Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-10-15
MAY HELP LA TOILETTE
POSSIBLE EFFECT OF THE SCO-
FIELD TICKET IN WISCONSIN.
Spooner's Efforts Fail-Representative
Align Themselves-The State Re-
garded as Certain for Roosevelt.

Special Correspondence of The Evening Star
MILWAUKEE,, October 49, 1901
The weeks happenings have perceptibly
changed the political situation In Wiscon-
sin. The withdrawal of S. A. Cook from
the stalwart ticket and the substitution
of Ex-Governor Edward Scofeld was not
as enthusiastically Endorsed as had been
expected, and Mr. Cooks retirement was
followed by a turning over of a number
of state newspapers that had heretofore ad-
hered to the stalwart cause, and by for
NAL recognition of the La Toilette state
central committee by the republican ma
of prominent stalwarts in different parts
| OF the state have openly declared in favor
of an acceptance of the decision of the
supreme court and loyal support of the
La Toilette state ticket Representative
Cooper is one of these. He has spoken
from the same platform with Governor
La Toilette twice during the week, and III
each instance has roundly scored the stall
wart bolt and declared himself in favor
OF the reelection of the governor. Repre-
sentative Esch has also announced his &C
ceptance of the decision of the supreme
court, and stated that he will stump the
state in favor of Roosevelt and Fairbanks
and Governor La Toilette
manned judiciously silent, but Representa-
tive Minor was impelled to correct a re-
port that he had become reconciIed to the
support of Governor La Toilette by say
ing that while he accepted the courts de-
cision as to the ticket. he would not vote
for the governor. This has served to Feep
the breach open in his district and the sit
uation Is still menacing to both Babcock
and Minor. Cooper and ESch are not en-
dangering themselves by their u,terances in
favor of The governor, as they are both
popular in safely republican districts. The
other representatives are refrainng from
expressions of opinion, out of fear that
If they do not declare for La Toilette
they will be knitted by the governors
friends. and if they do they will be reviled
as towards by their stalwart supporters.
Trying to Withdraw scofield.
The most disconcerting happening of the
week for the stalwarts was the effort of
Senator SpOoner and several other promi-
nent members of the faction to bring about
the withdrawal of the Scofield ticket. The
suggestion first came to the surface Tues
day, when it caused great CONSERVATION
among the stalwart rank and file. There
was so much heated opposition that a meet
ing of the staIwart state central committee
was called for Wednesday. 1t was held in
the club room of the Hotel Pfister, the
lobby of which had for two days resembled
that of a stalwart republican convention.
and Editor John Hicks of the Oshkosh
Northwestern spoke in favor of withdraw
ing the ticket, and received quite a little
half-hearted support; but the district, coun-
ty and ward leaders were holly opposed to
the proposition, and the committee voted it
down. The ticket will therefore stand, but
Senator Spooner will not take the stump
in its support. 1t is said that the re-
mainder of his campaign work will be done
outside of Wisconsin.
The movement for the withdrawal of the
stalwart ticket prompted by the ma
tional committee which regards the third
ticket as a menace to the electoral vote
| The committee had formally recognized the
| legitimacy of the La Toilette state central
| committee and had been communicating
| with that body for the arrangement of fu-
ture campaign meetings, and this action,
following the withdrawal of Cook, had put
the stalwarts in bad temper for the PROPOSE
ton to take their state ticket out of the
field. They are now critciSing the ma
tional committee and charging leaders, who
were erstwhiIe high in favor with coward
ice and lack of backbone.
StaIwarts to Vote for Peck.
The situation is brighter for La Toilette
than it was a week ago, and the hot
headed stalwarts have unwittingly as
sisted him by determining to keep their
ticket in the field. There is no denying
that in any event a large majority of the
stalwarts intend to vote for ex-Gov. Peck,
the democratic candidate. A larger num-
Der would so vote If there were no third
ticket. The diversion from the Peck vote
will. therefore, be to La Follette's adj
vantage.
The rejection of the proposition was IL
| logical from the standpoint of those who
are willing to do anything to defeat La
Toilette, and simply another blunder to
add to long series that has bungled the
| movement against La Toilette. The first
| p1ar n
| campaign of last spring, which was run
| largely and openly by the railroads, who
| packed preliminaries and tried to control
| the caucuses, thus alternating many vot-
! ers, who became suspicious of stalwart
| motives on the railroad question. Had the
railroads kept their hands out the stall
wart fight would not have waned as it
| did, until districts which had been car
ried against La Toilette in the spring
| were captured just as decisively by the
governor in the fall caucusng. The next
| blunder was in not making clear to the
| average voter the basis of the stalwart
| claim TO a majority of the legally ere
| dentialed delegates to the state conven-
| ton The real strength of the opera house
| convention has never been made clear
| and consequently there has been doubt
| all along, even in the stalwart camp,
| among those who We're not in position to
| ascertain the facts. as to whether the
| claim to majority was well founded.
Wisconsin for Roosevelt.
The tide is now running toward Gov
| La Toilette, who will be reelected by
| handsome majority. 1t is risky to venture
| into figures at this stage of the campaign,
but republicans throughout the United
States may confidently look for Wiscon-
| sin in the Roosevelt column. The electors
will be carried by the La Toilette ticket
which will also carry all the congress-
men, the legislative candidates and the
county tickets. An amusing feature is
| the fact that the congressman who are
| not supporting the governor will thus
| receive the benefit of the governors vote
getting strength.
A Victim.