Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-10-17
EYES KEPT ON 1928
IN WISCONSIN RACE
Future of ola Toilette Dy-
nasty" InvoIved-Some Ex-
pect Ultimate Overthrow.
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
MILWAUKEE,, Wis, October 10
Stakes far higher than 1926 senatorial
and gubernatorial victories are being
played for in the seemingly apathetlc
Wisconsin campaign. They involve
the future of the La Toilette dy-
nasty" On the surface of things. the
power bequeathed to his family by the
late progressive chieftain is still
theirs, to have and to hold Actually,
it rests on a foundation of sand. In
the opinion of keen observers, it will
slip from the "dynasty's" control not
later than two years hence.
Two formerly rockribbed, thick
and-thin supporters of old-time La
Folletteisln threaten the family'S grip
on its ancestral political fortunes.
One Is Gov. John j. Blaine, who de-
feated Senator LanrOot for ren0m-
ination a month ago. The other is
Secretary of State Fred r. thinner
mann, who overwhelmed Attorney
General Herman l.. Ekern for the gu
bernatorial nomination. Both Blaine
and Ekern carried the La Toilette
dynasty's" colors. But, by the irony
of fate, the one of them whose victory
was far the more ardently desired
Ekern-was beaten. while the one
whose overthrow was preferred
Blaine-was victorious.
Both Skillful Politicians.
Both Blaine and Zimmerman are
men of inordinate ambition and skill
full politicians. No one who knows
them and their aspirations, expects
either to tolerate the leadership of
Senator Young Bob" La Toilette, IF
his gifted younger brother Phil. or of
the Widow La Toilette, who is sill a
factor to be reckoned with. Elaine
and Zimmerman, barring q esholly
unexpected upset, will be elected on
November 2. From that hour on
Wisconsin looks for a battle to the
finish for the commanderShip-in chief
Of what is left of Wisconsin progress
siveism. 1t will be, on the one hand,
a fight between Blaine and thinner
mann-the one, Senator; the other,
governor-and on the other hand, a
three-cornered contest for supremacy
with Young Bob" La Toilette.
Wisconsin at this hour gives little
or no indication Of the impending
clash. But that it is coming is not
doubted by any man acquainted with
the inside workings of Wisconsin's
muddled politics. The prediction al
ready Is freely haZarded that If Young
Bob" La Toilette wants to be renom-
mated in 1928 he will have as tough a
job Of it as Irvine l.. Lenroot recently
had. Gov. Zimmerman, as he then
will be, is accounted thus early in the
game certain rival for the La Fol-
1ette seat. With q powerful State or
ganization under his control, as potent
as the one which just landed Gov.
Blaine in the senatorial nomination,
Zimmerman will be foe worthy Of
La Follette's steel.
Independent Stirs Interest.
Meantime interest in the Wisconsin
senatorial campaign. which subsided
with the primary, has revived with
the sudden advent of an independent
Republican progressive candidate. He
retoices In the name of Charles Oar
win Rosa. He hopes to become the
missing link in the chain real pro-
gressives" are forging for the purpose
of throttling 'the Madison ring
A Beloit lawyer and Judge, Rosa re-
signed from the Wisconsin State Tax
Commission in order to file for the
senatorial nomination against Blaine
after the September primary. Rosa
denies Blaine's right to progressive
leadership, just as Zimmerman does.
He has certain elements of strength,
but nobody in Wisconsin expects Rosa
to come within 5000 or 100 600 of
beating Blaine. He entered the lists
late, has just been forced off the plat
form by a motor accident and is work
ing with a happy go-lucky organiza
ton. Yet Judge Rosa has the active
support of Gubernatorial Candidate
Zimmerman, the tacit backing of
Senator Lenroot and his friends and
the good wishes of hosts of stalwart
Republicans who shy at accepting
Gov. Blaine as the party's regular"
nominee.
Rosa points to Blaines narrow
escape from defeat by Lenroot, who
ran only $4,000 votes behind in the
primary. He also recalls that in every
one of Blaine's campaigns since he
entered State politics, five years ago,
both his primary and election major
tiles have successfully sunk. From
these circumstances Judge Rosa de-
duces that Blaine is in a consistent
Statewide slump. and can be sent all
the way down the toboggan If real
ProgressiveS'' and stalwart Republi-
cans Of Wisconsin do their duty on
November ..
Blaine Likely to Win.
Against these Rosa and Roseate
views looms the ironical situation that
Wisconsin is a solid Republican State
SO solid that no Democratic party
worthy Of the name IS any longer dis.
coverable Blaine has won the G.. o.
r, nomination. Only a tidal wave can
submerge him. No such freak of po-
litical nature is prognosticated by sea
soned forecasterS.
In their anxiety to destroy thinner
mann for governor. the Blalne-La Fol
lette leaders have just sprung ku
Elux Khan sensation. They claim to
he in possession Of documentary evil
dence that Zimmerman is a hooded
knight and hand-inglove with kluX-
ism. The object is 10 ALLEVIATE from
him the immense German ana irish
catholic vote of Wisconsin,. Zlmmer-
mann denies in categorical fashion
that he has any sympathy win the
ku kluX Khan. He says the charge
ia delicious, and rests purely on MS
chance dismissal of an alleGedly IN
rompetent Roman Catholic oinclal
Zimmerman declares that Blaine,
Ekern and Young Bob" La Toilette
ali have done things that could quite
as iustifiably attach pro-klan record
10 them. although all the world knows
none of them is klansman.
The Indiana ku kluX kian scan
dals are attracting wide attention IN
Wisconsin. If they become as sensa,
tional as threatened the effects wouio
snread into this State. Coupled WIFI
The hammering to which Zimmer-
mann is now TO be subjected, despite