The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1914-06-11
MAY Be AID OF M GOVERN
Long Memory of Marinette Man VIII
Not Permit Him to Get Into Any
Band Wagon With La Toilette as the
Leader-Makes McGovern Stronger.

The political situation as regards
the senatorship has cleared some this
week with the announcement that
Isaac Stephenson of Marinette, one of
the present United States senators of
Wisconsin, viii not be candidate for
another term. Mr.. Stephenson has
been keeping the politicians on the
anxious seat as to his political inten-
tions. It was generally supposed that
he had it in mind to be a candidate
for another term in the senate. Even
now the announcement that he will not
make the run is not official. 1t comes
for sources, however, which are
authentic, and is but statement Of
conversation which Mr.. Stephenson
himself has had with friends in
Washington.
In these conversations it is said he
has plainly evidenced that he has
abandoned all hopes of remaining in
the United States senate after March
l, 1916. The senator will, of course,
support Gov. Francis E. McGovern.
Gov. McGoyern is a fighter, and I'M
questionably the selection of the SEN
ator of his candidate to succeed him
self has much of political meaning
Senator Stephenson has never forgiv-
en- Senator Robert M. LaFollette for
the fight made on him after the nomin-
alton contest Of 1908. Indeed, Sena-
tor Stephenson credits Senator LaFol-
lette as being responsible for the in
quiry which was directed by both the
state and federal governments into
the methods Of Senator Stephenson IS
campaign.
Senator Stephenson has good mem
Dry, and has always intended that Sen
ator LaFollette shall pay for his ac-
tivity in that campaign of 1905 AS
result, in supporting Gov. McGovern
now, Senator Stephenson is probably
looking toward the future. 1t is the
idea Of the senator that Gov. McGov- /
ern, with his organization and his cam
paigning powers, will probably obtain
the republican nomination for United
States senator, and he figures that the
McGovern campaign at this time will
lay the foundations for a battle two
years hence to prevent Senator LaFol-
lette from obtaining the support of the
state of Wisconsin for any Office which
he may desire, whether that office be
president of the United States OF
United States senator from this state.
In other words, Senator Stephenson
seemingly thinks Gov McGovern is in
better position to make a successful
fight against Senator Robert M. La
Toilette in this state than is the old
time conservative republican element.
Whether he judges rightly in this re-
gard, only time can answer. The ac-
ton Of Senator Stephenson, however,
means that he intends, although not
a member of the United States senate,
to retain an active interest in Wiscon-
sin politics, and to make his hand felt
in some of the political battles of the
future. The senator can be of a good
deal of aid to Gov. McGovern in his
senatorial campaign. In the first place
there still exists in this state con-
siderable Stephenson organization, and
this organization will unquestionably
be utilized to aid Gov. McGovern in
the coming campaign. In the next
place, Senator Stephenson owns
newspaper in the city Of Milwaukee
which is already doing everything in
its power in support Of the governor
and his movements.
The news that Senator Stephenson
had abandoned all idea of making
personal fight for himself for the SEN
atorship in the coming campaign came
to Madison from Washington. 1T
seems that in talks with Wisconsin
people on the situation in his home
state the senator has indicated quite
strongly that he firmly believes that
the only way in which the power of
Senator LaFollette can be broken In
this state is by supporting Gov. Nc
Govern, and that the governor is the
only one who can really make an ade-
quate campaign against the forces of
the United States senator, to lay the
foundation for an organization which
will ever be able to prove an effective
power in fight against LaFollette.
The governor, to Mr.. Stephenson's be-
| lief, has it in him to lead a battle
which will eventually break the La
Toilette power In way, this action
of Senator Stephenson in deciding to
give his support to Gov. McGovern
means a new political alignment in the
state, or at least it means. that the
McGovern forces have associated with
them all the power which Senator
Stephenson can bring to bear in a plan
to build up a permanent anti-LaFollette
organization.
It further unquestionably means
that if Gov. McGovern is successful in
! - 1,