Evening star., 1923-09-02
WISCONSIN BOOSTS
Z FAV0R|TE SONS
Lenroot and La Toilette Will
Both Have Republican
Delegates.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
MADISON, Wis, September lit
looks like the preliminary republi-
can presidential fight In Wisconsin
will be between two favorite sons
Senator Irvine l.. Lenroot. who In
this part Of the country is rated as
conservative, and Senator Robert NJ.
La Toilette, radical leader. 1t is
possible that this program will be
varied by placing q straightout Cool
Idge delegation in the field. which
will have the backing OF Senator
Lenroot. Whether this will be done
depends on the strength developed
by the new President between now
and April, when the presidential pri-
mary will be held. Unless President
Coolidge, now little known In the
west, gains rapidly the chances are
that the Wisconsin La Toilette dele
gates will be opposed by Lenroot DEL
egates as the most available method
of wrestling doubtful distrlcts irolh
In the 1920 national convention
Senator Lenroot was slated 10 re-
ceiye the nomination later given TO
Mr.. Coolidge. Mr.. Lenroots follow,
ers here regard him as presidential
timber. If they place his name on the
presidential ballot the purpose WIN
be twofold-hrst, to promote the
Lenroot candidacy as far az possiDle'
and second, to send to the convention
candidate than La Toilette In event
Mr.. Lenrots candidacy should 1aii.
Strength OF La Toilette.
The La Toilette presidential candi-
dacy has REQUIRED regularly every
four years since 1908, and 1t Will
| a
the situation as it was developed In
last years election. MIR. La Toilette
stands the better chance In the ma
jority OF the congressional districts
each of which elects two delegates
to the convention, and the same Is
true OF the four delegates elected at
large But In no convention have his
opponents permitted him to have a
unanimous delegation, and they VIII
try to break his slate again.
No one knows Mr.. La Follette's
plans lie sailed for Europe just a
few days before the death OF Presi-
dent Harding. and he will not return
until October.
So far as could be learned. he was
then a candidate for the republican
nomination. 1t was thought that he
might be the only candidate about
whom disafected elements could
to himself he would carry states he
had never been able to capture.
May Give Up Fight.
The death Of President Harding has
upset the schedule. The La Toilette
men hero believe it will result In
numerous favorite son candidates. in
territory they hoped to win and that
it will be impossible for Mr.. La
Toilette to overcome the factor of
local pride. Some OF the more pes
slmistio OF the La Toilette leaders
are intimating that Mr.. La Toilette
may even abandon the contest for
tho republican nomination.
They are reviving the third party
talk with which Senator La Follette's
name was closely linked during the
last presidential campaign. All this
speculation Ia without warrant OF
Senator La Toilette himself, who. so
far as known. has communicated his
views to no one.
Even IL Mr.. La Toilette decided
next year to take the third party
plunge IL is doubtful II he would re-
linquish the delegate fight in the re-
publican primary in Wisconsin. He
would probably inaugurate the new
party by sending his delegates 10 the
the adoption OF his platform and
| then utilizing the rejection Of his
views as the ground for leading a
! new political movement.
Power OF Al Smith.
The shadow of Gov. AL Smith of
New York hangs over the presidential
delegate campaign. If Mr.. Smiths
name is filed on the Wisconsin ball
lot Senator La Toilette stands TO be
loser. The wet issue is a live one
+! in Wisconsin. In recent primaries
Senator La Toilette has been the
beneficiary Of discomfort resulting
from prohibition. Under the open
primary, however. there Is nothing to
prevent wet voters. who have been
voting in the republican primary for
La Toilette in the past two elections
going into the democratic presidential
to the democratic convention. They
are likely to do this and in two or
three congressional districts the loss
| Of their votes may be distinctly felt.
Mr. Smiths opponent in the demo-
cratic primary will be William g.
McAdoo. The McAdoo men have been
more active so far than Gov. Smiths
friends. They have captured the
democratic state organisation and are
maneuvering to get the lead in the
delegate campaign. While the demo-
Gratis are not courting revival of
the wet and dry issue. the alignment
shows that the dry democratic vote
will go to McAdoo. while the wet
vote will go to Gov Smith. Unless
Mr.. La Toilette Is able to give salts
factory assurances. the wet demo-
cratic vote for Smith Is likely to be
supplemented by many republicans.
Senator Lenroot's close Identification
with the drys leaves no other place
for them to go. j. c. RALSTON.