Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-09-04
LAFO[[ETTE'S GRIP
ISSUE IN WISCONSIN
StaIWarts' Slogan is" Smash
Madison Ring"-0ther Top
les Screen Real Goal.
Continued from First Page.)

Toilette progressives the fundamental
issue is the perpetuation of the La
Toilette principles of government,
which for want of a better name have
been called progressive. From the
point of view of the stalwartS the
fundamental issue is the smashing Of
the Madison ring. the La Toilette
orga nization, carrying with 1t the re-
turn to more conservative principles
Of government.
When Senator La Toilette died
something more than a year ago the
stalwarts thought they saw a chance
to win back control Of the Republican
organization in Wisconsin. They
hoped that the La Follett, organiza-
ton would crumble. that conflicting
ambitions of various La Toilette
lieutenants would crop up to aid in
the wreck of the old organization.
The first opportunity for trial of
strength came a year ago, when the
La Toilette progressives put forward
Robert NJ. La Toilette. jr.. as their
candidate for the Senate to fill out
the unexpired term of his father.
Young Bob, as he Is known to diStin-
guish him from the late Senator. aft
er vigorous campaign, won in a
walk. The stalwarts >inSisted this
was a mere sentimental victory, the
followers of the senior La Toilette
voting for the son out of respect to
his memory.
Second Test at Hand.
The second test is now at hand.
Not by the widest stretch of the
imagination will it be possible to at
tribute to sentimental reasons the
victory of Gov. Blaine over Senator
I.enroot or of Attorney General Ekern
over Secretary of state Zimmerman.
If they occur. such victories would be
notice that the people of Wisconsin
are still wed to the progressive prtn-
ciples of the senior La Toilette, and
could not be construed otherwise.
Normally the progressive vote In
Wisconsin is 60 per cent or more OF
the whole. 1t would seem inevitable,
therefore. that candidates opposed to
the La Toilette progressive candidates
would have to gather in a very con-
siderable number of progressive votes
IL they are to win; or else split the
progressive strength by having in the
field more than one progressive can
didate.
The anti-La Toilette candidates are
irving their best to win to themselves
Progressive votes. Senator Lenroot,
for example, asked the stalWart con-
vention not to indorse him. He did
not want the stalwart stamp, which
might hurt him in the race with
Blaine. He will get the stalwart votes
in any event. except those or men
who were angered because of his
MANAGEMENT of the campaign against
Young Bob last Fall, when at the in
stance of Lenroot, State Senator Will
cox was ditched in favor of Ditmar
| to make the race for the Senate. after
La Toilette had won the Republican
nomination.
Calls Himself Progressive.
Zimmerman is proclaiming himself
| a La Toilette Progressive in litera'
ture and posters. AS matter of
| fact he was selected by the late Sen
| Progressive ticket for secretary of
State. He proved a good vote getter
and won by the largest vote ever cast
| for q candidate in Wisconsin.
The hope of the stalwarts that the
La Toilette ProgressiveS would come
| to blows has been realized at least
| in the case of Zimmerman, who is
| fighting Ekern for governor. One of
| the House members. Representative
Schaffer. formerly a La Toilette man.
has come out for Zimmerman. Other.
wise the ranks are still intact.
The specific issues involved in the
present campaign include the wet and
| dry question. the World Court, farm
relief, the repeal of the Esch-Cum.
| Minis transportation act, the plan of
| taxation put into effect by the FRO.
| gressives. which the anti.La Toilette
leaders insist is driving big business
out of the State. the Mellon tax law
the Fordney-McCumber tariff act and
! the Madison ring.
The Madison ring, according to Len
root and Zimmerman, Is composed of
Senator La Toilette. Gov. Blaine,
Ekern and Phil La Toilette, second
son of the late Senator and at present
prosecuting attorney of Dane County.
The charge is that this coterie gets
together in a backroom in Madison
and decides who shall be candidate
for Office and who shall not, and what
the policies of the Progressive organi-
cation shall be-. They say this is
subversive of good government and
entirely opposed to the primary
method of selecting candidates for
which the late Senator La Toilette
stood.
Reply to Stalwarts.
The La Toilette Progressives reply
TO this charge that the stalwarts,
clinging to the old convention plan,
get together a handpicked convention
and select their candidates. They
point out that IL the La Toilette Pro-
gressives were foolish enough to enter