Evening star., 1925-09-30
Politics at Large
By C.. Gould Lincoln

Robert M. L. Toilette, jr.. enters the
United States Senate to NIL the va
cancy caused by the death OF Senator
La Toilette. The expected has hap
pened. The progressive strength IN
Wisconsin has asain been Demon
Strated and at the same time the iack
OF COHESION among the opponents OF
the La Toilette faction In the Repub-
iican party of the Badger State. The
opposition was split in the race Tor
the Republican nomination, with three
candidates running against Bob, Jr.
La Follette's sweeping victory In the
primary, added to the attempt maze
by the stalwart organization In the
State to swap horses In the middle OF
the stream-to abandon Roy p. VIII
cox and to switch to Edward F. Dtth-
mar in the election yesterday-made
his election practically foregone
conclusion.
The attack on the La Toilette or.
ganization In Wisconsin, interpreted
as an attack on the late Senator La
Toilette, SO recently buried with the
highest eulogies, made by the 'stai-
warts" during the campaign is con-
sidered here tactical error. 1t would
have been better. regular Republicans
insist, had they made the single issue
of the campaign the election OF
Senator who would support the Cool
idge administration and the Coolidge
policies.
Having elected Robert La Toilette.
ir., Senator. the progressives already
are laying their plans to carry the
State in the congressional and guber-
material elections next year. The stall
warts are counting on re-electing Sen
ator Lenroot in the coming campaign
and hope to break into the Wisconsin
delegation to the House. They will do
their utmost to elect a governor, too.
But the events OF the last four weeks
are not encouraging from the stalwart
point OF view The La Toilette faction
has been shown to be strongly in the
saddle, notwithstanding the death of
Senator La Toilette. The hoped for
disintegration of the progressive or
sanization has as yet shown no signs
OF appearing. Gov. Blaine, 1t Is ex-
pected, will be the candidate for the
Senate against Senator IIenroot and
Attorney General Ekern Is the prob
able candidate Of the progressives for
governor.
Rumors from Wisconsin that Phil
] "A Toilette. younger brother of the
Senator-elect. might make the race for
governor Of the State next year are not
taken seriously here by supporters Of
the La Follettes. In 10 years time,
perhaps, they say. the younger La
Toilette may aspire to the governor
ship, but not now. Furthermore, it
would be overplaying the La Toilette
popularity to attempt to elect a La
Toilette as United States Senator TO-
day and within year to seek to elect
another La Toilette governor. Phil La
Toilette, however. gives every indica-
ton that he will be a strong figure in
the political life of Wisconsin eventu-
ally. He is making record as attor-
ney for Dane County, his fathers first
public ONCE years ago. He has q
strong personality and makes a good
speech.
Gov. Al Smiths invasion of the
Middle West and his reception by a
huge crowd of Democrats at Chica go
has been interpreted in many quarters
as real indication that the Governor
OF New York will seek the Democratic
nomination for President in 1928.
There are plenty of Democrats who
throw up their hands in discourage
ment at such suggestion. They do
not believe that Gov. Smith could ever
be nominated, or that. if nomina ted,
he could ever be elected President
Smith and McAdoo, they insist, must
be forgotten IL the Democrats are TO
get together again and stand any
chance Of winning a national election.
But it is very clear that if Gov.
Smith and Mr.. McAdoo are 10 be
laid aside, II must be to follow some
other standard bearer, some other
Democrat who can become national
figure. To date Gov. Smith over
oil
lie life. and none in private life are
ina gination. The task Of the Demo
Gratis. it appears. Is to find an out
anding candidate about whom they
may rally and with whom the differ
ences that arose at the national con.
vention, in New York may be forgot
ten.
In their fight TO retain control of
the senate next year, the Repub-
licans Will find the principal battle
ground very largely in the West. the
West which gave every State to Cool
idge last year except Oklahoma,
which went Democratic, and Wiscon-
sin, which went for La Toilette. In
some of the Western States, partic-
ularly the Southwest, the Repub-
La Toilette presidential candidacy. La
Toilette split the opposition. Arizona
Nevada, New Mexico are examples.
Next year there will be no La Fol
lotte ticket to hamper the Democrats.
Furthermore, in the Pacific coast
States, Oregon, California and Wash
ington, In "off years" with no national
ticket running. Democrats have been
elected to the Senate in the past and
may be again.
Republican Senators in the West
who must stand for reelection next
year include Cameron of Arizona,
Gooding of Idaho. Harreld of Okla
homa. Jones Of Washington, Lenroot
of Wisconsin, Mckinley of Illinois,
Means of Colorado, Norbeck of South
Dakota, 0ddie of Nevada Smoot of
Utah, Stanfield of Oregon, Watson of
Indiana. Willis of Ohio and Ernst of
Kentucky in the near West" OF
these Curtis of Kansas, Saoot of
Utah. Cummins of Iowa, Mckinley
of illinois, Norbeek of South Dakota,
Watson of Indiana and Willis of Ohio,
should all come back" next year,
provided, of course, they are nom-
mated. But the others are facing
real fights. Furthermore, there are
seats of the late Senator Ladd of
North Dakota and Spencer of Mis-
souri, which must be filled also. both
held by Republicans. Judge Williams
has been appointed to fill the Spencer
vacancy until next year, and he may
be the candidate of the Republicans
in Missouri, though this is not yet
settled.
1t is the West, therefore, which
turned its back on the Democrats in
the national elections a year ago,
which may upset the apple cart for
the Republicans in the senatorial elec-
tions and the congressional elections
next year.