The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-02-12
TELLS
His SIDE OF CASE
Says La Toilette Demanded
Money for Campaign.
EDITORIAL EXPLAINS MATTER
Junior senator from wisconsin Says,
Through Newspaper. that He Was
Invited to BE MAKER of Presi-
dents--AssIsted In Toilette In Pol
ities. but Calls Latter Migrate.

Milwaukee, Wis. Feb. n.-Senator. Ste
phenson has begun to fight Al pretenses
were thrown aside to-day when the Mil
waukee Free Press. declaring itself as
Mr.. Stepkensons property. printed a two
column editorial in its first page, in which
La Toilette is claSsed as an ingaie. ac-
cused Of persistently seeking 10 promote
his own interests at the expense Of Mr..
Stephenson, and finally. by inference. Of
being a failure as a leader OF reform
movements.
The most sensational statement is that
when Mr. Ia Toilette was running for
President he sent ernissarries to Mr. Ste
phenson to suggest that Mr. Stephenson
emulate Mark Hanna by using his great
wealth unsparingiy TO become a maker Of
Presidents It also states that Mr.
Stephenson refused 10 contribute as lib-
orally as the La Toilette agents demand
ed The editorial says Mr. La Toilette
knew that Stephenson established the
Free Press not as q mere investment
likely son tc bring substantial returns.
stood for Reform.
Following is the editorial in part:
For the reform legislation in Wiscon-
sin. the more equitable taxation Of rail-
roads. the efficient control of public ser
vice corporations. the more democratiza-
ton Of government. Mr.. Stephenson and
his paper stood as strongly as Mr.. Ia
Toilette It never could have been &C
cOmplished by any one man.
1T was a peoples movement, in the
progress Of which at every step Mr.. La
Toilette sought his own personal ad-
vancement. three times governor. then
United States Senator. then a candidate
for President but still, as always. send
ing his agents TO Mr.. Stephenson for help.
and always getting II, but sometimes, II IS
true not in such large sums as these
! agents sent to Marienet demanded.
Mr.. Stephenson, although contributing
10 Mr. La Follette's Presidential cam
paign, declined the slluring suggestion
that he might be a maker OF Presidents.
as was Mark Hanna. II he would only
send forth such streams Of money as Mr..
Hanna is generally believed to have pro-
vided- But he supported Mr. La Toilette
1 in his ambition. contributed to the ex-
psnses Of the campaign ard 10 the pay
ment Of the expenses Of MI La Toilette s
managers at Chicago. and voted for Mr..
la Toilette in the convention.
Gave Aid and Loyalty
Even so recently did Mr.. Stephenson
continue 70 snow his friendship and per-
sonaI loyalty 10 his associate. and even
/ so recently did "a. 20 Toilette and his
accredited agents continue TO seek and to
! get the encouragement and aid which
they so greatly needed. and which he
now is so ready to forget and disclaim-
The people never intended that g
United States Senator should control the
state, select candidates for all the i'm
| portant Offices, and srrogate 20 hImsel.
| 70 say who among his faithful followers
/ should be called and who should be
| ditched
IF this IS reform which the people
| have been struggling for so long anc
against such great obstacles. il is time
that they should know IL II this is the
/ character Of the leadership that the peo-
pie must have in their struggle for higher
1 ideals and better government. then. in
deed. the future is dark and unpromis.
ing"