Evening star., 1925-09-12
Influence of Late Senator La
Toilette on Voters Now
Is ProbIematicaI.
"YOUNG BOB" WILL FACE
NEW FIGHT IF VICTORIOUS
Wilcox to Run as Independent
Slush Fund Charge Raised
by La Toilette.
BY G.. GOULD LINCOLN.
SIaff Cnrresnnnhnnl Il The Star

MILWAUKEE, Wis, September II.
Inability to estimate the strength of
sentiment in the coming Republican
senatorial primary has both the Viii
COX and McGovern camps and, indeed
the La Toilette, up in the air How
many of the Wisconsin voters are go
ing to the polls next Tuesday to vote
for Bob" La Toilette, jr,. because they
revere the memory of the late Sena-
tor La Toilette?
If Bob La Toilette were Bob Jones
instead of the son of the man who
controlled Wisconsin for a quarter of
a century. and he had submitted his
candidacy for the Republican nomina-
ton, his two principal older opponents,
both of whom have held public office in
the State. would have the race to
themselves. AS matters now stand,
La Toilette has fighting for him sen
timent" and the La Toilette name, he
has the old La Toilette organization,
the labor unions and his own ability as
la vote getter. which is growing greater
day by day as he continues his stump
ing tour.
Others Have Assets.
Roy P. Wilcox, choice of the Osh.
kosh convention of "stalwarts," has
the regular organization, business"
and the upper classes" and his serv-
Ice as State Senator and a pleasing
personality and ability to speak on his
side.
Former Gov. McGovern has expe-
rience as an administrator and exec.
utive and a real appeal to the intel
lectuals among the Progressiyes as his
chief assets.
If you talk to Wilcox supporters
they tell you that the fight is between
Wilcox and La Toilette. II you talk
TO McGovern people. on the other hand
they say that when the votes are
counted it will be found that the race
is between McGovern and La Toilette,
and that Wilcox will run third.
1t is evident that. young Bob La
Toilette is considered the serious con
tender by both of his opponents. The
vote Of the Klan candidate. DIR. Dan
lei Woodward, they all insist will be
negligible.
Wilcox Forces Optimistic.
There is evident in Wilcox circles,
however. a strong degree of optimism.
They insist their candidate will de-
feat La Toilette for the nomination
and, barring that, he will win in the
election two weeks hence, for which
Wilcox has filed as an independent
so as to make the race in the event he
fails to win the Republican nomina-
ton.
The word has gone out that control
of Republican politics in Wisconsin
is to be regained by the stalwarts
after many years of waiting. There
is to be rebirth of the party in the
| Badger State-according to the stall
warts. They base their hopes on the
fact that they have been at work or
ganiZing in the State ever since the
| Coolidge campaign last year. This
work of organization has continued
through the Winter, Spring and Sum-
mer. 1t was begun early in prepara-
ton for the congressional race which
is coming in 1926, when a Senator and
| Governor also must be elected. The
death Of Senator La Toilette and the
call for the present special election
will bring this organization into action
months before it expected to be
called upon. Nevertheless, the regu-
| lars insist they are ready for the
test. They have had plenty Of money
to carry on this program Of organiza-
| ton. People with money in the regu-
! lar ranks have been ready to put 1t
up. The Republican national commit
tee has been lending a hand quietly,
1t Is understood, though the national
committee insists that 1t is not mix
ing up in the primary fight.
SIush Fund Is Charged.
Almost on the eve of the primaries
! comes from the La Toilette camp a
| charge that a monster "slush fund, u
comparable to that which was de-
clared to have been used in the cleo
ton of Senator Newberry of Michi-
gan a few years ago to beat Henry
| Ford, is being expended in Wisconsin
in behalf of the Wilcox candidacy
The charge is made by Erick ]. On.
| stad, secretary of the La Toilette per.