The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1912-04-04
LEADERS ARE UP AGAINST IT
Large Number of Candidates for Places
on State Ticket Proves Dangerous
Proposition and Old Line Republicans
May Have Better Chance This Year.

0oA CAo pleslueHGlaI primary elecIlOH
there will be some decided steps TAX
en- by certain LaF'ollette leaders to
clarity the situation as regards the
number OF progressive candidates for
state and congressional nominations.
The first situation which will be taken
up will be that Of the Republican
nomination for secretary Of state, and
it is said a conference will be called
at Madison of friends Of State Sena-
tor John S. Donald and State Senator
Harry Martin, the announced candi-
dates for the nomination and of A. T..
forge and Chief Clerk G. Z. Shafer
of the assembly the tentative candi-
dates whose announcements are more
or less expected. At this conference
great efforts will be made to secure
from these men agreement to enter
into some kind of compact to allow a
general conference Of progressives to
select from the four the candidate
whom they believe will at this time
add the most strength to the ticket
and the three thus eliminated will re-
tire from the field in favor Of the man
selected. 1t is said that the secretary
OF state situation has been chosen as O.
starting point for this elimination
program for the reason that it is be-
lieved by the LaFollette managers that
the secretary of state situation will be
the easiest to dispose Of. They think
if this situation is settled it can be
used as lever to straighten out the
most difficult tangles.
So far the friends of Senator
Donald and Senator Martin have Civ
ZEN no indication they would agree to
an elimination program. The LaFol-
lette leaders, however, think they will,
and seem confident that when it is
put TO the senators that their agree
ment to some kind of a compromise is
necessary to aid the political situation
as far as the LaFollette people are
concerned in this state they will yield.
1t is argued by the LaF'ollette man
ayers that both Senators Martin and
Donald are far too strong in their
halfbreed affiliations to take any step
which will be considered in any way
detrimental to the LaFollette cause
and that for this reason they will be
more than willing to enter into an
planned.
Although the halfbreed leaders are
setting no definite time for the pro-
posed general conference Of the half
breeds to pass on candidates. the gen
eral supposition seems to be that it
will be some time during the special
session of the legislature. 1t is claim
ed this time will be particularly con-
venient because most of the LaFollette
leaders will be in Madison at that
time anyway and that "a larger attend
ance can then be secured on a confer
ence such as is proposed than at any
other time. Undoubtedly if the can
didates for the nomination for secre-
tary of state can be induced to assent
to allow their differences to be set
tied in conference such as is propos-
ed it will be put up to Philip Leh-
ner, State Senator w. @. Owen and
John Dithmar, the announced candi-
dates from the progressive ranks for
the Republican nomination for att9r-
ney general to allow their claims fof
the progressive support for the Re
publican nomination for attorney gen
etal to be settled in the same con-
ference.
The men in the field for attorney
general are thought by the LaFollette
leaders to be less likely to be tract
able about retiring, and that is the
reason that the progressive candidates
for the secretary of state are to be
tackled on the conference question
before the plan is put up to the can
dldates for attorney general. Ii the
progressive candidates for secretary of
state accede to the plan 1t is thought
it will be very hard for the candidates
for attorney general to refuse to en-
ter into the compromise scheme. Es-
pecially as the additional argument
can be used in the attorney general
situation that Bancroft will get the
nomination again if you don t look
out. So far both candidates Lehner
and Owen have been standing pat on
the proposition they would make the
run anyway, so il can be seen how
tactful the movement must be which
will get the assent OF these men to
the compromise plan.
The LaFollette managers seem to
think that it will be a matter Of
course, if the progressive candidates
for the nominations for secretary Of
state and attorney general assent to
the compromise plan, that the two