The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-01-06
CANDIDATES OF
THE FACTIONS
DIVISION ON ABOUT THE SAME
OLD LINES IN WISCONSIN,.
KerWin Supported for the Bench by
Administration Men and Luse Fa-
vored by the ''Staiwarts''- Latter
Has Good Start for the Goal
!. Republican Executive Committee
I Called to Meet.

Special to The Journal.
Madison, Wis, Jan. 6.-The two fac
tions Of the republican party seem to
have divided again on the question Of who
shall be elevated to the supreme court.
There are now two candidates in the
and the other James C. Kerwin Of Nee
nah. Kerwin is strictly the state admin
istration@ candidate. while Luse is gener-
ally supported by the stalwarts and some
administration men and independents In
securing signatures to the nomination pa
pers the Luse men seem to be in the lead,
having: already secured the names of a
large majority Of the leading lawyers Of
Madison, Milwaukee and other large cities
OF the state. Luse, it is said here, has
the solid support of Douglas, his home
county, and kerwin similar support of
Winnebago, his home.
At the last general election an amend
ment.;t to the state constitution was adopt
ed,,. Increasing the membership of the
state, supreme court from five to seven.
One Of the new positions is to be filed at
the judicial election next April and the
other at the election two years from this
spring. The term Is for ten years and
the salary $1,000 a year.
Continued Until Feb. 8.
BY stipulation b the big case of the
Equitable Life Assurance society of the
sioner Host, to restrain him from revoking
it's license because 1t refused to divide it's
surplus at least once every five years
among it's policy holders, was continued
in the circuit court here yesterday until
Feb 8, when it will be tried upon its
merits.
The case hinges on the Interpretation
of section 1852 of the Wisconsin statutes
providing that life insurance companies
operating in this state may divide their
surplus among their policy holders at
least once every five years. The insurance
commissioner holds that this word may
means must and. that the statute is
mandatory. The insurance society con-
tends that it is simply permissory and
not mandatory.
If the commissioner is successful in this
suit the Wisconsin policy holders of the
society will be entitled to refund of
about $15,00o,000 of the surplus. This is
simply a test case and the result will at
feet other large insurance corporations
operating in Wisconsin.
One Convention Only.
General George T.. Bryant has fully de-
cided to call a meeting Of the executive
committee Of the republican state central
committee here on Jan. 20 to consider the
question Of calling a meeting Of the full
committee to prepare for the state con-
VentiOn on conventions.
The state administration men have de-
cided to hold but, one convention this
year, and it. Is generally, understood that
the state. central Committee, which is
largely composed. Of administration men
will indorse the. proposition. The lead
Ing administration men declare that I'M
less the situation changes before the con-
vention,s Governor La Toilette will be re-
nominated for governor and will be chos.
en-; to head the state delegation to the
annual convention:
Newman and DooittIe Leading.
The Wisconsin state forestry commits.
sion will meet in a few days for the pur-
pose. of electing a state superintendent OF
forestry. At the last meeting the com.
mission became deadocked over the ques-
ton: George Newman, a lawyer of Lady
smith, Gates county, and l.. A. Doolittle
a lawyer of Eau Claire. seem to be the
leading candidates. The position pays a
salary of $500 a year.
= On Another Speaking Tour.
Governor La Toilette has again resumed
his lecturing tour thru the state. He
spoke last night on Hamlet" at Sun
Prairie and Thursday night will repeat the
lecture at Lake Mills. Saturday night he
will deliver the same lecture here before
the university oratorical association. He
also has lecture dates at Waukesha, Su-
perior and other places.