Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1908-10-22
GOVERNOR jim
AS B0B'S RIVAL
Movement to Defeat LaFol-
lette and Elect David
son Senator.
BID FOR THE NORWEGIAN VOTE
Circular Letter Printed in Nor.
wegian Sent Out in David
sons Behalf.
Was Distributed in Lenroot's District
and Urged His Defeat
for Congress.
Scheme Was Gotten Up for the Ami.
hiIatiOn of LaFOIIette - APP
peal to Racial Passions
and Prejudices.

Governor Davidson is to be candi.
date against Senator La Toilette for
the United States Senate in 1910. The
old stalWart element, after years of
defeat, has framed up a deal by which
they hope to amalgamate all the enc
mics of La Toilette under the leader
ship of Davidson and by which they
hope to add to their strength the solid
Norwegian vote which they believe
would go to Davidson simply because
Davidson is a Norwegian. They hope
to annihilate La Toilette and undo all
the work he has done.
This startling information became
public property when the Milwaukee
Journal reproduced a letter which had
been sent out in Governor Davidson's
behalf announcing Davidson's ambi-
lions to defeat La Toilette for the
senate. This circular letter was
printed in Norwegian, it's type and
form of composition and the quality
of the paper lead many to believe that
1t was printed and sent out from the
office of The Scandinavian" a Chi
cago Norwegian paper, which is par
ticularly friendly to Davidson.
After Bob's Scalp.
This letter was circulated in the
eleventh congressional district, where
Irvine L. Lenroot was candidate
against Congressman Jenkins, in the
Third Congressional District, where
D. o. Mahoney was candidate against
Alley Peterson for the Republican
nomination for congress and in Trem-
pealeau county, which is now repre-
scented in the Assembly by Speaker
Ekern. The circular urged the defeat
of LenrOOt and the defeat of Ekern
and the defeat of Mahoney on the
ground that to elect any of these
would be to help La Toilette in build
ing up an organization for two years
hence Following is a translated copy
of the letter:
A WARNING.
To us of Norwegian parentage the
y
of the highest Importance. 1t in
wolves our political influence in the
state Of Wisconsin. 1t determines how
far we can retain the position we now
occupy and move forward or whether
we shall be driven back to the ranks
of voting cattle.
A glance at the situation should be
enough to convince even the most
skeptical.
Two years ago for the first time
an opportunity arose for one of the
Norwegian nationality to occupy the
highest position in the state.
Appeal to Racial Passion.
Then was made a brutal attack up
on our faith. And the attack came
from a man whom we Norwegians
three times In succession had made
governor of the state and since United
States senator. Never has any man
in this state been so enthusiastically
supported as La Toilette has been by
us Norwegians.
There is yet considerable left of adj
miration for the man, but our faith
has been wrecked. So much for the
political history of two years ago.
This year the situation is as fol-
lows:
La Toilette holds the position of
senator His term expires two years
from now.
With his glance to the future all
his political acts are directed to max
ing more secure his position and pre-
venting any one from opposing him at
the next election for senator. He
would not be La Toilette if he did not
do this.
In the third district he is doing
everything to elect Mahoney and defeat
Alley Peterson, who has always
shown him unlimited confidence.
In the eleventh district a vigorous
fight is being carried on, with La Fol-
lette as the secret manager, to dis
place jenkins for Lenroot's advantage.
In Trempealeau county Ekern is
active 10 again occupy his former po-
sition as speaker in the assembly.
Tohn Strange of Oshkosh, who two
ears ago was Lenroots candidate for
lieutenant governor, has permitted
himself 20 be persuaded against Mr.