Evening star., 1928-11-04
WISCONSIN HANGS
ON PROGRESS|VES
Political Boundaries Erased
by FaCtionaI Fights
in Campaign,
special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
MILWAUKEE,, Wis, November g.
Political lines have never commanded
much respect in Wisconsin, but even
the remnants of those boundaries are
being erased RS the present campaign
draws to a close in this State where
anything can happen in politics-and
usually does.
Trained by the elder La Toilette to
split ticket at command, Wisconsin
voters have thrown former allegiances
to the wind. Just how extensive the
political fence jumping has been can
only be told November Z, but the pre-
election display of such athletic prowesS
among factional leaders, from United
States Senators down, has made prog
noSticators dizzy.
In the forefront Of the Democratic
lines, is a Republican Senator, John j.
Blaine, and his Progressive Republican
Smith for President Club.
Leans to Smith.
Senator Robert NJ La Toilette, jr..
hereditary leader of the ProgresSives
and candidate for reelection on the
Republican ticket, has not outspokenly
Endorsed Smith, but has given sympa-
thetic support to the Smith drive by
thoroughly lambasting the Republican
administration and Mr.. Hoover, and
yet Senator Curtis, speaking in the
State. has urged support Of young Bob
The Blaine progressive Endorsement
has even been extended to a Demo-
cratic candidate for governor, since the
Republican nominee Is a conservative
and Hoover booster. Walter j. Koh-
Ter, wealthy manufacturer of plumbing
fixtures, but the rest of the Republican
ticket of State officers is progressive.
This means that the faithful progress
sive will be expected to vote for
Democratic President and Vice Presi-
dent, hop over to the Republican column
TO vote for La Toilette for Senator,
back to the Democratic column in
voting for governor, and then mark
the Republican column for the minor
State officers.
Gov. Zimmerman has presented an
other paradox in the campaign. He
was former La Toilette leader elected
by combination Of progressive and
conservative strength over progressive
Endorsed by the La Toilette family.
This year he was defeated in the Re-
publican primary, the stalwart Republi-
can winning and the La Toilette pro-
gressive leading Zimmerman by many
thousands. And yet the governor has
been campaigning outside the State for
Hoover since the primary.
The Democrats have never had more
than the shell of an organization re-
Gently in Wisconsin. but they are con-
f1dently expecting to carry the State.
Those men who are willing to put up
money on the outcome are betting at
odds of 10 to that Smith will carry
the State.
The Democrats can count on sub
stantial majority in lake shore counties
from Milwaukee north. Here German
stock predominant and the same Ger
man-AmericanS who were vociferously
Republican when Wilson policies and
the League of Nations were issues, are
grimly for Smith on the issue of beer
and against, Hoover because of his as
sociation with Wilson, About half
Lutherans. the religious issue does not
seem to have shaken the new align
ment.
Only in the southern tier of counties.
always safely Republican, can the
Hoover forces be sure of their ground
The great area north and west of Mil
waukee Is any mans land where Scan
dinavianS are counted upon to support
Hoover because of Smiths religion in
spite OF the fact that most of this
territory Is normally loyal to progress
sive leadership.
Farm Aid Is Problem.
Farm relief Is an issue in Wisconsin,
but no one can be sure whose issue it
is. The desirabiIity Of the McNary-
Haugen plan from the Wisconsin dairy
mans viewpoint is discounted by the
fact that large amounts of grain feed
are imported from Western States and
any increase in the price of corn, grain
or hay would be certain to handicap
the farm leaders who have declared for
Smith on the ground that the Republi-
can administration has turned a cold
shoulder on the farmers.
There is one other issue in Wisconsin,
but last in importance. Hoover is be-
ing cited as favorable to the immediate
development Of the st. Lawrence water
way, and Smith as opposed to the prof.
ect in favor of the New York route
Great things are promised to Wisconsin
when ocean freighters can tie up at it's
lake docks and the St. Lawrence plan
has enthusiastic backing from business
men in these lake shore cities But
these men are in the Hoover column on
other issues already, and it Is doubtful
that many votes have turned on that
point alone
The result seems TO turn on the desire
OF the La Toilette progressives for re-
venge. Their own candidate for gov
ernor beaten IN the primary by stall
Wart who threatens to become a candi-
date for United States Senator four
years from now against Blaine, they are
out TO wreck the patched-up Republican
machine in the State by leading a mi
grafton to the Democratic camp. If
they can bring with them most of the
4OOOO0 who voted for the elder La Fol-
Iette for President four years ago. Smith
VIII easily carry the State. But Blaine
has no such popularity, personal or po-
ntlcal, as the younger La Toilette, and
the extent Of the migration must still
be point for speculation.
JOHN G. BAKER.