New-York tribune., 1921-04-09
Harding Aids
Lenro0t; Cuts
La Toilette
Names Candidates of Ju-
nior Wisconsin Senator
to2 Places Over Those
Senior Recommended
BY Carter Field


Lenroot scored to-day over Robert NJ
La Toilette in the first patronage battle
in which two Senator'S from the same
state have opposed each other in the
Harding Administration. President Har-
ding appointed Claude 2. Luse, of Su-
perior, Wis, to be United States Dis
trict Judge for the Western District of
the state, and William II. Dougherty, of
Jaynesville, to be United States Dis
trict Attorney for the Western Dis
trict
Both these men were recommended
by Senator Lenroot, and Senator La
Toilette had opposing candidates. At
torney General Daugherty sent the
commissions to President Harding late
to-day, and the President signed them
at once. BY appointing them to-day
instead of waiting until next week, both
men will take Office at once, and will
not have to wait confirmation by the
Senate. Today's appointments, of
course, are only recess appointments
but they will hold office until their
successors are appointed and are con-
firmed by the Senate
Action by La Toilette Blocked
Such is the temper of the feud be-
tween Senators La Toilette and Len
root that II was thought La Toilette
would have held up confirmation bv the
Senate, and hence the rush to re. the
men in Office before La Toilette could
niock action. Now their names will go
IN IN the regular order next week. but
no matter how long La Toilette fights
ne VIII gam nothing now, unless he
could achleve what seems to be impos
slble the ultimate rejection of the nom.
nations by vote of the Senate.
Io-day's action by President Hard
ing IS of intense interest, because he
mas demonstrated his friendship for
Lenroot IN the battle which has been
gong on for some time in Wisconsin
Tor control of the state. Last fall La
Foliettc made desperate drive to pre-
vent the denomination of Senator Len
root. He put up James Thompson
against Lenroot in the primaries. La
foliette's strength was so great it is
probable that had it not been for
several additional candidates Lenroot
might have been defeated.
In the general election THOMPSON
was also put up by the La Toilette
crowd, this time as an independent
candidate, and the real battle was then
between Lenroot and THOMPSON. th.
Democratic candidate, Or. Paul O
Reinsch running poor third. Lenroot
was elected, but there are those who
think that had there not been Re-
Publlcan landslide Thompson might
have won.
< al II
Gldate Tor Governor and two other i'm
portant state Offices, so that he now has
fair grip on the state patronage.
La Toilette Faces Fight Next Year
All of which bears on the present
action by President Harding, for L.
Toilette comes up for reelection next
year. at which time he will face prob
ably the hardest fight he has ever
made. The outcome is very much in
doubt, for certainly as recently as No
vember La Toilette still had enormous
strength in the state. Also it is an
axiom in Wisconsin politics that it is
much easier to defeat one of lie Fol
lettc's lleutenantsin this instance it
was Thomp pson-than it is to defeat
La Toilette himself.
Incidentally, this is the second blow
which President Harding has dealt La
F.ollette, though it is the first time that
he actually intervened in favor of Len
root. The other occasion was the
nomination of John j. Esch as Inter-
state Commerce Commissioner It was
La Toilette who led the fight against
Esch for denomination to Congress. be-
cause of the Esch- Cummins railroad
bill. Esch was the only man whose
support of this measure brought about
his defeat, all the others, including
Senator Cummins, being tgiumphantly
reelected, This was regarded as an
other evidence of the hold La Toilette
still has on the Wisconsin voters.
All of which shows that this is u
real fight, in which Harding has sided
with Lenroot.