Evening star., 1925-09-14
Defeat Tomorrow Would
Mean Loss of Power
to Conservatives.
VICTORY is PREDICTED
IN SPITE OF OPPOSITION
Blaine's Chances of Beating Len
root Next Year Will Be Small
If "Stalwarts" Get Control.
BY GOULD LINCOLN.
Stan Correspondent of The Star.


MADISON. Wis. September IA
The La Follette-B Blaine Progressives
of Wisconsin are playing for a big
stake in tomorrow's Republican prim-
aries-The retention of political con-
troll in the badger State.
If they win and Robert NJ La Fol-
lette, jr., is nominated they will have
won their first big victory since the
death Of Senator La Toilette, without
his guiding hand and all-powerful in
f1uence in the State. They will have
demonstrated that their orga nization
Is still hitting on all eight cylinders.
If they lose. and Roy p. Wilcox, the
"stalwart" candidate, or former Gov
ernor Francis Z. McGovern, a Pro-
gressive standing somewhere between
La Toilette and Wilcox, is nominated,
the first wedge will have been driven
into the Progressive control now in
the hands of Senator La Follette's
political executors.
Blaine's Future at Stake.
1t may mean further disintegration
within a comparatively short time.
For IL La Toilette loses tomorrow
there seems little chance of Governor
Blaine's succeeding in hisa race for
the Senate against Senator Lenroot
next year. and the stalwarts will have
been so heartened by the victory of
Wilcox, If he wins, that their organi-
zation Is likely to grow stronger more
rapidly even than it has done in the
last few months.
The stake therefore, is far greater
than the political fate Of Mr.. La Fol.
iette, who is making his first bid for
public Office at the hands of the
voters.
Furthermore Wisconsin has been
the cradle OF the Progressive move
ment in the Middle West and the
Northwest. defeat now in Wis.,
servative wing Of the Republican
Party Is in the ascendence In the
National Government and in nearly
all OF the States, would be regarded
as a severe blow to the entire Pro.
gressive movement. Senator Wheeler
OF Montana, Progressive Democrat,
and running mate Of the late Senator
La Toilette in the presidential cam
paign last year, who is speaking here
tonight with Mr.. La Toilette In the
wind-up Of the primary campaign, put
1t this way:
La Toilette Victory Seen.
THE Progressives of the country
are wondering whether Wisconsin is
going to turn her back on the prin-
ciples Of the late Senator La Toilette
and thereby repudiate him and the
cause for which he gave his life"
Notwithstanding the maze of cross
currents entering into the present
campaign, the signs point to the VIC
tory tomorrow of Mr.. La Toilette.
two chances against La Toilette, II
they are needed. He has filed as an
Independent candidate to run in the
election September % in case he
loses tomorrow. La Toilette, on the
other hand, has not filed as an inde-
pendent and he wins or loses his
chance to go into the election at the
primaries.
In support of the opinion La Fol
lette will win, 1t must be remembered
that the governor, the great ma jority
Of the State legislature and the Wis
consin delegation in the House, with
the exception Of the Socialist Victor
Berger, are La Toilette people. The
employees of the State government.
numbering more than 5000, are
reckoned nearly all La Toilette sup
porters and workers.
Lenroot Backing Wilcox.
On the stalwart side is one United
States Senator, Lenroot, who has
been working hard for Wilcox. and
many of the Federal officeholders, in
cluding United States attorneys and
marshals and their assistants and
postmasters, collectors, etc. While
the Federal patronage has been
handled by Senator Lenroot, some Of
the present officeholders obtained
their jobs with the approval and on
the recommendation Of some Of the
present members Of the House who
are Progressives.
The Stalwarts have effected on or
ganization In nearly all of the II
counties of the State. however, and
are in better shape than they have
been for years for a contest. This
organization work has been going on
for months, so they should make a
better showing than in the past.
In primary election it is almost al
ways difficult to get the vote out, and
Especially so when there is only one Of
flee balloted for. The perfection of the
orga nization, party or faction, there
fore, Is of very great moment, for
the workers are counted upon to get
the voters to the polls.
Progressive Principles Old.
The progressive idea as eXemplified
in the laws of Wisconsin today has
been long growth. The people have
become progressive minded. They
are not inclined to turn conservative
overnight, so to speak. Mr.. Wilcox
wears the conservative label. The
Stalwarts. the anti-La Toilette faction,
however, have always been fairly
strong in the State, and have elected
CONTINUED on Page 5, Column ~