Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1925-07-02
THE CHANGED POLITICAL ASPECT

Wisconsin's political complex has been changed by
the passing of Senator Robert M LaFolette and E. L.
Philpp three times governor OF the state The
which Senator LaFolette led is further Jared by the
death of Senator E F. Laid Of North Dakota.
Mr.. Philip had not been in public life for several
years, but he still had considerable political following
in the Badger state and the in whose councils he
joined was not the LaFolette group of recent years
In respect of Individuals the political kaleidoscope
has changed many times that it is impossible for an
outsider to get accurate idea of the lineup in Wiscon
SIM Indeed the political observers Immediately the
ground find we-ngh hopeless task place author
ltatIve tags this or that who has been
less In the public The lines blurred in many
places.
The big outstanding definite fact is that Wisconsin
will have who will occupy the niche or
WELD the power that Robert NJ LaFoette welded that
state and that North Dakota will have SENATOR in
all probability who will stand as strongly for LaFol-
leteism did Senator Laid in the campaign of 1924
So-called radicalsm has lost its acknowledged leader
and prophetthat is the brand of radicasm that fell
short of being 100 per satisfactory political and
social philosophers like Eugene v Debs, those who
believe, pretend to believe that the Russon soviet is
the only inspired governmental structure in the world
Senator LaEoee did not classify in either of these two
groups He accepted by them presidential candi
date because there other in view who could
nave mustered as many votes the country over as ne
mustered and because IN some particulars his program
approXmated that of the ultra radical group He
looked upon by many instrument end, but as
one who would not himself go to that end.
Mr. Debs expresses the hope that there will now be
recrudesence of the Socialist party that the element of
which he is the outstanding personal representative to-
geher with other restless groups, will rally
national figure and that this political force will mobilize
under the standard of the Socialist party
Those who do not look at things from the Debs view
point unable to discern leader who could reasonably
hope to touch the popular imagination Senator LaFo
cite touched it, enlist following of the strength he
enlisted Mr. Debs still has an Influence on the political
mind of the country but nothing compare with that
the Wisconsin 1t is doubtful if he could again
muster sympathetic American audience large those
he sWayed dozen years Wheeler BrOOkhart, FraZ-
er and others who might be mentioned of the
LaFoete gauge in their powers of popular orientaon
The result Of the November election was first rate
evidence of swing away from the idea that the destnes
Of the country should be entrusted to radical extra
liberal third party The action of large labor
CARNATIONS following the election helped to confirm this
evidence The Coolidge vote in the northwest Except
wisconsin, distinct encouragement to third party
aspirations Senator LaFoettes hopes in that quarter
were disappointed Repeatedly he had shown power to
determine color elections Minnesota and the Dakotas
but that power did hold for the 1924 presidential
election
With better postured agriculture and labor well EN-
poyed the LaFolette voice lost much of it's magic The
nations traditions reasserted themselves effectively E-
ceSSive liberalism, which embraced broad proposal of
government ownership and another to disturb the balance
and check between the legislative and judicial depart
ments OF the federal government appeared less attractive
to the average sober thinker
If radcalism lost ground with Robert M LaFolette
carrying the standard what hope there be for it
der the leadership of of less force energy and
suavleness Whatever hope of this kind there is must
be bound in the possibility of another period of serious
economic Notwithstanding that which made the way
many farmers of the northwest extremely difficult fol-
development of another such situation The necessary
turing food of third party movement is
rest and discomfort Meantime agriculture is coming thru
to mer ground and the purchasing of the wage
is greater than before-Mnneapos Tribune