Evening star., 1922-09-15
La Toilette Wins, Vardaman
Loses, Editors Wonder Why.


The fact that Senator Robert M.
La Toilette, radical republican, was
overwhelmingly triumphant in the
| recent Wisconsin primaries while, at
the same time, James K. Vardaman'
radical democrat, was defeated IN
Mississippi has resulted in a general
editorial discussion. Both were
| members Of the "little group of will
| full men" denounced by President
| Wilson for their opposition to his
war policies, while Vardaman was
defeated originally through the per-
sonal Intervention of Wilson in be-
i half of Senator Pat Harrison. Editors
generally suggest that La Follettes
war votes were satisfactory to his
state, while his general radicalism is
! his source Of strength there, the Mis-
sissippi is again more conservative
| in its views. There are also some
| editors who argue that La Toilette
triumph constitutes another rejection
of the Harding policies by the voters.
Not alone is the outcome
triumph for La Toilette" but; ac-
| cording to the Baltimore Sun dnde-
pendent democratic), for those who
| realize the need of remedying the In
| tolerable conditions now sponsored
by the special powers in Washing
dent). thinks, however, that Liquor
played so important a part in the
contest that 1t left uncertain just
| where the majority of the people OF
! the state stand on La Folletteism." So
f.. as Sens asst afe1ns the the
| brooklyn Eagle independent demo-
cratic), believes that will not come
before the November elections owing
to absolute machine control OF
nominations The triumph. in ad-
the New York Times independent
domocratic), says. as "in his state
La Toilette is invincible; in Wash
ington his structural defect is that
he can never quite or long agree
with anybody"
no cause for rejoicing" so far as Wis.
consin is concerned. the regular demo-
Gratis have in Mississippi" the In
dianapolis News independently ar,
CUES, because "Vardaman is an 1dea!
representative OF the blatant type OF
of the nation is the gamer" by his
downfall. While one of the six SEN
ators who voted against the war
mea sures was nominated. and another
lost the Norfolk Virginian Pilot ln-
dependent democrctic) thinks the rea-
study Of the two and the issues OF
their campaign. La Follette's years OF
political training have given MIN q
rare insight into what makes 8ooo
campaign thunder. Vardaman, on the
contrary, is political misfit. IN
florsing this view. the Louisville Post
likewise calls attention to the Iact
that "Vardaman first rode into power
in his own state on a platform OF race
hatred, and the Lynchburg news
tdemocratic) points out that Ia e.a toi,
referred to as the kaiser's borough IN
America That fact attests and ex-
plains whatever of honor goes WIN
the republican senatorial nomination
just bestowed by the G. o. p voters
Of that state"
There also is this difference: in the
opinion Of the Wheeling Register
(democratic), La Toilette remained
in the Senate and redeemed his war
votes. Ever he has championed tne
cause of the people against the in.
terests. even leaning to what might
seem radicalism to do so. Vardamans
vote still occupies a place of promi,
nence" In addition the Springnea.a1
Republican Independently insists ~
Senator Ia Toilette thinks. says or or
does, he will probably he returned TO
the Senate so long as he lives. BUT
the GAINESVILLE Gazette (republican)
sueEests that 1t was the poPniaI
revolution" which has set in against
the administration'' that was re-
sponsible for the enormous La FOL
'Iette vote. This, in part, is the view
of the Buffalo News (republicanl.
which sees Senator La Toilette riaing
"higher than ever on new wave pi
discoritent. It was personal ana
particular political landslide, a pro
rest by athe voters Of Wisconsin
against what he calls the predatory
interests and many other things.
which, whether they exist largely In
the mind Of the defnagogic senator or
not. are actually enough to the con-
stitue1ts who hang SO adimirinsly on
u Grouping La Toilette. and varda-
man "is Inevitable" the s1;naal Manchesser se
sists. because Of similarity in GER
tain of their methods, II not In all OF
their ideas or on their nominal party
labels. La Toilette won because the
candidate OF, the conservative element
in. his party failed singularly to fire
the popular heart" while ''vardaman
was = most vulnerable candidate.
the north can extract
small comfort from the comparison Of