River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1913-06-19


Candidate for a Third Term AS Gov
ernor-Is Telling No One, However,
About His Program-Liquor Inter
ests in the Legislature.
Madison, Wis, June 10.-(Special)
Members of the Wisconsin legisla-
ture are again talking politics. The
charge has been made that they have
spent most of the time of the session
doing that and killing saloon bills,
but in view of the fact that the house
is about ready to adjourn, and the
senate seems disposed to hurry legis-
lation, the allegation is hardly justi-
fed
Governor McGovern appears to be
the most interesting figure in the
speculation that is going on among
the legislators. 1t has generally been
accepted that the governor would be
candidate for the United States SEN
ate to succeed Isaac Stephenson, but
recent speculation has brought out
new angles picturing the governor in
new roles.
May Run for Third Term.
One theory is that he may run for
third term as governor. Argument
along this line is that Mr. McGovern
feels that by reason of his defeat in
the Ekern case his chances for cleo
ton to the senate have been serious
ly injured. Because he has managed
to stick pretty close to the platform
of the Republican party and because
his record as governor is still of a
high character and because he
has an attractive issue in the mar
keting commission idea to improve
| agricultural conditions and reduce the
high cost of living, it is contended
| that he may confne his political ac-
! tivities to reelection as governor.
| In the event that this is a correct
| line of speculation, the question
arises as to whether he would run as
| a Bull Moose candidate or whether he
| would attempt to remain within the
ranks of the regular Republican par
| ty in the state. The fact that his
candidacy for any office will meet
with the opposition of the La Toilette
| forces, makes it certain that if he
runs for the governorship or the SEN
| atorship he will be forced to cam
| paign under Bull Moose colors.
Attorney in Milwaukee.
Another interesting theory touching
upon the future plans of Mr.. Meow
ern features him in the role of an at
| torney back in Milwaukee. 1t has
been limited that the governor at the
| expiration of his present term will re-
| tire with a view of running for the
senatorship against Senator La Fol
| lette. In all of his political contests
| in the past, the governor has had the
support of Senator La Toilette. That
support, particularly in the last gu
| bernatorial campaign, was a decided
| ly important factor. The governor is
clever politician and doubtless fully
appreciates his position. He may
have reached the frame of mind
where he feels that if he has to fight
| the current of opposition caused by
Senator La Toilette, that he might
just as well do 1t in a contest which
will bring him into the field as an op-
ponent of the senator.
Then, too, the governor may be
considering the possibility that in
1916, Senator La Toilette may be the
Republican candidate for president.
In the event of such a development,
he would go into contest with less
danger of defeat perhaps, than he
would face in a contest for the SEN
atorship within two years against
some strong La Toilette man.
Governor McGovern, however, is
not telling anyone about his program
for the future.
Lieutenant Governor Morris is ex-
pected to make formal announce
ment Of his candidacy for the gov
ernorship or the senatorship within
a short time. The best information
is that he will be the La Toilette
candidate to succeed Senator Ste
phenson.
Liquor Interests in Legislature.
To one who views current events in
the legislature from an Impartial
viewpoint, it appears as though the
liquor interests are about to over
step themselves, and that reaction
will follow which may change the as
pect of anti-saloon legislation in years
to come in this state. Flushed by
their own success, the agents who
have been here as representatives of
the liquor interests, have become so
active that members of the senate
have already charged that the legis-
lature is controlled and dominated by
the brewers of the state.
The debate became particularly
sharp when the Ackley bill which
wiped out a portion of the so-called