Evening star., 1925-06-24
Politics at Large
BY G.. Gould Lincoln

| The progressives in the Northwest
and the so-called "stalwart" Repub-
, llcans will clash at the polls late this
ESummer or in the Fall-a whole year
before another political contest there
was expected. The death, first of Sena-
tor La Toilette of Wisconsin, followed
almost Immediately by the death of
Senator Ladd of North Dakota, has
changed almost overnight the political
situation in that part Of the country.
1t looks now as though 1t was prac-
tically certain special election will be
held within a short time in Wisconsin
to fill the vacancy in the Senate caused
by the death of Senator La Toilette.
: A similar election may be necessary
in North Dakota to fill the Ladd
vacancy in the Senate. although 1t
may develop that Gov. Sorlie, a Non
Partisan Lacquer like Senator Ladd,
has the power to appoint d Senator
TO serve until the next general cleo
ton Is held, November, 1926. If these
two senatorial contests are staged this
Fall they will take on no little political
significance, and it may be expected
that every effort will be made by the
rival factions to elect their candidates.
X
The row will be between the pro
) gressives and the regular Republicans
the followers of President Coolidge
! just as it was in Wisconsin and
North Dakota last year. The Demo
Gratis are not figured at this juncture
to have any chance to win either one
OF these senatorial contests, though
they probably will name candidates.
The Democratic party in these States
has been little more than a name for
years.
| The primaries for the nomina ton
may settle the struggle in one or both
of the States, depending on which fac
ton obtains the Republican nomina.
ton. But they may not. Feeling runs
high. Independent or fusion Candi.
dates may be brought forward by the
opposition in both North Dakota and
| Wisconsin. The chances of the regu.
lar Republicans will depend largely
upon the measure of prosperity which
the Summer metes out TO the farmer
II crops are good and prices fair, then
the conservatives will be listened to
far more willingly than If crops are
bad and prices low.
Senator Ladd would have come UT
for reelection in November. 1926. and
Senator La Toilette not until Novem
ber, 1928. The contests this Fall will
in measure, be skirmish-a prelude
TO the battle which is to come for the
control Of the Senate in 1926. OF
the 20 Republican Senators who must
! stand for reelection, IL are from the
West and the Northwest. The man
chosen to fill the unexpired term OF
Senator Ladd will be in this list, which
also includes Senator Lenroot of Wis
consin, Senator Cummins of Iowa
Senator Curtis of Kansas, Senator
Gooding of Idaho, Senator Jones OF
Washington, Senator Means of Colo
RADIO. Senator Norbeck of South Da
kota. Senator Smoot of Utah, Senator
! Stanfeld of Oregon and Senator VII
; liams of Missouri, recently appointed
to fill vacancy caused by the death
) of Senator Spencer.
The belief in some quarters thai
the progressive movement in the
; West and Northwest will in some
way disintegrate, now that Senator
, La Toilette has passed. is scarcely
based on a real knowledge of the sit
uation. This movement has been 6
development over considerable
. period of time, and it's roots are deep
1t is true that the new third-party
movement, of which Senator La Fol
lette was the real rallying figure, ma
suffer materially through his death
Already from Minneapolis comes the
word that the Socialists, led by
Eugene V. Debs, are planning to re
vive their party organization, which
they submerged temporarily last year
to follow La Toilette and Wheeler
But the issues between the progres
siVeS and the conservatives have beer
pretty closely drawn in the past in 6
number of these Western States, anC
the contest is likely to continue.
x
The Democrats undoubtedly vii
seek the present opportunity to re
| vive some of their party strength il
the Northwest. Except in local anC
: State elections. the Democratic party
; as such has not figured in these States
} in recent years. But while the Demo
Gratis will seek what advantage they
may find in the coming contests
, there Will be strenuous opposition or
the part of many of the leaders tc
, following the advice of Col. William
Jennings Bryan to ditch" the party
in the Northeast, and to seek by {
consolidation of the South and the
West to gain national control. Chair
man Oldfield of the Democratic con
greSsional campaign committee is one
, of those who take the view that the
Democratic party is the party of the
people the country over, and not o.
liic pcOpIe Vi any sections
Furthermore, they point out that the
Democratic party is far stronger II
some of the Northeastern States to
day than it is or ever has been in the
West.
In their play for some of the West
ern States the Democrats will seel
; to line up the farmers in opposition
, to the Republican Fordney- McCumbei
tariff law, on the ground that thi.
| n he nf all l.,
things which the farmers must buy
: and that the protection sought to bt
> granted the farmer on his product:
, is not effective at all. Comes a rumble
t from Illinois which may give The
, Democrats added hope of making ar
t effective appeal along this line. TIL,
Illinois Legislature. which is strongl,
: Republican. has recently adopted {
resolution protesting against the tariff
: law, and also against the Esch- Cum
, Minis transportation law and the i'm
! migration law, all put through by tn,
: Republicans.
, | If the farmers of the West coul(
really be aroused over the Republican
tariff there might be some cause fol-
worry by the administration. Fol
years, however, the theory of the pro
, tective tariff, at least tacitly, has beer
approved by the Western States.
, X X
i President Coolidge is in Massa
F. chusetts for the Summer. His pres
=. ence there may be of assistance t.
, his friend, Senator William NJ. Butler
, chairman of the Republican nationa
r committee. who was appointed to tn.
S Senate following the death of Senator
2 Lodge and who must make the rae,
| for reelection next year, with formel
Senator David 1. Walsh as his prob
; able opponent. According to renort.