Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1913-05-14
Madison Letter
CONTINUED from Page u


of bitterness during the week, when
Governor McGovern declined an In
vitation to attend a harmony ban
quet 10 be given by the Republicans.
The breach In the Republican party
has become widened that men who
formerly we're close friends, political
ly, at least, now hardly speak as they
pass by Not since Senator La Fol-
lette became Wisconsin's great lead
CT has there been a controversy with
in the Republican ranks as bitter as
the present one, which viii end when
either Governor McGoyern has been
retired to private life or the govern
or wrests from the senator the lead
ership Mr. La Toilette has so long en-
joyed in this state.
Other men, ambitious to occupy i'm
portant positions in public life. have
dared to do what McGoycrn has done,
but in no instance. perhaps, has the
break been so open and so marked
In past years men who have broken
with the senator, as the governor has
to private life, or at last, removed
from any active leadership in politi-
cal affairs In Wisconsin. A survey Of
the men who have come and gone
because they failed to remain in line
with the senator. shows what a ire
mendous task the governor has under
taken to accomplish
La Toilette Still Leader.
While Senator La Toilette has
spent little time in his native state
since he was first sent to the United
States senate. he is still recognized as
the great Republican leader, and the
man about whom the people of the
state gladly flock when there is an is
sue in which La Toilette is-making a
fight While McGovern is a fighter
and will die hard, il is difficult to con-
ceive OF any situation which will re-
turn him a victory over the senator
~ any man whom the senator may
decide to place in the field against
McGovern for the United States SEN
atorship, the goal to which the gov
ernor aspires.
TIL, refusal OF Mr. McGovern to at
tend the Republican banquet came
when Sol Levitan OF Madison, dele
gate at large to the last Republican
convention in Chicago, called upon
the chief executive and extended to
him an invitation to attend the ban
quet.
This is an insult" replied the gov.
ernor. Let them play their own po-
litical game"
Strictly La Toilette Gathering.
The governor, it is understood. felt
that the arrangement of a banquet
without consultation with himself.
the nominal leader of the party in the
state, was an insult to the office he
occupies. II was not the plan to have
the governor play an important part
in the banquet although there was no
disposition not to invite him to be
present.
As 1t now stands, the event will be-
| come strictly a La Toilette gathering
Governor McGovern intends to make
his own fight along his own lines. He
evidently intends to build whatever
machine 1t is possible to build under
the circumstances, and then trust TO
popular vote when the next United
States senator is elected. The cam
paign will be a bitter one. for il I'm
wolves the control of the Republican
party in Wisconsin. II probably
means that Senator La Toilette will
return to Wisconsin and take the
stump against the governor. No mar
In years has beaten the senator in
such a campaign. No man in public
life campaigns as strenuously and as
| thoroughly as the senator when he
| considers a contest OF sufficient i'm.
| portance for him to take the stump.
The people of the state await with In.
| terest the outcome
Say Governor Gains Ground.
McGovern men claim that the gov.
ernor has gained much ground in
NAuHlHb Nut ShppbiA dhd itAthuShip vi
members of the assembly from the
/ opening Of the session :: was con-
ceded that La Toilette men held the
| power in the senate, There was never
any question about that In the as
sembly II was a different story, and
| the exact strength of the governor
was hard TO ascertain because no real
test votes developed. and II is still a
| question whether the governors
strength has been clearly established
| MeGovern men claim that the de,
feat OF the bill in which Insurance
Commissioner Ekern was interested
and for which he worked. indicates
that McGovern has gained ground
The bin proposed to consolidate the
state FIRE marshaPs department with
that OF the insurance commissioner
but the measure was voted down In
the house l.. l.. Johnson. over
whom Ekern was dismissed by the
governor, fought for the bill Assem-
hlyman Mahon, the governors lieu
tenant in the assembly. led the op
position forces, and won out.
Exhibit at Exposition.
IT.