Evening star., 1925-08-19
Politics at Large
BY C.. Could Lincoln

InS pOllLlcal pot continues 10 JoOll-
In spots. Two of the most active
spots" just now are New York and
Wisconsin. In both struggles are
under way which may have much in
f1uence on the national political stu
alton. Gov. Al Smith has locked
horns with Hylan and Hearst in the
mayoralty race and the primaries on
September Is will either give the
governor a boost in his onward politi-
cal march or he will lose some of his
prestige. If he wins. as 1t is expected
he will, pressure will be brought to
bear to have him enter the senatorial
race next year against Senator Wads-
worth. But he may decide to have
another fling at the governorship,
considering that the best stepping
stone toward the White House. There
is only one governor of the Empire
State, whereas there are two Senators.
The suggestion has been put for
ward that If Smith runs for the Sen
ate Wadsworth may decide to seek the
eovernorship on the Republican
ticket But 1t is not at all likely Sen
ator Wadsworth will dodge the fight
with Smith. Such tactics would lose
him strength nationally and there are
those who for a. long time have been
confident that one day Jimmy
Wadsworth would step into the White
House as Chief Executive.
X
The Republicans are having their
troubles as well as the Democrats In
settling upon a candidate for mayor
Frank y. Waterman is the selection
Of Charles d. Hilles, Republican ma
nd
chieftains, but William NJ. Bennett and
John ]. Lyons refuse to acquiesce In
the choice Mr. Bennett has been par
ticularly severe in his criticism OF the
Waterman candidacy, questioning Mr..
Waterman's Republicanism on the
ground that he once voted for WOOD
row Wilson. Mr.. Hilles declares that
Mr. Waterman did not cast vote
for Wilson in 1916, but that he voted
for Hughes.
With the Democrats apparently
split wide open, it seems as though
the Republicans are overlooklnS
bet. If the Republican row continues
any chance of defeating Tammany-
if there be any-will vanish into thln
air.
The campaign in Wisconsin for a
successor to the late Senator La o.
lette is warming up. The natloIa4
interest in the coming election rests
in the fight between the progressives
and the Conservatives-the La Fol
lette people and the Coolidge-Lenroot-
Wilcox followers. But the whole
country will watch with great inter
est the campaign waged by BOB La
Toilette, ir., for the Republican nonl-
nation TO succeed his father. The peo-
pie want to Know how he measures
up in comparison with his father'
whether he has the political sagacltV
and the crusading fire or the eIder
La Toilette, or gives promise of doing
so. La Toilette, jr., is 81 years old
the age limit for eligibility as a Sen
ator. If elected he viii be the baby
of the Senate. But while he is young
in years, he is old in political expert
ence in Wisconsin, and has taken d
prominent part in his fathers more
recent campaigns. Indeed the senator
used to give him credit for managing
successfully his race for the Senate
in 1922. The interest in La Toilette s
candidacy is comparable, in a measure,
to the interest with which the cam
paign of Theodore Roosevelt, ir., for
the goyernorship of New York against
Gov. Smith was followed the country
over last year.
II seems to be pretty definitely set
tied that the race for the Republican
nomination will be three-cornered at
least, with La Toilette, jr., receiving
the support of the official Republican
organization-the La Toilette organi-
zation, and Roy P. Wilcox that of
the "stalwarts," headed by Senator
Lenroot, while former Gov. Nc
Govern, one-time La Toilette man and
later a Bull Mooser, seeks support
from both the other factions. Nc
Govern doubtless will receive some
of the progressive strength of the
State and also some of the anti-La
Toilette strength. The odds still favor
the nomination and election of Mr.. La
Toilette, however. One mistake which
the anti-La Toilette people seem to be
making is to include in their platform
an attack on the primary laws of
Wisconsin, for which Senator La Fol
lette battled years ago and to which
the State has given it's support time
orga rganization-which. it is declared, is
anxious to do all it can to help unseat
the La Toilette machine in the Badger
State-is hesitating a little to place
all it's eggs in one basket-the Wilcox
basket, when McGovern and his fol
lowers are so intent upon making
the race. If the administration comes
out in support of Wilcox and he loses,
then the administration receives an
other jolt in the Northwest, just
where it is anxious to make a good
showing.
Chairman William NJ. Butler of the
! Republican national committee is ex'
pected to start on his Western trip
soon after Labor day, according to re
! ports received here. He will go tC
| Chicago and there will hold confer
ences with many of the leaders in the
| Middle Western and Western States
! He may or may not visit Wisconsin
depending upon how wise 1t may ap
pear for the administration to mix ur
| in that row. Even if he does not &C
| to Wisconsin, he will keep in close
| touch with the campaign there.
Senator Butler, in addition to being
the Presidents right hand man and
! chairman of the Republican national
| committee, has become pretty much
| the whole thing so far as Republican
! politics in Massa chusetts is concerned
| Crane, Lodge, Mccall are all dead, and
John w. Weeks. Secretary of War and
| Republican national committeeman be
| fore that job was handed over tc
| Senator Butler, is taking less and less
part in State politics. Nevertheless
| Senator Butler, who comes up for re
| election next year. must knit closely
| together the Republicans of the Bay
| State, if he is to win against former
! Senator David I. Walsh, the probable
Democratic candidate. Senator But
| Ter was a Crane man in years gone by
and more recently he disgruntled
Lodge supporters by his treatment OF
the late Senator at the last Republic
an national convention.
| There is a growing feeling, however
| that Senator Buffers prospects are
| looking up. The Presidents evident
| dterminati ton to do everything possible