The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-05-28
WISCONSIN VOTE
CAUSE Of ALARM
Fence-Hopping' Proclivi-
ties of Western Balloters
Creates Doubt.

Wisconsin is besiDning 10 be set down
in the lists made by the political stats
ticians as a sura-euOugh doubtful STATE
good many Western politicians place
IL squarely alongside Indiana in this
regard. some indeed. declare that il Is
even more dangerous. from The Repub-
lcan viewpoint. than Indiana
A curious and unique situation pre-
walls in Wisconsin. In the first place
the inJra-State factional EgnJ of the
last ten years has weakened party lines
and loyalties as they have been weak
ened almost nowhere else. This is con-
sidered certain TO have some effect on
the national result Wisconsin has be-
come a distinctly radical community
il is for the things that la Toilette has
populariZed with its people. IL the Re
publcans are placed distinctly IA the
position of being the couservattVe party,
with the conservative candidates, Wis
consin will be In much the position
which Kansas has occupied ia other
years when the issue was between
conservative and radical programs.
Another Good Reason.
But this is not the reason which
appeals 10 politicians During the ses-
sion now coming 90 its close, most OF
the Republican Representatives from
Wisconsin have been 'insurgeutsi' they
have voted much of the time with the
Democrats. They opposed ship subsidy.
end turned up strong opposition 10
the currency legislation. They have
stood with the Democrats and the little
insurgenL Republican minority.
Now Wisconsin has "a popular primary
law for making nominations. The state
wide primary is held iu September. The
campaign for nominations is now atOOt
IN the State. As soon as they are done
with the Congressional session these in
surgenI Wisconsin Republicans must
go out home 20 defend themselves be-
fore their constituents. Most or them
viii have TO fight fOr denominations,
and IN doing so viii have 10 defend
themselves for voting with the Demo
Gratis
Mus Show Up.
To defend themselves, they will have
10 declare that the Democrats were
right. and the Republicans wrong, and
ny the time they have spent two
months educating the people TO under
stand that the Democratic proposals In
Congress were rignt, they will nave to
turn round and run for the election IN
November on Republican platform
and get busy with assurances that,
while a patriot may have had 10 vote
with the Democrats IN the SiXtieth Con
sgress in order to serve mis- people ne
will have TO stand with the Republicans
in me Sixty-fTst Congress
II has been suggested that This sys-
tenn Is likely to cause some difficulty IN
The public mind The public educated
10 think thu Democrats were right, lsI
Ifabls 70 he unwilling 10 change ltsI
mind and take the other side or the
, tsa after the nominations are made.
Contemplation Of these things Is caus-
ing worry about Wisconsin aIu re
v,,ibltran campaign managers are laying
mans for devoting special attention 90
hat State The feeling IS that Repubh-
cans need a magnificent organizer ar
the head Of their campaign this year,
less oratorv and fireworks. and more
organization. than in 1886 or any other
campaign since.