The Minneapolis journal., 1906-05-18
GOVERNOR MAYASK
HOUSER TO RESIGN
Reformers in Wisconsin Stunned
by the Charges of Com
missioner Host.

Special to The Journal. ,@&s.@+su
Milwaukee, May 1S.-Governor Da
wilson, upon arriving here last night
to attend banquet, was asked whether
he had decided to request Secretary of
State Houser to resign as result of
the Zeno M. Host charges. He said
that he had not as yet had time to
look into the testimony with sufficient
detail to be able to announce his flu
ture course. There is some question
whether he has power to force Houser
to resign, but if he should decide to
ask for his resignation, there is little
doubt that it would be good policy for
Houser to comply. : 49,, <.
Another phase Of the Host-Houser
muddle is the belief that, in revenge
for the treachery shown to him by his
La Toilette factional comrades, Houser
may tell what he knows about cam
paign contributions. IT is charged that
the schoolbook trust gave $4,000 and
Houser is believed to know all about
the plans Of La Toilette and his asso-
| ciates to secure money to fight political
battles. The Developments of the day
| here were:
Gilbert Ready to Prosecute.
First-District Attorney Frank, l..
| Gilbert says he will consult Insurance
| Commissioner Host, and if the facts
| appear to warrant it, Secretary of State
Houser will be prosecuted on charge
of bribery:
Second-Politicians generally express
the opinion that the revelation has de-
stroyed Secretary Of State Houser s
chances for denomination and probably
have completely shattered the Lenroot
slate. 4..
Third-Both Houser and Host were
in their respective Offices all day, but
did not meet each other. Neither would
give out any further statement regard
ing the sensational episode.
An attempt to bribe a public off
Attorney Gilbert eff. the facts seem
to warrant prosecution, / shall not
hesitate to do my duty he continued.
"a grand jury might be called to in
vestigate the charge, or some individ-
ual might swear out a warrant on in
formation and belief. In either case
the charge would undoubtedly be fully
gone into. The penalty for attempting
to bribe a public officer is fine of
state 8 prison from one to five years. -
Violation of Faith, Says Houser.
Friends of Secretary Houser declare
that the exposure of anything concern
ing these matters is violation Of faith
on the part Of the commissioner of in
surance, and they also declare that
while the campaign of 1904 was SO
strenuous and the La Toilette faction
was hard pressed for campaign money
that it was necessary to "fry fat,' but
that there, was no attempted bribery.
Hosts friends, who are generally
lined up in favor of Governor Davidson
in his campaign for the gubernatorial
| nomination, aexpect that the expose will
elbow @Houser and, his third-term ship
i out Of the water. IA sY5S
The. incident. seehts. to indicate that
there is some truth in the statement
recently made that the La Toilette re-
publican faction in Wisconsin had di.
videll within itself, and in the current
prediction that the dominant faction
would shortly become two factions in
which a new Wisconsin political fight
would be waged. /
Hosts Ambition. Z
Another feature is that Commissioner
Host is said to desire practically tc
name his successor, so as to carry for
ward reforms he has started, and to that
end has brought out as candidate
former State Treasurer T. M. Purtel1
of Madison. Mr.. .Purtell was oustec
by Governor La Toilette for failure tc
put up a 100000 bond.
Mr.. Purtell is opposed for the nom
Assemblyman George E. Beedle of En-
barrass, also member of the insur
ance investigation committee, and sup
posed to be the slate candidate of the
La Follette-Lenroot-Hou combina
, tiOn