Evening star., 1925-08-14
WISCONSIN CHOICE
BACKED BY c. 0. P.
Badger State Senate Race
Seen as Test of Coolidge
Strength in West.

The selection Of Roy r Wilcox. to
make the race Tor the Republican
nomination for Senator TO succeed the
late Senator La Toilette at ConNen-
lion of regular" Republicans in Osh-
kosh yesterday was regarded here TO-
day as the first definite Sten in ''''
effort 10 overthrow the La Toilette or
SantZation, which las held contro. ~
The State for the last quarter OF q cen
tury Mr. Wilcox viii enter the prl-
maries for the senatorial nomination
against Robert La Toilette, ir.. who
has already announced his candidacy
for the Senate. The Republican ma
tionaI orga uiZation, it is declared. Is
ready 10 throw its whole strength into
the fight on the side Of the regular
candidate.
The coutes, i'm Wisconsin IS COnSld-
cred here as a crucial test which Will
Indicate whether President Coolidge in
reality captured the insurgent North
west during his trip 10 81. Paul sew
eral weeks ago, or whether the agrl-
cultural unrest and prUEreSSlVlSm IN
that section threaten Republican con
trol Of the Congress to be elected next
year.
Hope to End La Follettism.
If La Toilette is defeated in the
coming contest. body blow will have
been struck the organization which
the senior "a Toilette built up dur
ing more than 80 years of effort Fur
thermore, victory on the part of the
regulars will give additional hope tor
success in the race which Senator
I.enroot must make for reelection
next year and will lessen the chances
Of Gov. Blaine. La Toilette man. who
is expected 10 oppose Lenroot for the
senatorial nomination
on the other hand. a victory for
La Toilette will give the progressive
organization an opportunity 10 reform
its lines and prepare for continued
control of the States affairs.
II remains 10 he seen whether the
stalwarts will stick together closely
i'm this effort To unSeat the La Fol
Iette organization. Former Gov. Nc
Govern. at one time a La Toilette
supporter and at another a Bull
MOOSer. announced his candidacy for
the senatorial nomination some time
ago and declared he would make the
race no matter what the convention
al Oshkosh decided. If he persists in
this course the political waters will
be still further stirred.
Senator Lenroot . leader OF the
regular faction of the Republican
party in the State, and one of the
sponsors Of the convention which Sc
iected Wilcox, in an address TO the
convention urged the need of sending
10 Washington a Senator who will
support the Coolidge adpinistration.
He attacked the La Toilette organize
tlon and its control of the statehouse.
Have La Toilette Habit.
The voters Of Wisconsin, however
have been in the habit of supporting
La Toilette for so many years and
the La Toilette organization is still
SO strong that the appeal for the
nomination of a regular rather than
the younger La Toilette may have
little effect on the outcome of the pri-
marieS. which probably will take place
September -.
The regular Republican organiza-
ton-both national and State-is
making plans for an intensive cam
paign to win the nomination. and the
progresSiVes are just as determined
Young La Toilette already has launch
ed his campaign and will stump the
State, aided by Senator Norris OF
Nebraska, and Senators Shipstead.
Frazier and Wheeler He will have
the assistance of Gov. Blaine, too. and
of the lnsurgent Republican members
Of the House. among them John NJ
Nelson, who managed the La Toilette
forPreSident campaign last year
Chairman William NJ. Butler of the
Republican national committee will
visit Wisconsin in his swing through
the West before the primaries are
held. il is understood, and already
plans have been made to throw into
the state some of the regular" spell
binders. At meeting in Milwaukee
September II it is planned to have
Senator Watson of Indiana, Senator
Deneen of Illinois and Representative
Nicholas LongWorth of Ohio, Speaker
or the next House, as the principal
speakers.
Democrats See Chance.
The Democrats are interested in the
Wisconsin race, believing that if they
can take advantage of the contest be
tween the prOgressives and the regu-
lars they may elect a Democrat to the
Senate from Wisconsin, as they did in
the case Of Senator Paul HustinC a
number Of years ago. Chairman Viii
nam a. Oldtield Of the Democratic ma
t!onAl congressional committee will be
IN Milwaukee September il to urge
the Democrats to turn out at the eIec.
tion which probably will he held early
IN October. Mr.. Oldfeld who left here
Yesterday for months trip through
me West, pointed out that in the
Guhernatorial election last wear the
democratic nominee pOlled more votes
than did Calvin Coolidge for President
on the same day IN Wisconsin.