. Upham's plurality was
was 1871; in 1898 Scofield's net plural
ity was 37,7S4; in 1900 La Foliette's net
plurality was 103,745; in 1902 La Fol-
lette's net plurality was 47,579. The dem
ocrats cast only 160.3S8 votes for Peck
when they elected him in 1890, and 49,
245 when they reelected him in 1892; in
1894, when Peck was beaten by William
H. Upham, the republican candidate, he
received only 142, 250 votes, and since that
time the democratic vote has been: 1896,
1922 1898, 135,353; 1900, 16O,674; 1902,
1858. To allow the democrats 225O00
votes this year is therefore wide of the
mark
Congressional Situation Clearing.
The congressional situation is clearing
somewhat. The La Follettites now admit
that they do not expect to defeat Babcock
although they intend to cut him heavily.
They say his normal plurality is too large
to overcome and, besides, Mr.. Babcock
will receive many democratic votes They
therefore expect to see him pull in" by
greatly reduced plurality, Representative
Minor will not be cut heavily, and although
his margin over his democratic opponents
has been smaller than Babcock's it is ex-
pected that he will be reelected also. The
only doubtful districts are the fourth and
fifth. In the former Representative Often
will have a close run, but will probably win.
His net plurality two years ago was only
,63S Some stalwarts may cut him because
of his support of the La Toilette ticket
since the supreme COURT decision made 1t
regular, while some halfbreeds may do
likewise because of his previous associa lions
with the stalwarts If the democratic can
didate was popular Otjen's chances would
be rather slim, but as the contrary is true,
he may have small margin ito the good"
In the fifth district, COMPRISING a portion
of Milwaukee county and Waukesha coun-
ty, there is strong contingent of social
democrats, and Victor Berger, the candi-
date for that party, claims that he will lead
in the balloting, with the democrat second
and Representative Stafford, the republi-
can, third.
A Gum-Shoe Campaign.
Stafford has been keeping very quiet and
carrying on a gum-shoe campaign" He
declares that he will be returned, and as he
is known to be good house-to-house CAM
paigner his friends believe he will win. Pol
itics in this district are very hot, however
and this affords room for some doubt At
stalwart meeting in Waukesha county
Saturday night Long Jones, an influential
stalwart leader, who has served in the
state senate, declared that he would go to
the polls and vote for George w. Peck, the
democratic gubernatorial candidate, and
that $1,000 staiwart republicans would do
likewise throughout Wisconsin. How many
votes this may accidentally carry to the
democratic candidate in the fifth district
can only be conjectured. Jones claims that
800 stalwarts have signed agreement to
vote for Peck, and that the roll will en-
brace 200 names by Tuesday next. If this
is true and the pledges are kept the county
will go democratic. The stalwarts have now
thrown off all pretense of voting for SEQ
field and are openly declaring for Peck and
circulating sample ballots directing voters
how to cut La Toilette and vote for Peck.