The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1906-08-09
Gov. Davidson Fires First Shot in
Fight for denomination at
Milwaukee Wednesday
HOT SHOT FOR lAFoLLETTE
w. d. Conner and ]. B. Castle Criticize
the Action Of the Senator in His
Attempt to Make EimseIfa
Dictator of Wisconsin

The campaign of James O. David
son for the nomination for governor,
and Of w. d. Connor for the nominal
ton for lieutenant governor was
formally opened last night.
At meeting Of the Davidson-Con
nor club held in the colonial room at
the Plankinton house IN Milwaukee
nearly 300representative men Of Mil
waukee and Of the state listened for
nearly three hours to the speeches on
the issues to be fought out in the COM
ing campaign. In spite Of the OPP
pressive heat iii the room those pres
ent listened attentive1y to the speak
ers and greeted them with heavy APP
plause at the sentiments expressed.
The meeting presented one Of the
peculiar situations of politics. Pres
ent at the gathering were men who IL
years past have been lieutenants Of
Robert M. La Toilette, and who did
much to elevate the present United
States senator to his present place of
prominence. Last night these men
attacked La Toilette in no uncertain
terms and maintained that he had
betrayed those who had made sacri-
fees and aided him in the work that
had been accomplished, and in re-
turn maintained that La Toilette had
taken up the cause of those who had
but little to do with the work that has
been accomplished.
The speakers of the evening were
Gov. Davidson, B. ]. Castle of Black
River Falls, and w. D. Conner, of
Marshfield. The first speaker was
Mr.. Davidson. He was introduced by
Chairman P. ]. Koeh1er as the present
and next governor Of Wisconsin. He
outlined his position on questions now
before the state and maintained that
he had always supported the reforms
that had been enacted. Mr.. Castle
attacked the record of Lenroot as a
reformer and showed where he has
supported laws IN direct opposition
to the views entertained by La Fol-
lette. Mr.. Connor followed the
speakers Of the evening and displayed
considerable bitterness at the attitude
that has been taken by La Toilette
toward those who have aided him IN
the work of the last few years. While
Gov. Davidson made no reference to
the action Of La Toilette on the Len
root candidacy, he directed several
pointed remarks at the former
governor.
In his opening remarks he stated
that, if elected, he desired 1egisla-
ture whose members were. capable of
doing their own thinking and who
would not take their orders from the
state executive. He also maintained
that the work that has been done look
ing to tie control of the Operations
had not been started in the last few
years. Mr.. Davidson maintained
that this work was started twelve
years ago, and that he had always
favored state regulation. The gov
ernor stated, however, that he was
not reformer of the frenzied type
and argued that the people had ample
power to correct existing evils.
A spirited and bitter attack on La
Toilette and Lenroot was made by B..
J. Castle. He questioned the pro pri-
ETY. Of Senator la Follette's action in
making an announcement favoring
Lenroot and maintained that La
Toilette had left the manwho for the
last six years has stood for all of the
reforms and measures advocated by
the former governor and had been one
Of his stanchest supporters during
this time. He also questioned Len
roots right to proclaim himself as a
reformer. He pointed out where
Lenroot had favored an amendment
to the state exemption law and to the
railroad tax distribution law-changes
both opposed by La Toilette. He rid
icuied the idea expressed by La Fol-
lette that it was necessary for the
state to have lawyer as governor.
He pointed out that lawyers were
now to be found on the commissions
which we're handling the questions
before the state. With the building
of the capitol, Mr.. Castle argued that
it wds more desirable that a business
man like Mr.. Davidson should be in
the governors chair to take care OF.
the large sums that would be ex-
pended.
The sensation of the evening was
the short speech made by w. D. Con-
nor. The people of the state had
come to know him as cautious. con-
servative politician, always reticent
and reserved. Last night, however,
he entered into bitter denounce-
ment Of La Toilette and his methods
IN which he displayed considerable
feeling. He maintained that La Fol
lette had left those who had been
fighting for him and the reforms ad-
vocated by him for those who had
played but small part in the success
of La Toilette and of the work that
had been done. He also stated that
the people of the state had voted for
the primary election law in the hope
that they would be given an oppor-
tunity to select their candidates for
Office under the spirit ii which the