Evening star., 1920-04-04
LA TOILETTE RESTOR ALTON
ATTEMPTED IN WISCONSIN
Organization of Largely New Material
Has Been Created With View to
Strengthening His Wing.

case the results now indicate a diff
cult battle next fall. Blaine is rated
| high as a campaigner and vote-getter.
The La Toilette candidates have an
nounced a platform which denounces
war time restrictions. profiteering and
interference with freedom of the
press and free assemblage. The dec
laration is similar to socialist pro-
nouncements on the same topics. II
has invited much socialist comment.
The Wisconsin primary is open.
There is nothing to prevent socialists
from taking part in the republican
delegate fight if they desire to do so
, Socialists do not elect delegates to
their own convention. so there is no
party affair to engage their attention
Municipal elections throughout the
state will bring out a huge socialist
vote. In Milwaukee alone not fewer
than $4,000 socialist votes will be
polled-so certain are socialists of
their power that betting odds are now
2R to 1 that Mayor D. w. Hoan. So
cumstances are being measured in
connection with the delegate contest.
Inducement to Socialists.
Politicians also take into account
the inducement to socialists to par
ticipate in the republican contest.
They weigh such considerations as
the conviction of Victor L. Berger.
socialist leader. on charge of violat
ing the espionage act. his ousting
the mailing privilege from his Mil
waukee paper, which reused deep re-
sentiment in the party.
The Philip delegation IS basing its
contest on the ground that if the La
Toilette delegation is elected this
state will not share In the nomination
of President, because no candidate
acceptable to the senator will be
chosen in a republican convention.
Senator Lenroot has Joined in the
campaign for the Phillip delegates
with a letter stating that he has been
informed that the placing Of La Fol-
lette delegates in the field is the be-
ginning of an organized fight to de-
feat him next fall. He urges election
of the uninstructed slate. declaring
that Wisconsin can influence the ma
tional convention only if it's representa-
ton is independent and not subject to
the dictation Of any individual. Gov.
Philip has taken the stump In a
number of speeches delivered in "the
enemies country
Presidential candidates have kept
out of the field, realizing that if they
put up states the only result would
be to defeat all candidates opposed
to La Toilette. Two Independent can
didates, however. favorable to Gen.
Leonard Wood have filed. One is ex-
Lieut.. Gov. John Strange, for dele
gate at large, and the other is Fred
Wettengil. in the ninth district. The
lack of Identification with any group
possibly operates against Strange. but
a bitter fight waged in the ninth by
the American Society of Equity on
c. B. Ballard. La Toilette candidate.
may inure to the advantage of Wet
tengil. The Wood managers. how
ever. have corresponded with candi-
dates on both states with results
which. they declare. are satisfactory.
On the democratic side there is no
contest. and the campaign is feature
less. The delegation is regarded as
favorable to McAdoo. and benevo-
1ently inclined toward Hoover. About
the only thing calculated to attract
voters to the democratic ticket is the
circumstance that the delegation is
wet. Each of the republican delega-
tions is about equally divided on the
prohibition question.
J. C. RALSTON.