The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-11-28

unaware Of the nature OF the opposl-
ton. The inner council, which had
been accustomed to decide what course
the party should follow. seemed to
realize that they had lost control. but
did not understand how 1t was brought
about
! In time the Payne candidate with
/ drew and the others dropped out.
leaving the field entirely to La Toilette
and Stebbins. When this came to
pass. Stebbins also quit the race. This
| much having been accomplished. he
came to mo and offered to return
halt the money had given him. the
unexpended balance Of the contrfbu-
ton I had made to enable him to
carry on his campaign. The remain
| der had been used to defray his trav-
cling expenses In this, as In all other
things. found him to be a man of
absolute integrity.
When the time for the State con-
vention, which was held in Milwaukee.
arrived the 'stalwarts' had capitulatei
entirely and La Toilette was nominat-
J ed by unanimous vote. As his cam
paign manager and chairman Of the
| State Central Committee he chose Gen
eral Bryant, whom he regarded he
/ said. as godfather--an idealistic re-
. iationship. the value of which ! was
to realize later, when seeking counsel
and aid he clothed me with attributes
Of fatherhood."
Senator La Toilette leaped to success
and gained the sobriquet Of Battling
| Bob. But his position was not i'm
! mune from attack. To give the half
breeds an organ II was proposed to
purchase the Milwaukee Sentinel. and
II was suggested to Senator Stephen
son that he might purchase control
FOR s1b4,o0o, He fixed $4,000 as the
limit. The remainder could not be
raised, and the deal fell through.
. La Toilette and his friends. Stephen
son continues. then set about to es
tablish another newspaper A list
OF subscribers was obtained. but the
necessary fund lacked $4,000. This
Mr.. Stephenson agreed to contribute.
This was another disastrous venture.
Urged to Run for senate.
In 1902, he goes on to say. he met
La Toilette in Chicago. On that occa
sion La Toilette he ADDS. urged me-
to run for the United States Senate
against Spooner No particular efl
fort he said. would be required on my
part. II ! supplied him with funds
to carry on the campaign. he exl
planned, I might go to Europe. and
during my absence he would bring
about my election"
To this the old lumberman de-
INJURED
In the meantime La Toilette con-
inued his activities. His emissa RES,
Mr.. Stephenson writes. found their
way To Marinette Sometimes the EN- i
issaries departed with "a package of
papers" the accepted designation for
one of the $500 contributions theE
advancement Of the great cause SO
often seemed to require
Governor La Toilette by this time
was on the crest of the wave. while
the Republicans of Wisconsin were
still wondering what part Senator
stephenson Was 17fHyirg m tsle affairs
OF the haif-bree organization. The
latter even went Ia the extent Of urg-
ing Stephenson 20 run as a candidat.
for Governor In opposition to La
Toilette. but he stuck to his course.
In time arose the question of elect
ing successor TO Senator Quarles
The control Of the State was in La
Policies hands, He had said, ae-
cording tn Stephensens narrative.
that he would net go To Washington,
and the possibility OF eiecting Steph-
enson was discussed Ia Toilette said
he tStephensonb could not be elected. /
Senate himself despite his repeated
declaration to the contrary.
Senator Spooner resigned his Of +
fic. on March 4. 1907 On the sa Tine
date MIR. Stephenson announced his
candidacy for election for the remain
lag Ieass--@af~&ie- sf..e.Asee.~+. fff4-
On this occasion, however. the run
ming was no easier than before Sena !
tor La Foiiettes aid seemed to be
fruitieSs.
After a prolonged scramble for the /
place by the half-hreed leaders, Mr. +
Stephenson. going his own way. won. |
and was elected on May IL shortly
after the election Senator La Toilette
wrote to him. according to Stephenson +
My Dear Senator.--It is good to
write that down. and to know that
nothing can eyer change 1t. At last. [
after a quarter OF a century. justice
has been done"
Despite this friendly ntterance the
two men began to follow dividing
ways. Stephenson intimates that La
Toilette became absorbed in reform
ing other States and used the chau-
tauuua platform to spread his ideas. +
With this larger movement" sayai
Stephenson. Il was not swmpashetic /
In Wisconsin the old railroad corpo- /
ration crowd the inner ring which
controlled party affairs to the exclu-
sion OF all others. had been fairly
routed, and some good laws were |
placed on the statute books
During the holiday season of 1907. |
when | was in Marinette. A. H. Dahl
and II. l.. Ekern. two Of La Follette's i
friends, came to see me The pur-
pose of their visit was to raise money
for campaign in the interest of SEN
4fnY n EOiiAtfn a nrOufdAntfai