The Washington herald., 1910-09-07
By WILLIS ]. ABBOT.

ny " ILLS - AbnOEs
Madison, Wis. Sept. S. - The night !
reached Madison there was a great meet.
/ ing in the gymnasium of the University
Of Wisconsin addressed by Senator Cum
Minis. Congressman Norris. and by Frank
/ ]. Heney, the indomitable prosecutor OF
graft In California. The meeting was
held for the purpose OF arousing public
sentiment in behalf of the reelection 70
( the United States Senate OF Robert NJ
La Toilette.
On the same night in other Wisconsin
cities, Senators Dolliver, Elapp, and Bo-
rah were speaking. II seemed extraordi-
nary that such endeavors should be nee
essary 10 persuade the voters OF a State
70 send 10 the Senate OF the nation a
man who is eclpsed in national reputa-
ton by few If any Of the oldest members
Of that distinguished body.
May Defy Primary Mandate.
But as a matter Of fact. the fight that
IS being made in La FoIettes behalf is
nationally necessary. The people have
elected him at the primaries, but II IS
believed here that the legislature may re-
fuse to obey the plainly announced COM
mand OF the voters.
The so-called interests not merely OF
Wisconsin. but Of the nation. are assist
ms the La Toilette opposition with
money and with influence. The plan OF
campaign is 70 concentrate all influence,
power, endeavor and funds upon the ef-
fort 10 elect members OF the legislature
who viii refuse to favor another term
for Fighting Bob"
The situation is one OF vital interest 10
every American. whether he lives in
Maine. Texas or oregon. We have seen
the legislature OF Illinois debauched in
the interest Of a senatorial candidate.
and the whole country has read the evil
dence set forth in court OF that debauch-
cry; but the Illinois situation does not
compare with what is threatened lr
Wisconsin. Neither does the resentment
Of the people OF Illinois, so far as I can
judge It at the present moment. parallel
that which will re manifested IN the
Badger State II there shall be an ATTEMPT
in the legislature 10 defeat the expressed
viii OF the voters at the primaries.
insurgency Not ROoseveItIsm.
The fact that such distinguished repre-
sentatiyes of what IS called the inSurgeDt
movement as Dolliver Brlstow. Cummins.
Heney. Clapp. Pinchot. and Garfield have
been speaking in Wisconsin for La Fol-
lette, and the further fact that all OF
these men are regarded as friends ana
supporters OF Theodore Roosevelt has led
to a certain feeling-not merely in this
State. but in others-that insurgency
necessarily means Rooseveltism. on this
subject I talked AT some length last night
with two OF the men whose NAMES ]
have just mentioned. Neither can be
quoted here literally, but this was the
proposition on which both agreed:
In the so-called insurgent movement
you cannot name one man who has tried
70 make II his own OF 10 dis5ort II or utilize
it for his own personal advantage. We
have had in the Senate a half dozen men
and in the House many more: yet you
cannot. with all the political knowledge
you may possess. point 20 any one man
and say he is the leader of the lnsur-
gents. We hold that we are working
oAaVAAANA ~ CAOAAuNIs " NtfOkIlLt no
captains. but We recognize comrades. Mr..
Roosevelt has shown in personal con-
versation his thorough sympathy with our
beliefs and purposes. He has spoken 10
our associates and referred 20 them as
"our fellows" while referring to the
standpat element as THE other fellows ="
but all the same we do not believe that
the progressive movement in the Repub-
lican party is likely 70 be dominated
by Mr.. Roosevelt or by any other one
man. If you will look back aover poIlt-
zeal history in the last two years you
vii! see that insurgency developed while
Mr.. Roosevelt was not merely out OF
the White House. but out OF the country
Hard Man to Control.
Continuing. my informant said:
While We admire Mr. Roosevelt. value
his aid, and recognize the tremendous
following which he has and which he can
bring 10 our cause We hesitate greatly
as 10 the advantage 20 the principles
for which we stand should he again be-
come President. II It should turn out to
be a straight fight between Taft and
Roosevelt for the nomination In 1912. II
would put all Of US IN a very hard po-
sition. 1t is easier to handle. 20 iniu-
ence, TO dominate man OF the Taft type
than 1t would be 10 control Theodore
Roosevelt were he again In power. You
can safely and emphatically say that the
effort OF certain publications 10 make
It appear that the insurgent movement
exists for the chief purpose Of re-electing
Roosevelt President is without justifca-
ton and is res ,nted by the men rnost
actively concerned in that Y,,ovaroo,,. .,