The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-09-05
Wisconsin Parties and Issues.

Wisconsin Parties and Issues.
The issues of the great fight in Wis
consin are more clearly defined since the
democratic state convention. It is now
very plain that the stalwarts have no
hope, whatever, of electing their state
ticket, but are keeping it in the field
to catch republican votes that would
otherwise go to La Toilette. Their real
intention is to defeat La Toilette by
electing the democratics ticket. r =
The "eonservatives''. triumphed- in
the democratic convention, and for the
first time since 1898, the democratic
platform fails to ,indorse the direct
primary. This is especially worth not
ing, since the new primary law is about
to be voted on at the November cleo
ton, having been submitted by the
legislature as a referendum measure. In
the previous conventions the direct
primary was Endorsed in order to keep
democrats from voting for La Toilette.
This year, when the primary is more Of
an issue than ever, it is condemned, to
attract the votes of stalwart republi
cans to Peek, and defeat La Toilette.
1t is very plain that the same influences
are behind the Cook republican ticket
and the democratic ticket headed by,
"Bad Boy Peck.
It is quite possible that this situation
will work in La Follette's favor after
all. He has received much silent sup
port from democrats in the past, espec-
tally two years ago, when the stalwarts
were trying the kill him off by voting
the democratic ticket. Now that the
| democratic organization has turned it's
back on the reform program, La Fol
| lette has received many open accessions
| from the radical element of the democ-
racy. Party lines1 ara being lost sight
Of in this remarkable state struggle, and
the issues raised by the Ia Toilette adj:
ADMINISTRATION = are. 1obscnring national
questions.
These issues are set forth in telling
| fashion by Governor La Toilette in an
article in the=-current = number of
Golfers He says that the defeat
Of his ticket will insure the de-
feat of legislation. to ! establish a
|
control rates. ,ItcwiA also mean Hthe
surrender of the :state's claim for the
collection of hundreds Of thousands Of
dollars in past due taxes, out of which
the companies have defrauded the state
year after year under the old license fee
law and it will mean % the repeal or
notification Of tn new railway tax law,
which makes an increase of upwards of
100000 in their taxes ~ -"
| These are issues big enough to engage
the attention of Wisconsin citizens, and
easily explain the interest of the rail
road corporations Of Wisconsin in tho
present campaign. They. are phases of
the struggle that is going on in many
states, including Minnesota. In this
struggle party lines are bound to be
broken again and again, when one party
comes under the domination of the cor.
porate influence, and, needs TO be re.
buked by the independent and progress
sive element. 81 80 IA. :
The Wisconsin situation is big with
trouble for Senators sSpooner and
Quarles, Congressman Babcock, and
other stalwart leaders. In the fierce
fight for control of the republican ma
jority Of the legislature many seats are
going to be sacrificed, and democratic
majority may result, The stalwar1
victory at the national convention doe
not seem to have done them much gooi
OF home, for two districts that sem
stalwart delegations to the state con
vention have recently nominated
La Toilette men for the legislature.
In Congressman Babcock s district hi
is confronted with hard fight from
. candidate who is a La Toilette demo
crat. Under the circumstances it is n,
wonder that Mr.. Babcock has becom,
somewhat pessimistic about the contro
of congress-. While his district i
strongly republican, it is also strongl,
La Toilette, and this wing of the part,
, resents Babcock's part in the boltin,
+ convention. The democrats have arisel
q to the situation by nominating Herman
! Grotophorst Of Baraboo, who is serv
= ing on the state board of control b.
a Governor La Toilette IS appointment
;. It is feared that he will make such in
: roads on tho republican vote that tn
chairman of tho republican congress
. sional committee may lose his own seal
I These are strenuous times in Wiscon
: sin state politics.
1 One Of the most interesting features G
9 the agricultural exhibit at the state ia!
g was the display made by the market gar
> deners' associations Of Minneapolis an
/ St. Paul The st. Paul exhibit took tn
= t prize. but it was largely. on account {
- tho arrangement and effectiveness in dis
= play. Various varieties OF grasses were III
. troduccd to good effect. It is understoc
. that this feature will not be admitted /
= the future, and without it the Minneapol
o exhibit would probably, have won. Ora:
may De more popular article Of di
$ among the people of st. Paul than 1t q
II In Minneapolis. At any rate, the exhib
le ton Of the gardeners is one Of the be-