The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-06-09
NO. | In DEEP
POLITICAL GAME
ARREST OF HoUsER so REGARDED
IN WISCONSIN.
Factions of the Republican Party May
Tell Upon Each Other and Invite
Turning On of the imelight- Houser
/ in Position to Make Some Trouble.
Special to The Journal.

Milwaukee Wis, June 9-The arrest this
week of Secretary of State Walter L. Houser
on the charge Of attempting to bride Insurance
Commissioner Zeno NJ Host promises to be the
first open step In war of political interests
which will result in the springng of a series of
sensations at intervals from now until the pri-
mary election is held. @ l=. ~ .=...- F.. 49,
Tho brought out by the legislative investiga-
tion of the insurance companies, the bribery
charge is regarded in the best informed circles
clever play in political game. Whether
it is the first move toward checkmate of La
Toilette remains to be seen The probable out
come of the affair, aside from political gain, Is
generally expected to be the disclosure of the
preparation Of many political tricks in the years
since La Toilette began his fight for the senator
ship from the governors chair. -. '# 3 g.
Here is the probable course in brief: Secre-
tary Houser is accused of bribery by the men
who are with Governor Davidson in the fight for
the victory at the republican primaries. The
charge, tho it may be disproved, will probably
mean such severe series of attacks on Houser
that it will be impossible for him to win vic
tory at the primaries, in his candidacy for the
nomination secretary Of state. He will prob
ably be forced to withdraw-openly or prac-
tically. His anger at the probable refusal Of
the La Toilette machine to help his candidacy
will, beyond doubt, impel him to tell things
about statehouse doings the last three or four
years. .'.G
Knows the Inside.
In politics, even reform politics. there is
much done that would not look we'll in print,
innocent tho it may be In fact Some of these
in return for his being ''slid' from the Lenroot-
! La Toilette slate. The first suggestion of what
may happen along this line it is believed was
the recent anonymous announcement in strik-
ing newspaper story of the fact that the La
Toilette gubernatorial campaign in 1904 cost
500 900. The man who told, it is believed, was
Houser, and the story, 1t Is also believed, was
the hint to La Toilette and LenrOOt that it may
be well to handle Houser carefully, despite his
| enforced defense Of a bribery charge
| There are other reasons why 1t may be well
| for the Lenroot men to be careful of how they
handle Mr.. Houser. 1t is q clerk in his office
who is doing the publicity work in connection
with the Lenroot campaign. 1t is probable that
the work is being done outside of the states
office hours, but Mr.. Houser might well 'dis
! cover that such work was being done and
| announce that his office not to be used as
| q campaign headquarters.
There is no question that Mr.. Houser knows
all that may have happened in political way
since La Toilette entered the statehouse There
are others who know Also but revenge might
impel the telling of sundry tales, where mere
political advantage would not cause the dis
| closure of secrets Of a one-time political FRIEND
by the supporters OF Governor Davidson.#
Houser's Version.
The charge of Host against Houser, according
to Houser, was plot to put Houser out Of til,
race for the office which Senator Frear will b.
|
Host is aligned with the Davidson Conner Frea
group and Hcuser with the La FolletteLenroo
combination. ~ The Davidson campaign is helpe,
by the charge, inasmuch as charge against on
of the opposition reflects on the entire ticket.
The puzzle about the statehouse is whether o
not, in view Of the arrest, Governor Davidson
will ask the resignation Of Secretary Houser
This can easily be done tho there is a questio
whether the request could be made legally a.
order. The general belief, however Is tina
Davidson, man who fights in the open, vii
not take such step even against politica
foe. 80 a.
If Houser is tried at once, and is convicted
then, according to the belief of the Davidso
men, 1t will be time enough to call for his res
ignation. At any rate, according to the David
son argument, the smirch on Houser is not re
= Election the Davidson regime, inasmuch a
Houser elected of the cabinet Q
La Toilette and merely inherited as a trouble
some appendage by the governor who was 1r
, stalled when the leader Of the faction becam
senator. -,
McGillivray and Connor.
The conflict between Senator J. J. McGillivray
candidate for governor and the state republica
chairman, W. D. Connor, has a parallel In tn
, contest over the Milwaukee county republica
{ craftsmanship. Senator McGillivray wants Chail
man Conner to resign, because as a cand1dat
for the lieutenant governorshp on one slate
: can well make considerable trouble for those o
i, the Lenroot and McGillivray. tickets. Senate
McGillivray therefore demands the retirement c
Mr.. Conner and the selection of another cha
, man who is neutral. Mr.. Connor's reply is tha
the office has no relation to the primary can
paign, but is merely to further the victory Of
ticket once selected and that the state commi
tee has no duties to perform between campaign
Mr. Conner says that there is no one to whol
he can resign, and says that he will take I
advantage Of other candidates in the use
party records which are open to ALL
In Milwaukee county the La Follette-Lenro<
men are making the same demands for the r.
trement of County Chairman P. ]. Koehler, WI
, has become the official Milwaukee county maj
ager for the Davidson-C onnor ticket. The cou1
ty Craftsmanship will interfere, according to tt
: Lenroot supporters, with their success in secu
; Ing the nomination Of Lenroot men for count
, > Offices, for the fight between Lenroot and Davi
son is being drawn even to offices of such
minor chera cfer 0S these.