The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-11-28
STEPHENSON WRITES
ON POLITICAL CAREER
Charges Toilette With Base Ingrattude Progressive
Senator Was Beneficiary of His Great Contribu
tons to Party Success

4 office if left 20 their own resources
4 IN the aggregate ! had expended ap~I
proximately 100000. For this have
been assured that without me the
history of this achievement would
have been blank page.
THE moral of this narrative leave
for others to draw"
Mr., Stephenson, who dates his al
ieeiance 70 the Republican party from
the time OF its organization--his po-
iiticai experiences go back to the WING
days-became one of the most GET
erous contributors to it's campaign
funds How much ne spent In the
game can only conjecture. but it is
safe to assume that 1t goes far be-
yound the 81 ,0oo,00 mark
a Liberal Contributor.
During his second campaign for the
House of Representatives. which in his
own case presented no difficulties, he
contributed. he says ito carry on the
struggle for control of the State Leg
islature in the interest of Spooner.
s22. zoe"
Much the same situation he adds,
prevailed in 1856, when Senator Saw
yer was up for reelection"
During this time MIR Stephenson
was associated with Henry G. Payne,
later postmaster general; Spooner and
Sawver--the inner ring which con-
trolled the destinies of the Repubii-
can party in Wisconsin. After his
withdrawal from the House he re
NAMED in retirement for a number of
years but In 1898 and 1899, he says,
Sawyer, Spooner. and others con-
ceived the idea OF having him run for
the Senate
With some reluctance he consented
TO become candidate. At this point.
however the Republican leaders
turred their backs upon him.
The moral of. the undertaking"
he writes was valuable one for
me- ] discovered for the second time
that political assurances were not 10
be taken at their face value, and that
could not rely upon the promises of
my friends with half as much Ger
taintv as ! could expect the opposition
of my enemies. No sooner had the dc
eision been reached than the organi
eaton leaders switched their support
10 Quarles. and left me dangling IN
uidair.
Mr.. Stephenson says frankly that
this wap disap prominent.
Was not indifferent, he SAYS,
TO the distinction that election to the
United States Senate, or service I'M
that body confers-I began to res
lie for the first time the power and
=, devious ways OF the machine
This is merely one phase OF the
motive which actuated him To follow
The course he did afterward He was
already Of the mind that the machine
and railroads and other corporate in
terests were playing too fast and loose
with the state of Wisconsin, and that
a shahe-up would be wholesome
thing.
In the meantime Senator La Toilette
bad begun with others to fight the
powers that were in the Republican
ranks, but without any apparent sue
eggs. Every time La Toilette led AM
alta X he met with q druhbins. Sen
ator Stephenson IN the quiet of his
office at Marinette. pondered the sit
nation and evolved plan. keeping,
however, his own, counsel. This plan,
he said resulted in the establishment
II the half breed" faction.
His plan. according to his narrative,
was as follows:
con Deem Der Ia 1889 I sent my
secretary. IAwfsss. Patrick, to Madison
With Instructions 10 gee La. Toilette.
and to say to him that It was my sug
gestio{ that he again enter the field
FOR the goyernorship the following
year~-~la0n. Ills reply to Patrick was
thai his health was impaired. that hi
had no money to dsfray the expenses
81 "A cam pdlEf, and that the time was
rot propitious-that II was ten years
too soon for a concerted effort
Sent Message 10 Ia Toilette.
In January 1900, and again II
February, / commissioned Henri
Oferbsck, 1r.. a rnarnber Of the Leg
stature from sturgeon BAY. TO go to
"A Toilette and convey to him similar
message, On both visits he again
said II WIS too soon---at least five
years. Despite his apparent reluc-
tance to make the attempt. In the face
of wha. had so far proved to be an
impossible position, | sent Overlook
TO see him q third time In March with
the same result
Il then enlisted the aid OF DeWavne
Stebhins, a member of the State Sen
ate from Aigoma, In my own district.
who arranged meeting with La
Toilette in Chicago during the latter
part Of April at the Sherman House.
This, by the way seemed to be La
Follette's fayorite method of avoid
ing publicity, the risk or which, in
most instances. appeared 10 me to ba
So remote as 10 be scarcely discern
ble at all
Many Of the political plans car
RED out In Wisconsin at this tame were
CONTINUED, on Seventh pays1