New-York tribune., 1920-09-26

the campaign.
SO much for the strength Of the Re
publican national ticket, or the weak
ness of the Democratic national ticket.
The next step is the weakness Of
Reinsch, which. combined with the
it impossible for the Democrats to
profit by the disaf7ection Of La Fol-
lette.
Reinsch is scarcely known in the
state. He was a professor of eco-
nomics at the University of Wisconsin
until he was appointed Minister to
China by President Wilson at the in
stance Of the late Senator Paul o.
Husting. Reinsch has been in China
since the outbreak of the European
war, and so has lost many of his con-
nections in the state. He has never
been active in politics, even before
going to the Orient, and had never run
for Office. AS a vote-getter he Is, there
fore, an unknown quantity.
Though the primary fight has been
over for two weeks, he has not arrived
in the state. In contrast, Lenroot, hav-
ing hard primary fight, made speeches
all over the state in very active cam
paign, going practically into every
county. This is on top of his hard
campaign two years ago, when Presi
dent Wilson strained every force of the
Administration to elect Joseph E.
Davies, former Federal Trade Com
missioner, against him.
Every politician knows the value of
these personal contacts, and that is
one reason advanced by some of the
Democrats to whom l talked for their
root, even if La Toilette should fight
him openly.
Proud of Lenroor
In addition, Wisconsin is proud of
Lenroot. "Conspicuolsly Right" the
slogan being used for him in the bill
board advertising, is pleasing to the
state. There is another element which
people do not put into words here, but
their conversations.
Wisconsin is sick of being looked
down on by the rest of the Union, par.
ticularly on the war. The recognition
which Lenrot has been accorded in tha
Senate is balm to her wounds. Wis
consin has had great Senators in the
Apast, and all but the first voters can
recall when John C. Spooner was one
of the Senate leaders.
Lenroot, therefore, by springing into
a position of such great Importance
during a period of only two years has
gratified the state emendously. He
has more prestige here on account Of
it than most Senators have in their
of service. And Wisconsin is proud
that he won this recognition by sheer
ability and sound thinking in a body
so strongly welded to the seniority
rule.
Incidentally, the achievements Of
Lenroot in the Senate have not given
much point to the Democratic cries
that the Republican party is run by a
Senatorial oligarchy.
At the state convention in Madison
last Tuesday the Lenroot men practi-
cally took control of the state organiza-
ton. They made Alvin B. Peterson. Of
Soldiers Grove, state chairman. Peter
', son was Lenroot's campaign manager
in the primary. On top of this John J.
Blaine, the La Toilette man who won
statement virtually accepting Peter
sons choice, though he had bitterly op-
posed it in the convention. The state
convention also, against the wishes of
the La Toilette and Nonpartisan League
elements, indorsed not only the Har-
ding and Coolidge ticket, but the Re-
publican national platform.
Inc platform adopted by the Repub-
lican State Convention is another
straw showing that Wisconsin is not
half SO wet as it has been painted. A
section of it reads: eve urge that
Chapter 556 Of the laws of 1919, known
as the prohibition enforcement act
(Mulberger), be continued in force
and effect and made to conform with
Federal provisions, to the end that Wis
consin fines may reimburse Wisconsin
taxpayers for the obligations imposed
upon them by the Federal government,
and to the further end that those Ac-
cused of violation of excise laws may
have such speedy trial at such distance
from their homes as will entail neither
undue hardship nor expense. We there
fore urge that the Mulberger law be
ratified at the polls"
The original Mulberger act provided
for 21a per cent beer, but the platform
actually urges its modification to con-
form to the Federal act, which, of
course, is one-half Of l per cent
Lenroot fought his hard fight in the
primaries. He had arrayed against him
all of the La Toilette strength, all of
the Nonpartisan League strength and,
in addition, the railroad brotherhoods
sent circulars to their members urging.