Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1904-06-09
The Wisconsin Split.

The Wisconsin Split
Of course Republicans are trying to,
make light of the Republican split in
Wisconsin and predicting that the
factions will soon get together. Many
are talking that way because they do
not know any better, while the others
are ''whistling to keep their courage
up." The Washington Post, independ-
ent, but for Roosevelt, published at
the seat of government, thus discourses
editorially on the subject:
We can we'll believe the statement Of
men close in the confidence of the admin
among Republican leaders over the con-
dition in Republican circles in Wiscon-
SIM The situation warrants concern. 1t
gives rise to questions involving the pow
er of political organizations to control
conventions, the right of minority and
c6ntesting delegates to organize rump
conventions when they fail to secure
proper consideration at the hands of the
organization. The Wisconsin case is all
the more important because the "bolters'
include the two United States senators
from that state and a majority of the
states delegation in the house, men who
are recognized as representing the senti-
neQL ana WISHES sOl t1lG party III Tic AAel-
ton and who are usually relied upon TO
keep state politics in consonance with
the views and declarations of the party
at large.
The opposition in Wisconsin is headed
by Robert Marion La Toilette, governor
of the state, who has been nominated by
his faction for a third term He has had
a picturesque career and for some years
has been out of touch with the national
leaders on almost every point involved in
the local fractional fights
The 'sbolters," under the direction of
Senators Spooner and Quarles, have
named a complete state ticket, and the
contest will be taken to the courts. Both
factions have named the same presiden-
tial electors, but even that action prom
Uses to be nullified as La Toilette has
demanded a share in the distribution of
federal patronage in his state under
threat that he will put up new presiden-
tfal electors and lose Wisconsin to the
Republican ticket if his wishes are not
respected. This serves to further COM
plicate the very dangerous conditions. 1t
is but natural to expect that the Repub-
lican national convention will recognize
the delegation headed by Senators Spoon
er and Quarles. If that be done, and the
courts decide later that the La Toilette
organization is in the right, the situation
will be troublesome in the extreme. II
the courts decide against La Foliette,
there is prospect-and those who know
him call it a certainty--that he will turn
bolter and throw Wisconsin into the DEM
ocratic column this year.
The Babcock therein referred to is
our old friend Representative Babcock,
the immortal tariff reforner ~ who
introduced sundry bills to remove or
lower the tariff schedules in certain
cases and then when the Democrats on
the ways and means committee offered
his bills as amendments to certain
bill voted against his own bills! That's
the sort of tariff reformer Mr.. Bah
cock is. He is also chairman of the
congressional campaign Republican
committee, and because the country has
elected six Republican houses of rep
resentatives hand running while he
was chairman he has achieved a great
reputation as campaign manager.
It would be the irony of fate should
be lose his own seat.