The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1913-08-28
fractional Differences of Re-
publicans Make approach
ing Campaign a Puzzle
CHANGE FOR CONSERVATIVE
Fights Between the So-called Progress
sives'' are so Bitter that. Members
of Both Factions May Fall Back and
Support one of the Old-Timers.

Never were Wisconsin politics in such
a complex state. At the present writing
| it would seem to be foregone conclu-
sion that the next United States sena-
tor from this state will be democrat
On the gubernatorial situation the re-
suit will probably be closer and the
selection Of the candidates will have
more to do with the result. The pri-
mary contest between Gov. Francis E.
McGovern and Lieut.. Gov. Thomas
Morris for the republican United States
senatorial nomination is to be war to
the knife without quarter. The LaFol-
| lette leaders, and Senator LaFollette
himself, are determined on the elimin-
alton of Francis E. McGovern as a po-
! litical equation, and the governor is
equally determined to remain in the
field as political power.
That the fight that will be made be-
tween the McGovernites and the La
Folletteites prior to the primary cleo
tion wMl be disregarded in the election
contest is an absolute impossibility
The voters of Wisconsin will select the
next United States senator, and with
the republican party split at the pri-
mary election and both sides more will
ing democrat should be returned than
their republican opponent, how repub-
| lican is to be elected is question.
Never in the bitterest days Of the stall
wart regime was there a political war
fare in this state which equaled the in
tensity of feeling that is evident in the
battle now on between Governor Nc
Govern and Senator LaFollette.
If anything the LaFollette people are
at the present time minimizing the
strength of Gov. McGovern. That his
ILLUMINATION is to come as a matter of
course, because it has been decreed by
the LaFollette people, is by no means a
WI oe'lHoy' WV. HhOOON0iu HdS d idI S6I
following among the Wisconsin voters
than the LaFollette people dream.
Still another factor may enter into
the republican situation. Since the
McGovern-L aFollette feud has as
sumed it's present proportions the old
time stalwart leaders in this state
1
have been pricking up their ears po-
litically, and there are many people
who believe a stalwart candidate for
the republican United States senate
rial nomination is not an impossi-
| bility. This conservative candidate
will not be Senator Isaac Stephenson,
if the statement Of relatives who are
in his confidence can be relied upon.
They say the aged junior senator from
Wisconsin has no intention Of enter
ing another political fight and that he
will retire from office at the close of
his present term. The conservative
candidate may be E. L. Philip. John
M. Whitehead is also possibility, and
there are other men in the background
who are said to cherish senatorial am
billions.
The question is not so much who
the candidate will be as it is what fig
ure he will cut in the race. Many be-
heve that he would have absolutely no
effect on the situation. These people
declare that the old stalwart organi-
cation is so lacking in private soldiers
as not to be a voting quantity and that
the figure it would cut in the primary
would be so small as to be almost
Imaginable. If this should prove true
the stalwart side of the controversy is
hardly worth discussing, but on the
other hand, should the voters, tired of
the constant feuds in Wisconsin poll
tics, return to the conservative fold
and nominate a conservative, what
would the two progressive factions do9
Would they unite together to elect a
democrat, or would the conservative
nomination be allowed to stand and
receive the republican election sup
ports 1t is a question worth figuring
on, and one that might possibly bring
greater harmony out of the situation
than the nomination Of either Gov.
McGovern or Lieut.. Gov. Morris.
Politics are in such strange shape
that the republicans might welcome a
conservative as settlement of the
progressive fractional difficulties. But
the program might not be as acceptable
to the rank and file as to the leaders,
and In the event of conservative
nomination the democratic election
would probably be as well assured as
it will be if either the house of Nc
Govern or the house of Morris pre-