Evening star., 1920-10-21
WISCONSIN RIDDLE
GIVES POLITICIANS
DIOR THOUGHT
Harding Victory There Sure,
But State Offices Present
Real Puzzle.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

MILWAUKEE,, Wis, October 21.-
Ii ever there was a mixed-up. topsy
turvy political situation, the state of
Wisconsin this year presents such a
paradox. Consider these facts:
John j.. Blaine. regular republican
nominee Tor governor, has the sup
port of La Toilette and the non
partisan league and German elements.
o; Ronert Bruce Mccoy. democratic
support of republicans and democrats
who are opposed to La Toilette and
the non-partisan league.
w. J. Morgan, who is running for
attorney general on the same repub-
lfcan ticket with Blaine. fought the
latter in the primaries, and since has
announced that he will fight him at
Mr.. Mccoy. -
The non-partisan league and La
Toilette republicans decided after
this announcement not to support
Mr.. Morgan for attorney general. but
to throw their support to A. c. Lar
son, democratic nominee for the same
once. whereupon the Milwaukee Jour-
nal, influential newspaper through
out the state. which has been sup
porting the entire democratic ticket.
promptly withdrew from support Of
Larson and decided to support Nor
gan, republican. Many independent
voters are doing the same thing
Irvine Lenroot. candidate on the
regular republican ticket for re-
election to the United States Senate.
is being fought by James Thompson.
independent republican candidate. who
was unsuccessful in the primary race
for this office. and by DR.. Paul s.
Reinsch, democrat. formerly minister
to China.
Mr.. Thompson has the support of
the La Toilette and non-partisan fac
tons and is denouncing Lenroot for hav-
ing voted for the league of nations
even with reservations.
Dr Reinsch is supporting the
regret is that article x isn't stronger
he is or German extraction, but is
creolted with having induced China
to enter the war against Germany
Tie is distinguished scholar and
Formerly was head of the department
OF wisconsin. He will get a fairly
good slice of the German vote purely
through German pride of race. There
are about 100000 Germans in Wis
consin out of a total population Of
less than three millions.
Mr.. Thompson is conspics,ous
leader of the Norwegians Of this
state. while Mr.. Lenroot is of Swed
lsh extraction. Now, the Swedes and
the Norwegians have not much more
dtIecuon Ior each other on this side
of the Atlantic than they have an
the other. ""
Senator Harding is sure to carrv the
state by at least 100. 900 over Cox, hut
1t Is doubtful whether in a three.cor-
! nered fight I4enroot will pull throuph
| Indeed. Senator Harding has Issued
| an appeal urging the election of Len
root, something that will cost Hard
ing votes with the La Toilette repub
| ilcans who are supporting Thomson
Tor the Senate. But Harding can af-
1ord 10 lose some votes and still carry
Wisconsin by comfortable majority.
Mr.. Thompson. however, will divide .
the republican vote with Leproot and
thus give DR.. Reinsch chance to
| squeeze in just as President Wilson
did in 1912. when Taft and RooseveIt
split the republican strength in the
state.
Another thing, Lenroot is a dry in a
state which contains a million Ger
mans who still like that certain some
| thing which made Milwaukee famous.
So, summarizing the mix up, any one
who can figure out the result is enti-
tied to considerable distinction, for
| the leaders frankly confess they are
puzzled The best Judgment one gets
| here is that Harding will take the
electoral vote easily; that Reinsch
democrat has an even chance TO de-
feat Lenroot, and that Robert Bruce
| Mccoy. democrat. has a better than
! even chance to be elected governor.
AOnoRRiRkf .l000A