Evening star., 1924-05-18
LA TOILETTE PLAYS
FOR WARWICK ROLE
Sees Chance of Putting Huston
Thompson la White House if ,
He Fails Himself. /
HOLDS OWN CHANCES GOOD
Believes He Can Block Reelection
of Coolidge.
HOLDS OWN CHANCES GOol
BN EDGAR AIELS.

King or king maker viii be the role
played by Robert NJ. La Toilette in
the coming presidential campaign:
The Wisconsin senator, whose hold on
the plain people" appears to be as
strong, il not stronger. than ever, has
hopes OF becoming President, if
II not. then Huston Thompson, head
OF tho Federal Tiraor Commission, Il
progressive Democrat. is his choice.
And La Toilette viii work hard to
land his candidate il he himself can
not get into the White House.
This is the gist Of the iusurgent
news, coming from men SO close 10
the Wisconsin Iuan that they reflect
his ideas to the nth degree. 1t tai
lies with what has been u more or
less open secret for the last year
that La Toilette, his health permit
ting, has a determined ambition TO
lard in the White House, despite the
strength-on raper--of the two major
parties
Just about twelve months ago the
senator couGdcd JOB his closest asso-
crs.tes that he had lost all hopes of
changing the spots on the Republican
leo4ard For wears ne had bored from
within the parry Through this bor-
ing he had obtained complete control
or the Republican party machine in
Wisconsin. The machine was La Fol-
lette, and La Toilette was the ma
chine. There was no more Republican
party, save in name.
Looked 10 1921
La Toilette declared q year ago
thar he was through seeking to re-
form what he regarded as unre-
formablc At that time he believed.
Anc voiced that belief. that 1924, be-
ing a presidential year. would supply
The mitch oVcrr>.ted psychological
moment for a drastic inSurSent move
The death Of President Harding,
the accession OF Coolidge, the rtac-
tiCnarV policies of the machine Re
publicans. determined La Toilette in
his stand The course of the in
SurGcntS in Congress is ample proof
of this. They have ruined Coolidge s
Legislative program. They have play
ed havoc with administration meas
ures. Every correspondent on Capitol
Hill knows that La Follettr and his
band are working hand in glove with
Senator Pat Harrison, the Democratic
leader. The platform makers of the
Democratic party are accepting the
the Congress has shown this 10 an
astonished political world
Question of Candidates.
Today the situation has simnered
down to 4 question of candidates and
platforms OF course. Coolidge is
unsatisfactory to the La Toilette ad-
herentS. Equally, Of course, the Re
publican platform Will prove an
tagoniStic.
From sources close to the Demo
cratic national coinFnIttee = from
Democratic leaders in the Congress-
from other authentic sources, there
comes the definite news that the
Democratic platform will be progress
sive. Whether 1t viii contain La
FQliette'S pet schemes, the national
ization of railroads and public re-
sources and utilities. is open to some
doubt. especially the tirst-named;
As for the Democratic candidate,
the Wisconsin man is first, last and
ali the time for Huston Thompson,
whom he considers the best pro-
5sressive in the land. Next, his ad-
fniration goes TO Burton Is Wheeler,
progressive Democrat from Montana,
whom La Toilette considers the COM
ing man.
VIII Accept Nomination.
OF course, being entirely human, La
Toilette has hopes for himself. That
he Will run on q coalition, ohlro
party, farm labor ticket seems rea-
SOndDIE sure III TINS NTillHS- Ht iIst
Toilette forces have received positive
assurance that the nomination Will
lie Standardization the two big con-
ventions are out OF the way.
IL may be stated on authority of
those closest to the Wisconsin sena-
tor that he will accept such u nOmi-
nation, irrespective of what the ma
jOr parties do. On the same author
ity il can he said that he will seek
Huston Thompson as his running
IDatc.
And. what is perhaps more vitality
important, is that La Toilette Will
exert every possible influence to have
Thompson nominated for Vice PreSi-
dent on the Democratic ticket.
There is method in this apparent
1nahness. If La Toilette runs, as is
indi(alted. then the election will be
rhroW1t into the House. The House
cannot elect. Then the Senate; under
constitutional provision, Will elect a
Vice President from the two highest
candidates. That Vice President will