Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-02-16
Political Troubles in Wisconsin
Reopened by Break Between
LaFollette and Stephenson
a NEW ALIGNMENT is SEEN
LaFoIIette Denies That He Has Been
UngratefuI to Stephenson-Junior
Senator's Future May Be at Stake
Wisconsin Republicans Refuse to
Be Bossed by Any One.
pecial to Times Republican.

washington, feb. l6.--Ine ancient
political feud in Wisconsin has been
reopened. and is going to be fought
over from the beginning to the end.
1t will certainly continue till after
the next senatorial election, when the
successor of Mr.. LaF'ollette is chosen.
That will come two years hence. The
legislature chosen in 1910 will have to
LaFollette.
Ever since LaFollette was first elect
ed to congress, some twenty-five years
ago. as a boy Of 20 years, he has been
close to the center Of political troubles
in his state. He broke early with the
ancient powers in that state, and
started the fight which has been going
on ever since. Two years ago his fol-
lowers elected Isaac Stephenson to the
senate. Now Stephenson and L,aFollette
have broken, and apparently the breach
is beyond repair. This marks the be-
ginning of the new phase pf the fight.
Will Il Affect LaFoliette?
Wisconsin people say that the maxi
ing of new alignment Of forces will
not be serious for LaFollette because
he always has a new alignment for
every fight. He uses the instruments
that come to his hand, and doesn't have
sense enough to quit when he is beat
en-. His enemies are rejoiced at his
break with Stephenson, for they have
an, idea that Stephenson has furnished
a great deal of money for his fights.
The LaFollette people insist that he
has in fact furnished little, and La
Toilette himself has given out for
publication the Telegram to Stephenson
in which he invited the latter to pub
fish all the facts and figures about
his contributions to LaFollette,s fights.
Fabulous figures have been placed by
gossip on these amounts; the LaFol-
lette people insist that they will look
insignificant II the truth Is ever given
out for publication.
Old Gang Gets Busy.
The old Spooner-Sawyer-F fister
group in Wisconsin was put out OF
business when LaFollette finally won
his first, second and then his third
nominations and elections as governor,
with his election to the senate crown
ing it ALL They retired and waited
for another chance. 1t seems to have
presented itself in the LaFollette-
Stephenson feud, and 1T will be taken
advantage Of to the utmost. The pow
erful interests in Wisconsin which
were affected by the LaFollette reform
laws will be ready to renew the fray
the moment there seems a chance TO
win a battle. All the money and IN
terests' are now on one sfde-against
LaFollette. They have powerful allies
in the realm of national politics ana
interests. for no man has made enc
mics with such profiigacy as he. Ihe
opposition Is not expressing confluence,
but 1t does express the utmost cheer
at the prospect of defeating him for
the senate two years hence. 1t points
out that LaFollette has been rejected
by his state two or three times when
he tried to dictate the nominations OF
men for office, and assumes that ms
grip on the public sentiment OF the
community has been broken.
Wjnconsin Can't Be Barred.
The supporters of LaFollette frankly
admit that no man can boss Wisconsin.
He. can't do 1T himself, and he wodd
be stronger politically If on some an
fortunate occasion he hadn't tried. But
none the less his friends say as strong
Nv as ever that no man can beat Id
toilette himself before the people. lie
has the primary on his side, and the
federal machinery; the state govern
ment is against him, and thus the Sit
uation is exactly reversed, compared
with former campaigns, when the state
house and it's machine was With MN
and Washington was opposed.
Already the contest is fairly on. me
legislature at Madison seems to be
deadlocked on the question of electlns
senator to succeed Stephenson. The
veteran lumberman has not mustered
quite enough votes to win, and in WIS
consin circles the prediction is fire.
ouently INDUCED that he may not set
them at all; in which case it seems al
together likely that the state VIII go
for a couple Of years with only one
senator There is no evidence OF an
effective effort to crystalize opinion IN
any other man than Stephenson Gov
ernor Davidson might win, but he has
declared he would not enter the race.
1t looks more like a failure to elect.