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

tAssociated Press Correspondent
MILWAUKEE, Sept. 27.-LPl-Ap-
pro1imately two month before i.
must write its decision with ballots
IN the presidential election, Wiscon-
sin. home Of LaFolletteism, is perch
ed on the fence.
Whether it will jump with Is cleo
toral votes into Mr.. Hoover's back
yard or smile on the standard bear
er Of democracy for the fourth time
IN history is 4 matter or conjecture.
Astute observers who have follow
ed the trend Of political thought ii
the Badger state for mary years
Say much Is dependent upon what
t~ranspires between now and Noye-m
her q.
Nominally u loyal republican
state, il has asserted its ~indeperd-
encc on two occasions in the past
two decades and the possibility that
u may again break away and vote
Tor Gov. Alfred +. Smith is causing
the Hoover camp considerable anx-
lety. The perturhance has been
shown BY no less a parsonage thar
"~AH%@ - 10Vus ME1tCLU EEHCFuIIA-
simo Of the Hoover forces who cx-
pressed dissatisfaction with the
situation in Wisconsin.
What the progressiyes will do, and
the effect of the liberal attitude of
Governor Smith on prohibition In !
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 II uncertain as TO where
Wisconsin, which voted for Harding
IN 1920 and Senator LaFollette. It's
native son, four years later, will be
round when the votes are counted
next November.
-Four years ago LaFollette carried
only one ate-Wisconsin-al although
NJ polied 100000 popular votes. He
banned 2 clear majority over Cooi-
ldge and Davis IN the Badger state.
he had 1868 to 1854 for Cool
Idge and 6s.115 Tor the democratic
nominee.
These 100000 votes are the roai
Of both parties in this campaign.
The attitude Of those voters who
followed Senator LaFollette and sup
ported his independent candidacy is
the axis upon which the fate OF
Hoover and Smith in the state turns.
Ihe attitude or 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 a. their utteranccs that is re-
~sponsible for democrats n~urturing i
nope Of victory that has been theirs
only three times In Is years.
The two senators have not said
positively that they will or will not
support Herbert Hoover but the
signs point 20 q continued reluctance
on their part 70 board the band
wagon and boost the republican
nominee.
Republicans in the Hoover camp
have expressed appreciation Of TIL
detrimental effect this attitude may
have on the candidacy Of the repub-
lican nominee. In their dual direc-
ton Of p progressives in Wiscon-
sin, LaFollette and Blaine. who
assumed the mantle Of leadership
with the death 81 the scrior SEN
ator, have shown they are dominant
factors although exercising less in-
fiuenee than did the late Bob La
Toilette.
Governor Fred r. Zimmerman. a
follower q the elder LaFollette who
~revolted from the leadership Of La.
Toilette and Blaine and defeated
Herman H. Ekern. whom they in-
dorsed- for governor. has swurg his
support to Mr.. Hoover.
There are several other angles TO
the situation in Wisconsin that must
lie considered in irving to fathom
what the progressives viii do. One
IS that as a faction. the progress
sives have hren a~n-aronistic 20 the
coolidge administration which NJ.
Hoover indorses. Progressivcs wars
q big factor IN the retirement ~
private life OF Sen. Irvine Lenroot
one OF the administration leaders
n the election Of Blaine. Then
too, they have been disnleascd WITH
the failure Of the republican ma
tional committee 10 recognize Ekern
and Miss Elizabeth Mccormick ~
members from Wisconsin. Thy
were elected by the prorrcssives who
controlled the delegation at Kansas
City but a contest developcd.
The only issue that looms in the
campaign in the Badger state a
prohibition. and some Of tho drvs
are inclined to minimize it, import-
ance. r. OF the reasons heirr that
this is a dairy state whose formers
have admittedly benefited from "
But both sides concede that il nil.
enter into the campaign III this state
which is classed as wet because Of
a referendum two wears aro. n \
light vote, the referendum urging
modification of tho Nolstead Act Al
permit the manufacture and sale "
beer Of an alcoholic content Of 2.75.
per cent for beverage purposes was
carried BY a 81 vote two vears
ago.
In the face Of the -fr--Nive and
prohibition agents to the campaign.
republicans are hopeful OF holding
Wisconsin in lire and al this time
would appear 70 have a better chance
than the democrats. This is partic-
ularly true IL the record Of the
past is TO be considered.
Lone Searcher Fails