The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1908-04-30
State Politicians Awaiting Word
To Start Big Fight for United
States Senatorship
STEPHENSON TO BE I'm RACE
Kenosha County Farmer Will Probably
Announce His Candidacy to
Succeed Himself Within
the Next Few Days

WITCH Will SENATOR stephenson anu w
ID. Common make formal entry into the
senatorial race, or will they enter at all
It is safe to say this is the leading pc
Iiitical question of the moment in Wis
eonsin Tht latter part of the question
is invariably answered in the afirma
tive, it is the first part that is the puz
zle.
In spite of all reports to the contrary
lit is the belief of ninety-nine out of
every one hundred politicians that both
men will be among the entries when
they line UP under the wire for the
primary. Not until each one states over
his own signature that he will not be
a candidate for United States senator
will it be believed that either or both
Twill keep out of the fight. When they
will announce their decision and get
out into the open is a question that
may remain unanswered for some time
1t has been limited that Senator Step.
henson will not make formal announce
ment until after the meeting Of the ma
tl0ndl convention IN June.
If the senator decides on this course
he may find that much desirable terri
tory has been gobbled up by the other
candidates who have had in mind the his
torical statement regarding the early
bird. Among these close to Mr.. Connol
! it seems to be the impression that he
will be a candidate, but so far it goes
no further than an impression. Mr.
Common is not noted for giving out his
plans in advance. 1t has been hinteG
that he is waiting to see what Senator
Stephenson does. Friends Of Mr.. Con
nor INST that there was an agreement
between the two, when the lieutenan
governor pulled off the two assembly
men at the time Of Senator Stephenson I
election to the effect that the Junior
senator would retire at the end of his
short term and give his support to Mr.
Common Some even go so far as to say
they can name those who were presen
ut hesconference where this agreemen
was entered into. J. H. Puelicher whc
was Senator Stephenson s trusted lieu
tenant in the fight that gave Mr.. Steph
enson the seat left vacant by John G
| Spooner, said in an interview that ht
knew OF no such an agreement anc
thought he would have been aware of i
If anything of the kind had been enter
ed into.
There has been Of late renewed men
ton OF Congressman J. J. Esch in con
nectlon with the senatorial candidacy
When he was first spoken of it was sale
Mr.. Esch could not afford to make the
race, involving as it will the expendi
ture OF quite sum of money, just fol
the legitimate outlay Of the primary
campaign. 1t has been intimated
however, that Mr.. Esch has friends
who would meet the expenses Of the
campaign should he decide to go in.
There are three now formally out fol
the senatorship: w. H. Hatten of Wau
paca, 5. A. Cook of Neenah and Fran
els b. McGovern of Milwaukee.
Speaking of the expense of sensa
tlonal campaign under the primary
election law few people have the faint
est conception of the expenditure il
money which such a campaign will
make necessary. A group of politi
SLAMS, some of whom already had ex
perlence in the cost Of primary cleo
ton, were discussing the subject re-
Gently and all concurred in the opinion
that the primary campaign for the
United States senatorship, under pres
ent conditions, would involve an out.
lay of at least $4,000. This was the
lowest estimate made. Others ran
from $1,000 to $4,000, and one or two
thought it might go to $4,000 if any
attempt was made to put on any frills
But for just the legitimate and abso-
lutely necessary expenses of the cam
palgn, all agreed $4,000 would hardly
cover these. That too, when an effort
was made to run an economical cam
palgn. In the first place it was point
ed out, every candidate would feel it
necessary to see that candidates were
nominated in the various Republican
assembly and senatorial districts who
would be favorable to him when the
legislature met. While the primary
law provides that the senator shall be
nominated, the fact is never lost sight
of that the legislature has the power
of naming the senator, which power
cannot be taken from it. If, it was
said, the Legislature, or majority
thereof, should not like the nominee
the members could proceed and elect
who ever they saw fit.
Therefore the campaign involves