Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1904-06-23
LsSoHefe In National Politics.

against Robert NJ. La Toilette by the
railroads of Wisconsin has been
+, transferred from Wisconsin to Chi
cago before the national Republican
convention in all its bitterness and
all its unscrupulousness No oppor-
tunity to injure him is passed over,
whether it can be done by fair or
foul means. They are in panic OF
fear apparently that the fighting
governor of Wisconsin may become
IA national character - one whose
voice may reach the ears OF the peo-
pie of many states on national is
sues. The best working corporation
lobbyists and schemers have been
employed to pull the wires against
him in the national convention as
well az before the national commit
tee. Alexander Mckenzie, politi-
cal agent of the Northern Pacific
and Great Northern railroads, the
shrewdest political manipulation in
the gang Of James j. Hills many
agents, and F.. l.. Philip OF Milwau-
kee, too well known as railroad
political agent and satchel carrier
all over Wisconsin to need "labeling,"
have been openly working for a week
to insure the selection of committee
on credentials of the national con-
vention which VIII shut out the La
Toilette delegates at-large from the
| floor Of the national convention. On
Monday one Of them Informed some
friends that they have succeeded IN
fixing their slate, with the help Of
national committeeman, that is sure
to 90 through, and that there is now
no danger of Bob" La Toilette get
ting heard in such a way as to en-
gage the attention of the country at
large. They fear the living voice of
creed or influenced to turn aside
from the principle that he has al
ways championed.
The exact part taken by the rail
roads in the Republican convention
and especially in the La Toilette
contest, is set forth graphically in
Monday mornings Chicago Record
Herald BY Walter Wellman, one of
best-kuown Washington correspon-
dents in the country. He does not
enter into details, but those could
easily be supplied, had they been
necessary at this time. He said in
the course Of long article on the
Republican convention, which open
ed Tuesday morning.:
ut will be noticed that the settle
ment of contests for seats and the Sc
lection of a candidate for vice presi-
dent are not included in what we
may term the elephantiue category.
These are left to the other members
of the ring-the people of the loco
motive and the special car, and the
wires which lead to the offices of
certain corporations. In writing the
history of the day it is well to adhere
to the actual facts, and the truth of
history compels us to set it down in
the record that the railroads are
looking after their end of the bust
ness with their accustomed skill and
assiduity.
Little Gov. LaFollette of Wiscon-
sin may still have enough life left in
his body to know by this time what
ran over him, 1t was a railroad train.
How could he have expected it to be
otherwise?
This is what happened Appeals
went out from the presidents of rail-
roads in Wisconsin to their brethern
all over the country to help down
this political train-wrecker of the
Badger state. This was an opportun-
ity to dispose Of him which must not
be neglected. And to man the
bretheru responded. They went to
work among the national committee
men from their regions, and when
the railroads start ont on a trail like
that they are able To use good q lea
of steam.
Every railroad company in the
United States that knows its bust.
ness makes a speciality of attending
to what are called the fine points OF
politics, and one OF these fine points
is to make sure of having friends in
the organization of both of the great
political parties. They may not be
able to control primaries and dele.
/ gates ana voters, but tGGy are strong
when it comes to THE selection OF
committeeman.
at would he interesting to know
how many OF the members of the
committee that passed on the Wis
consin case paid their fares to Chi
cago. At any rate the case of Gov
LaFollette and the half-breeds was
lost before the members of the ma
tional committee left home. For
aught | know it was a bad case, one