The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1906-02-22
Other State officers to Follow
the Lead Of Governor Davidson
in Seeking Another Term
ADMINISTRATION MEN UNITED
State Secretary Houser, Treasurer
Kempf and Attorney General Stur-
devant to be Candidates for An. N
other Two Years of Service

/ Five Wisconsin state officers, each
of whom has already had two or more
terms, are candidates for another
nomination at the primary election
next September. Each is busy
through friends working up senti-
ment.
Governor James O. Davidson, who
served two full terms as state treas
urer and was elected twice as lieuten-
ant governor, becoming chief execu-
tive upon the departure Of Governor
ILaFollette for the United States SEN
ate, seeks election as governor. His
platform is ECONOMY and business
administration"
Secretary of State Walter L. Houser,
serving his second term in that office,
has plainly stated to his associates
that he is preparing to circulate his
nominating petitions for third term,
and that Senator James A. Frear, of
Hudson, announced candidate for Sec
rotary of state, had no right to give
out that he had been informed in
personal interview with Houser that
the latter would not seek another
term. Secretary Houser's platform
is 2-cent railroad passenger fare and
his petitions to the railroad rate COM
mission to render such a decision are
said by friends to be the first part of
his campaign.
State Treasurer John ]. Kempf has
his nominating petitions printed and
ready for circulation and they will be
sent out within few weeks, but he is
being advised to wait until the spring
election has been held and the cam
paign IN Milwaukee has passed by.
Treasurer Kempf claims his right to
reelection on the ground that he was
abused by the LaFol1ette administra-
ton by being thrown out of office for
an alleged shortage of some $4, 600 in
the accounts of land sales. When
thrown out he was already on the Re-
publican state ticket for reelection,
maintained his nomination in court
seeks further vindication in the shape
or election Tor third term.
Attorney General L. M. Sturdevant
within the past week has declared to
his fellow state officers his determina-
ton to seek third term on the
ground that it is important that he
remain in Office in order to com plete
the important recovery litigation
against the railroads, Involving more
than 81, 900, 900 in back taxes, penalties
and contested taxes levied under the
ad valorem railroad tax law of 1903.
Railroad Commissioner John w.
Thomas, now completing his second
term of two yeas each, can not run
for third term as railroad commits
sioner, for the last legislature pro-
vided for the new state railroad rate
commission and legislated the Office
Of Commissioner Thomas out of ex-
istence at the close of the present
term. But Mr.. Thomas plans to seek
the nomination as state treasurer.
This was the information given out
two months ago and no utterance to
the contrary has been heard since, al
though it is not believed that this
candidacy has great support.
Insurance Commissioner Zeno M.
Host frankly declares that he is not a
candidate for third term. It is un-
derstood that he will gravitate into a.
higL-sa1aried position with large In
surance company and that PROPOSE
ton has already been made to him in
that regard. He is the only Wiscon-
sin state officer whose term expires
next January and who is not seeking
reelection.