The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-10-29
LAFOLLETE FIGHTS
HIS OPPONENTS
HurIs Gauntlet or Wisconsin
State Republican Or
ganiZatiOn.
DEMANDS INVESTIGATION.
SUSPICIOUS OF FRAUD IN PRI.
MARY-THINks HIS POLITICAL
SCALP WILL BE TAKEN TWO
YEARS HENCE.

Blair. Wis, Oct. Ex-senator La
Toilette has taken up the gauntlet
thrown down by the Stephenson men,
now in control of the Republican or
ganization in Wisconsin, and has Civ
en- the signal for what will probably be
the greatest fight ever waged for rep
resentative government.
In speech here, so replete with
sensation that it is hard to decide
which feature is of the greatest sig.
nificance, the Senator demanded an in
vestigation of the charges that money
was improperly expended in the recent
senatorial primary.
He mentioned Senator Stephenson
by name, and stated that every Repub-
1fcan candidate for the Legislature
should be required to pledge himself to
vote for an investigation of the pri-
mary before an election of a United
States Senator takes place.
But even of greater Importance and
significance was his dramatic picture
OF the fight that has been waged upon
Speaker Herman L. Ekern; of the
success of corporations in the primary
IN bringing about the nomination of
Albert T. Twesme, and the independ-
ent fight that is now being made by
Mr.. Ekern for election to the Assem-
bly,.
Mr.. LaFollette showed clearly that
he appreciated that the fight upon Elk
ern is but part of fight having for
it's ultimate object his own defeat for
the Senatorship two years hence.
The Senator quoted at length from
the now famous Norwegian circular
which was sent out before the primar
les in the effort to defeat Ekern. Len
root, Strange and Governor Davidson
as candidate for the Senatorship
against himself two years hence.
"But the validity of Mr.. Stephen
sons nomination has been challenged
by the Democratic party in formal
resolutions adopted as part declara-
ton in it's party record and of the po-
litical history of the commonwealth"
declared LaFollette.
This action, formally taken in par
ty convention and pressed in public
discussion, raises an issue which can
not, in honor, be ignored. If true, it
should set aside the result of the pri.
mary. .#
II believe the Republican party and
Mr.. Stephenson. the successful candi.
date in the primary. should meet this
charge with a demand for proof and
should aid in every way to secure a
thorough and impartial investigation
of every allegation made. l believe
that every Republican candidate for
the Legislature should pledge himself
to his constituency before the election
to favor such investigation and take
such action as shall preserve the in
tegrity of the ballot, and protect the
good name of the state.'
In supporting Ekern, LaFollette is
repudiating the primary law which he
caused to be passed.
While LaFollette was talking for the
Independent candidate, Governor Day.
adson was campaigning for the regular
nominee.
Governor Davidson in his speeches
denied the LaFollette charge that he
10 now a candidate for LaFollette's
seat in the Senate. He said that when
the time came to elect successor to
LaFollette the party would take care
OF him. The LaFollette men take this
as threat.