The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1924-08-08
SYNOPSIS OF PREVIOUS
INSTALIMENTS

SYNOPSIS OF PREVIOUS
INSTALLMENTS
La Toilette enters political life. I'M
n1ediately comes into conflict with Wis
consin political bossism; nevertheless Is
elected to Congress. and from the oegH-
ming opposes the onslaught OF prlVase
interests in government aHslrs. N the
fall of 1890, when a candidate Tor a
fourth term in Congress. La Toilette Is
defeated as the State goes heavily Demo-
cratic. He returns to private law prac-
tice at Madison. La Toilette comes TO
feel that PAYNE. one of the Wisconsin
Republican leaders. is not disappointed
with his defeat. Not so. however. with
Senator Sawyer, another leader, who ID
4 loyal party man and believes IN sup,
porting party candidates regardless Of
personal feeling
One of the political gratis Of
Wisconsin. ancient and time hon
ored, was the farming out Of the
public funds to favored banks.
Excepting the Office of Cover
nor, the State treasurership was
more sought after than any other
place on the ticket. The reason
for this lay in the fact that the
State treasurer was able to de-
post public moneys in such banks
as he chose, upon terms satisfac-
tory to the bankers and profitable
TO himself.
Interest upon this money was re-
garded as a political perquisite.
One of the first acts of the
Democratic State administration
which came Jan. 5. 1891. was to
institute suit against all State
treasurers of Wisconsin who had
occupied that office during the
preceding twenty years.
Former Treasurers Sued
Suits were instituted against
former Treasurers Henry B. Har-
shaw, Edward c. McFettridge,
Richard Guenther, Ferdinand
Kuehn. Henry Betz and their
bondsmen. Senator Sawyer's
wishes had largely controlled in
the election Of several Of these
treasurers and he was one Of the
principal bondsmen.
The suits finally resulted in
judgments in favor Of the State
aggregating s6OS,e1s. OF this
amount Senator Sawyer was liable
for nearly 100000. The estate
Of Guido Pf1ster, a leading bust
ness man of Milwaukee. was also
liable as bondsman for former
Treasurer Kuehn to the extent Of
something more than 100000. The
liability of this estate marks the
advent into Wisconsin State po-
itics Of Charles F. Pflster of Mil
waukee one OF the principal heirs
Of the Guido Pfster estate. who
will figure hereafter in this nara
tive.
Robert G. Siebecker. now one
OF the justices Of the Supreme
Court OF Wisconsin, was at that
time judge Of the Circuit Court for
Dane County.
He had been appointed to thai
office by Governor Hoard to fill a
vacancy, and a telegram from
Governor Hoard's secretary an
nouncing Siebecker's selection was
my first intimation that he had
been considered.
was indeed surprised. because
Siebecker was a Democrat and was
appointed by Governor Hoard to
succeed Judge Stuart, who was a
Republican.
I mention this point in this con-
nection because in so far as the
appointment was criticized at all,
1t was upon the ground that Sic
becker was a Democrat. This fact,
ard the further fact that he was
my brother-in-law and my partner
IN the firm Of La Toilette, Sic
becker & Harper. was also the sub
ject Of newspaper comment at the
time. and his appointment was as
cribed to my known friendly rela-
tons with Governor Hoard.
Shortly before these cases were
TO come on for argument IN the
Circuit Court, I received a letter
from Senator Sawyer. of which the
following IS an exact copy:
dictated.
Oshkosh. Wis.
Sept. Il. 1891.
ZION Robert NJ. La Toilette, Madi-
son, Wis.
ny Dear La Toilette:
Il viii be IN Milwaukee, at the
State fair, on Thursday. have
come matters II Importance that I
would like to consult you about.
'Tf convenient can you be in
Milwaukee on that day and meet
me at the Plandnton House at II
o'clock q. MI
tIf not on that day, what day
would suit your convenience this
week? Please answer by tele-
graph All you need to say, If you
can meet me that day is merely
telegraph me yes II not simply
mention day you can meet me.
"Yours truly.
"Philetus Sawyer"
The letter was typewriter on a
single sheet Of paper. letter size.
The top part Of the sheet had
been torn off, down nearly to the
date line, leaving only the printed
words. Dictated. Oshkosh"
This fact did not impress me at
the time I received the letter but
led me to investigate tho matter
later and to discover that II was
written on the office stationery Of
ex-Treasurer Harshaw. who after
ward came to me with message
from Sawyer.
I conferred with my law part
ner, Sam Harper, after receiving
the letter, and believing that the