New-York tribune., 1918-01-20
Both Parties Strong in
Criticism of Gov. Philips
Programme
of Dodging
One Plan Is to Make La Fol-
lette Man Governor and Send
Executive to Washington
Especial Co,vespoi,dcmce1


MILWAUKEE, Jan. 10. - Governor
Philips long awaited call for spe-
cial session of the Legislature, just
issued, has called forth burst of
criticism in the press of the state and
among leaders Of all political parties.
According to them, he has committed
about every sin Of omission and COM
mission.
The greatest sin Of omission, ac-
cording to the critics, has been the
ommendation for an amendment of the
existing election laws SO as to permit
of fusion and thus insure the defeat
Of ant,-war candidates. The whole
trend of discussion up to the present
time has been on the question Ito fuse
or not to fuse"
The State Democratic Committee, in
session during the week, has gone on
record as favoring a fusion of Re-
publican, Progressive, Prohibition and
Democratic parties for the period of
the war, to the end that only loyal
candidates be elected to the different
state Offices, both great and small
Resolutions to that effect were
adopted, two clauses stpulating that
legislation be enacted making fusion
Of political parties possible and that
the Governor be requested to call
special election to fill the office of
United States Senator. These two
resolutions were without avail, mas
much as the Governor failed to do
either and has specifically stated in
his call that the Legislature will be
asked to give him appointive power in
the selection of successor to Senator
Husting.
This, according to the Democrats and
others, has been Governor Phll1pp's
great sin of commission. Joseph Mar
tin, Democratic national committee
man, said:
THE Governor is very specific in
asking for legislation which will per-
nit him to appoint a United States
Senator to succeed the late Senator
lusting. Under all existing laws the
right to choose United States Senator
belongs to the voters Of the state. Why
is the Governor asking this unusual
power Of making this appointment?
"Ie has given one reason, and that
is that there may be possibility of
the voters electing some one to the
United States Senate who would not
stand Loyalty back Of the government
in vigorous prosecution of the war,
but this can hardly be his real reason,
since he has proclaimed at every op-
portunity that Wisconsin is loyal to
the core What is Governor Philips
real rCaSOn!
Accused of Dodgin4
In the central committee meeting Of
the Democratic party the Governor
was accused Of "dodging and strad-
ding on the loyalty ISSUE" and Mr..
Martin again declared that in refusing
to include in his call the amendment
to election laws permitting of fusion
"hc has lodged a plain duty he owed
20 the citizens of Wisconsin"
Nor are the Democrats the only ones
who have been disappointed in this
omission of the Governors. The Re-
publican press Of the state and the
Wisconsin Loyalty Legion have been
most active in advocating fusion and a
special election. The attitude Of
George A. West, Republican state
chairman, is not SO we'll defined on the
matter of fusion. He makes the fol-
lowing statement to the members Of
the state central committees
"The good old Republican party has
been the standard bearer of loyalty and
liberty ever since its inception. There
is no reason for considering the sur
render of It's charter or permitting its
organization to be inactive during the
political campaign. Under existing
conditiona it certainly will not nom-
mate or indorse the nomination of any
but loyal and able candidates.