The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1908-09-10
Foes Of Senator Stephenson Plan
ToCary Fight for U. S. Sena.
tor to the Legislature
WOULD ANNUL PRIMARY LAW
Men Opposed to the Election of Step
henson Declare That Too Much
Money Was Spent in
Primary Fight

Is the senatorial fight settled? This
is the question that is being asked
among politicians in Kenosha county as
well as in all parts of the state and
some of the knowing ones seem to be of
the opinion that Notwithstanding the
fact that Stephenson carried the state
by a plurality Of 5000 over Cook and
10000 over McGovern, that he will
never 90 to Washington to succeed him
self as senator. The constitution of
the United States provides for the cleo
tion of the senator to succeed Stephen
son by the legislature and there seems
to be a grave doubt in the minds Of the
politicians as to whether the members
Of the legislature will consider the pri-
mary vote binding Senator LaFollette
and some Of his trusted leaders are to
have conference at Madison tomorrow
and it is expected that this question
will be taken up at that time. It is an
open secret that the Senior Senator
would have preferred either Hatton or
McGovern as his colleague in Washing
ton, but it will be a hard matter for
those nearest to the senator to make
any move 10 disregard the vote at the
primary on account of the fact that
they themselves were the men who pass
ed the primary law. The Stephenson
forces anticipated just such condition
Of affairs and before the primary cleo
tion they made visits to the homes of
the various members of the state SEN
ate and the candidates for the legis-
lature and asked these men to pledge
themselves to support the primary
nominee. Senator Bishop of this. dis
trict who is one Of the hold-over sena-
tors, gave his consent to this pledge.
It is understood that the Stephenson
managers will seek to make the result
Of the primary binding upon the legis-
lature by having it placed in the plat
form Of the party at the convention Of
the candidates which is to be held at
Madison within the next ten days.
This convention will not only prepare
platform, but it will also name the
chairman of the state Republican com
mittee. It is thought that the Stephen
son forces will suggest E. A. Edmunds
of Appleton for the position and that
other forces will suggest Peter Koehler
of Milwaukee who was the manager Of
Cook in the senatorial fight. It is not
thought that either of these men will
Io cfo 10 ,,7L Io44
men and they will undoubtedly have
candidate Of their own.
State Senator John NJ Whitehead Of
GAINESVILLE may be the chairman of the
platform convention as it is said that
he is well liked by both the Stephenson
and the administration forces.
One thing is certain and that is that
neither Cook or Hatton will be candi-
date before the legislature and if any
man seeks to override the primary cleo
tion it will be Mr.. McGovern or some
dark horse that may be brought out
later. Mr.. McGovern made a good run
for the nomination and it is said that
he is entirely satisfied with his show
Ing LII u1Oob VI GHe COuuG10S O1 LIE SGdG0
but that he had expected little better
showing in Kenosha and Racine coun-
ties. Mr.. McGovern expected to car
ry both counties by good pluralities
over Stephenson. He got Racine coun-
ty by plurality of over two hundred
but lost Kenosha county. It is certain
that there will be some very interest
ing political movements before Uncle
Ike is named to succeed himself at the
opening session of the legislature next
January :.