Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-08-16
WSC0NS|N'S MUDOLE
Uncertainty as to the Reg
ular" Ticket.
A FIGHT TO THE DEATH
IF GOVERNOR WINS HE WILL
HAVE STRONG MACHINE.
If the Spooner Faction Succeeds It
Will Mean Election Of Demo-
cratic Governor.
+ FIGHT TO THE DEATH

Mr.. F. A. Johnson, a western newspaper
correspondent. returned today from Wiscon-
sin, where one of the hottest political con-
tests of the present campaign Is being
-waged between warning factions in both
the republican and democratic parties.
The supreme court of the state has Dsan
invoked to adjudicate the trouble between
the two republican organizations known as
the Spooner or "stalwart element, and Inc
La Toilette or alleged regular" element
Arguments will be heard by the highest
judicial tribunal in the state on September
@, and an early decision Is expected. TO de-
termine whether the state ticket heaoeo ny
Gov. La Toilette is the legally nominated
aggregation of candidates. or whether the
Spooner ticket, with former Representative
Cook at the head, shall be placed on the
official ballot
1.-The fight is so bitter said Mr. john
son this afternoon, when asked TOT on
opinion that no matter what the court
decides it will be carried on until the polis
close on election day. Should La follet.e
be turned down he will at once clrcuia 70
petitions and will run for governor any
way. carving with him all other candidates
On The, ticket he represents. If the decision
should be adverse to the Cook ticket, II mas
been announced that Cook VIII not iu u
independent. In that event the stalw. waits %
cratic candidate for governor. VINO VIII pe
George w. Peck, a popular man VINO mas
served as chief executive Oh the o'0'''
state
Democrats Not United.
But the democrats are not at aii o'ii'o
There is a Bryan-Hearst element among
them who are ardent admirers or La Oh
lette They supported him two years ago
and perfectly posted politicians In Wisconsin
saw that the doughty governor received up-
ward of $4,000 democratic and popuhst
votes in 1902. This year the democrats d.
not pulling together owing to the sao mess
they made at the st. LOUIS S eoi in I hahaIf
where they went with brass bands IN DENIAL
of F.. c. Wall as presidential canoioa.e.
ExMayor Dave Rose Of Milwaukee, VINO
ran for governor against La foiiel.e an0
received a substantial republican support,
10 far from friendly to the Parker ana
D.yis ticket and has expressed the opinion
that Roosevelt will carry Wisconsin,
In several congressional districts guer-
rilla campaign is being conducted. Although
the La Toilette people claim to be the
regulars" they are supporting democratic
candidates against J. w. Babcock and E.
8. Minor, who have the fight OF their lives
to contend with.
I'm two districts where there are La Fol-
lette candidates for the legislature nomi-
mated as regulars the Spooner- stalwart
element Is supporting Independent republic
can nominees, which will result in the
election of democrats.
IF this line Of battle continues the seat
of United States Senator Quarles Is in
danger. But Quarles and his followers
would rather see democrat sent to the
Senate than to see La Toilette triumph,
for If the governor fs elected for third
term it Is boldly asserted that he will carry
enough members of the legislature with
him to make a most formidable candidate
for the Senate.
What La Follette's Success Would
La Follette's special appeal to the farm
ers and workingmen and his fight against
the railroads have given him a strong fol-
lowing. His success this fall would n;ean
a strong machine in Wisconsin of which
he would have personal control His am
bition is the United States Senate The
Wisconsin law provides for only one OFF,
cial ballot. so that the republican electors
are in no danger. But in the event of La
Toilette being defeated by the court and
securing a place on the ballot by petition
1t will complicate the voting. inasmuch as
the voter would be obliged to place a mark
opposite the name of every candidate voted
for.
IF there was no split and only one set
Of republican state candidates. marking
the head of the ticket by the voter would
carry every candidate with it whether re-
publican or democratic.
Should Cook be declared the legal nomi-
nee and La Toilette and his ticket secure
place on the official ballot by petition
the La Toilette votes will have to be mark
ed from the head Of the ballot clear
through.
president Roosevelt might lose votes
through the Ignorance of some voters and
the zeal OF others who are so enthusiastic
for La Toilette that they will mark his
name first. and thus miss a vote for presi-
Dental electors"
A Fight to tho Death. So.
ION the other hand, If La Toilette is de-
clared to be the legal nominee by the
courts. the stalwarts who will vote for
George Peck. the democratic nominee for
governor, will be compelled to mark their
tickets from top to bottom. The situation.
whatever may be the decision of the courts
Is very complicated
1T Is fight to the death between the
Spooner and La Toilette factions. and the
future OF the republican party in Wiscon-
sin for years to come Is at stake"
Either side prefers to see a democrat
elected rather than to see its republican
adversary win out in the state Campaign -
~