Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-09-27
WISCONSIN IS
ON FENCE IN
COMING RACE
Wets and LaFollette
Attitude Factors;
State Is NominaIly
Republican
By DONALD G BoLLEs

ASSOCIATED Press Correspondent
MILWAUKEE, Sept. 27.-iFl-Ap-
proximately two months before i.
must write its decision with ballots
in the presidential election, Wiscon-
sin. home Of LaFolIettcism, Is perch
ed on the fence.
Whether it will jump with l3 cleo
toral votes into Mr.. Hoover's back
yard or smile on the standard bear
or Of democracy for the fourth time
IN history is a matter OF conjecture.
AStute observers who have follow
ed the trend Of political thought in
the Badger state for mary years
say much is dependent upon what
transpirez between now and Nove-m
Der @.
NominaIIy a loyal republican
state, IL has asserted its indeperd-
ence on two occasions in the past
= two decades and the possibility that
II may again break away and vote
Tor Gov. Alfred +. Smith is causing
the Hoover camp considerable anx-
iety. The pe~rtnrbance has been
shown by no less a parsonage than
James ". Good. western generals
simo Of the Hoover forces who ex-
pressed dissatisfaction with the
situation IN Wisconsin.
What the progrcssives Rill "a. and
the effect Of the liberal attitude Of
Governor Smith on prohibition in 4
state classed as wet, are the fac
tors causing worry in the republican
camp.
Political leaders generally admit
that they are the only two factors
that make il uncertain rs To where
wisconsin. which voted for Harding
IN 1920 and Senator LaFoliette. its
native son, four years later. will be
found when the votes are counted
next November.
-Four years ago LaFoilette carried
only n state-Wisconsin-althourh
he polled 4.S0O.0O0 popular votes. lie
hSined a clear majority over Coot-
q Z and Davis in the Badger state.
ne had 453.6Ts to 81 GA for Cool
idge and 6s.ll5 for the democratic
nominee.
These $4,000 votes are the goal
OF both parties in this campaign.
The attitude of those voters who
followed Senator LaFoilette and sup
ported his independent candidacy IA
the axis upon which the fate III
Hoover and Smith in the state turns.
The attitude Of the states two
senators. young Bob LaFollette and
his colleague, John J.. Blaine, three
times governor Of Wisconsin, has
made the democrats hopeful. II has
been as much what they have not
said rs their u~tterances thst IS re-
sponsible for democrats nurturing 4
nope OF victory that has been theirs
only three times in IS years.
p two senator's have not said
positively that they will or will not
support Herbert Hoover but the
signs point 70 a continued reluctance
on their part TO board the band
Wagon and boost the republican
nominee.
Republicans in the Hoover camn
have expressed appreciation Of thu
detrimental effect this attitude may
have on the candidacy Of the repub-
lican nominee. In their dual direc-
ton Of the progressiveS in Wiscon-
sin, LaFollotte and Blaine. who
assumed the mantle of leadership
With the death az the senior sen-
ator, have shown they are dominant
factors although exercising less ir.
fluence than did the late Bob La
Toilette.
Governor Fred r. Zimmerman. a
follower Of the elder LaFollctte who
revolted from the leadership 81 La.
Toilette and Blaine ana defeated
Herman l.. Ekern. whom they I'M
dorsed. for governor. has swung his
support 20 Mr.. Hoover.
There are several other ANGLES 70
the situation in Wisconsin that mus.
be considered in irving N fathom
what the progrcssives will ~. orr
IS that as a faction. the progres-
sives have been a~n.agonistic 10 the
Coolidge administration which NJ
Hoover irdorses. Progressivcs uara
a big factor in the retirement AZ
private life Of Sen. Irvine Ienront
one Of the administration leaders
and the election 81 Blaine. Ther
tco, they have been dispieased vith
the failure OF the republican ma
tional committee 70 recognize Fkern
and Miss Elizabeth Mccormick NJ
members from Wisconsin. TIL VI
were elected ~ the progressive vbn
controlled the delegation az Kan~rs
Citv but a contest developed.
The only issue that looms In the
campaign in the Badger state 1.
prohibition. and some or the dry
are inclined to minimize its import-
ance. one of the reasons heirr that
this IS a dairy state whose farmers
have admittedly benefited from n
But both sides concede that II will
enter into the campaign in this state
which IL classed as wet because NJ
a referendum two wears ago. n NJ
light vote. the referendum urvinr
modification Of tho Volstead Act ~
permit the manufacture and sale Of
beer Of an alcoholic content Of a-s
per cent for beverage purposes was
carried by a Oh vote two Years
ago.
IN the face ar the ~frs-N NJ and
prohibition agents to the campaign.
republicans are hopcful Of holding
Wisconsin in lire and az this time
would appear to have a better chance
than the democrats. This is partic-
ularly true il the record Of the
past is 20 be considered.
Lone Searcher Fails