The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-10-03
STALWARTS CONSPIRING
TO "DO UP" LA TOILETTE
Fight Against His Reelection Two Years Hence Is Al
ready Waginc and Political Waters of Wiscon-
sin Are Badly Muddied.
By JOHN SNURE.

MILWAUKEE,. Wis, Oct. "A deep,
dark conspiraey is afoot to do up"
Senator la Toilette. Certain eminent
gentlemen OF the stalWart persuasion
have set out to get the Senatorial scalp
OF Battle Bob" when he comes up for
reelection two years hepue- This is
about the first Information ore hears on
entering Wisconsin. 1t is this fact that
is at the bottom OF most CT the present
trouble IN this State. The 1alf-breeds
are lying awake nights because or it
and are sharpening their knives for the
fray which they see Is certainly com
ing. The staIwarts are avowing their
intention 10 beat La Foleltte out OF an
other term in the Senate and openly
saying they are going to get their an
cient enemy.
In all the factional trouble in the his
tory OF Wisconsin, the political feud
WAS never more bitter than ii is at pres
ent. It has taken on some new phases.
however. and Is not the same feud that
was on when John c SpOOner was the
head Of the stalwart faction, particular
ly in respect to leadership. The rank
and file of the Ia Toilette following and
the following Of his opponents have not
changed greatly
Senator Isaac Stephenson, who has
| oeen renominated by his party In the
primaries; Gov. James o. Davidson
W. D. Common. Millionaire and politician,
and former Governor HOari. who con-
ducts one Of the most influential week
| lies in the State, are the men in the
combination TO Gust La Toilette from
| the senate. Republican StE-s Chairman
| r. A. Edmunds is also in this move
ment- Stephenson, who is known TO
/ fame as Uncle Ike and who has
made his millions out OF wisconsin lum-
/ Der, was for years the financial hacker
/ Of La Toilette. and is the owner OF the
| Milwaukee Free Press, until lately the
/ principal half-oreed organ in the State.
/ Since the split between the two Sen
! ators, however, the Free Press has de-
voted itself TO tire cause Of Uncle Ike
and the Milwaukee JOurnei, indepen-
| dent, is coming TO be looked on, not as
! the La Toilette organ, but as standing
/ for substantially the same things that
IaFollette advocates
Changed BedfellOws.
| Davidson and la Toilette formerly
were political bedfeIlOWs. and COnnOr.
State Chairman and Lieutenant COVER
nor. was also lined UP with La Fol
Iette for a time But now Seoator
! Stephenson has become conservative
anc is looking for support 10 cOnserva-
tive elements. and Davidson. at the re-
cent Republican State convention, made
a stSndpat speech on the tariff such
as would have met the approval Of
John Dalzen. OF Pennsylvania David
son is out fcr the Senate, though &c.
/ formally a candidate.
! Il is necessary TO consider this fight
TO prevent the return Of Ia Toilette FOR
the Senate for II is this that muddies
the waters Of Wisconsin politics. II
will not in all likelihood turn the State
over to the Democrats, so far as the
national ticket IS concerned. but il en-
! cnuragcs the Democrats and weakens
1.-THE Republicans seriously. If II results
lin a Democratic Legislature and a
/ Democratic Senator from Wisconsin, no
one need be greatly surprised Lately
Uncle Ike has made it known he viii
not allow his campaign expenses foI
the recent Senatorial primary 10 be
/ come public until after he is elected
next winter by the Legislature. This
has aroused a lot OF bad blood and
greatly heightens the danger that the
haIs-breeds Will knife the Stephenson
| candidates for the Legislature.
That the La FOllette fcrces mediate