Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-09-27
EX- SERVICE MEN Of
WASHING UNITED
AGAINST IA Toilette
BY DAVID LAWRENCE
Especial Leased Wire tG The Journal-Copy-
right. 1924.(

TlgHl, l3-t.J
SEATTLE, Wash, sept. 25.-
After canvassing the situation in
Spokane, as we'll as Tacoma and the
western section of the state of
Washington, the conclusion seems
unacceptable that President Coolidge
has a hard fight ahead to win the
electoral vote here from Senator La
Toilette
Few states present as interesting
a miX-up as the state of Washing
ton. It's a situation full of posi-
bilities between now and election,
for things are being done here which
are much different from what one
encounters in other states.
In the first place, eX-service men
who number about $4,000 of whom
about 5000 are American Legion
members, are being organized for
statewide drive against Senator La
Toilette and Senator Wheeler on ac-
count Of their war record. Precinct
organizations are being planned
from which much is expected. The
Republican state committee says it
is not connected with the Under
taking. But it is no exaggeration
to say that no political organization
developed on the Pacific coast.
The tactics of the service men
are in sense non-partisan. The
drive is primarily for President Cool
idge, but if any Democrats or other
eX-serVice men are encountered,
who, perhaps, do not care to vote
Tor Mr.. Coolidge because he vetoed
the bonus, they are strongly urged
to f,,p I'll
La Toilette and Wheeler are the tar
gets of the attack.
Copies of some of the literature
sent out by the Iowa members of the
American Legion are being circulated
mere in large quantities. Senator La
Toilette is upbraided as ro-German.
Senator Wheeler is condemned be-
cause as United States attorney in
Montana he refused to prosecute GER
lain members of the l. w. w. who |
N war time defied the draft law.
Growth of Radicalism
Ihere are relatively few Germans |
n this state so the Republicans need |
nave no fear here as they have in !!
other states that in attacking La |
toilette they will lose German votes. |
The fight against La Toilette in this !
section, however, has more in it than |
he memory of anti-war activity. |
The growth of radicalism in this re- I
slon is recognized as something that |
ne conservatives must counteract |
The La Toilette movement is draw |
ng from both Republican and Demo |
cratic camps but mostly from the !
after. In order, therefore, to keep |
Town the La Toilette vote the con- |
hn inc I
IAN in some way be urged to vote for !
Davis. Every vote recorded for Da-
us is counted as one lost to La Fol |
cite. There is a noticeable friendli- !
less to Davis in certain Republican |
newspapers supporting Coolidge. |
If the Democratic vote could be !
leld in line for Davis, President |
Coolidge could easily carry the state.
But the Democrats are going over in |
arge number to La Toilette and |
Wheeler. II the Wisconsin senator !
swallows the Democratic party in |
bis state and gets q fair share of the |
Republican vote, he will win the cleo |
oral vote. There are signs that |
many Democrats Of the radical !
'ringe, and some who are not so rad |
cal. but who care far more about a |
victory for their state ticket, will |
rade votes with the La Toilette sup |
Oorters. Thus with the La Toilette |
people not especially concerned |
lbout the state ticket their votes
night so to the Democratic state can
lidates in return for La Toilette sup
bort.
Deals like this carried the state
for Roosevelt in 1912. Also two !
years ago Senator Clarence Dill beat |
Senator Poindexter by a combina-
ton of Democratic and radical
Republican votes.
Result to BE Close
The regular Republicans are hope
full of victory, however, through |
other channels. For one thing they |
are really planning to get out the
Republican vote. Then |
there is the miX-up over La Toilette |
supporters. At present there are
three separate sets of La Toilette |
electors going on the ballot, unless
an agreement can be reached or the
courts intervene. One set of electors |
probably will be withdrawn through |
the influence of Senator La Toilette I
but another set, it is charg- |
ed, is there through COLLISION with |
the regular Republicans and will no.
get off. In the hope of confusing the |
enemy, the Republicans are not in I
any hurry about unscrambling the
situation
There are some signs. of course
that the state is not as radically in
clined as it was two years ago. A
recent election for supreme court
judges resulted in a defeat for the
radicals. Improvement in agricultu-
raj conditions has swept aside some
Of the protest vote which might |
have gone to La Toilette.
Effective organization work is
being done in Spokane. The faction
al trouble inside the Republican par
ty in the western end of the state +.
have not been removed and the cam |
paiSn has not yet really been begun |
There is talk that the local leaders
want financial aid from the national |
headquarters and that some of them
are anxious to build up an organiza-
ton that will recover lost ground in ,
state affairs.
On the fact of it, La Toilette has
an even change of carrying this
state today. BY election day the |
work of the eX-service men and the |
Republican organization probably |
will make it a different story, but
it will be close-about 10000 plural |
ity for President Coolidge is the most |
that is hoped for. /