Evening star., 1928-10-18
PROGRESS|VESHOLD
EDGE IN WISCONSIN
Blaine Forces Active for
Smith-La Toilette Re-
mains Silent.
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN,
staff Correspondent of The Star.

MADISON, Wis, October l8.-Pro-
Smith Republican Progressives are play
ing hob with the Hoover ticket in the
Badger State. If it we're not for this
Progressive support of AL Smith, the
Democratic national ticket would not
stand a ghost of show in Wisconsin
There have not been enough old-line
Democrats in the State in recent years
to make dent in politics. 1t has been
a fight between the La Toilette Pro-
! gressives and the stalwart Republicans
But both the La Toilette Progressives
and the Republicans have claimed to be
the Simon pure Republican article.
Four years ago the La Toilette Pro-
gressives carried the State for the late
Senator Robert M La Toilette by 74,000
votes over the combined vote for Presi-
dent Coolidge and John w. Davis, DEM
ocrat. The Davis vote. by the way. was
only $4,000.
And now the Democratic tail proposes
to wag the political dog, with the aid
of the Progressive Republicans.
Anti-Hoover Group Active.
A huge sign bearing the scrool. "Al
Smith for President Progressive Repub-
licans," adorns the headquarters of the
Progressive outfit, which is seeking the
downfall of the Hoover ticket here. This
pro-Smith, anti-Hoover organization is
working like mad. 1t has plenty of
funds and scores of workers. 1t is send
ing out literature by the ton to all the
old La Toilette ProgreSsives. And it is
undertaking to convey the impression
that it is the whole, complete and
original La Toilette Progressive party
in the State. 1t has issued pamphlets
seeking to sell Smith to the Progressive
voters as kind of reincarnated Robert
Marion La Toilette.
The pamphlet purports to tell why
Americas first Progressive State will
vote to elect Americas first Progressive
President" Quite mouthful further
it says, Gov. Smith has stood for the
same progressive legislation that eight
ing Bob La Toilette lived and died for. ;"
The organization is about to put out
new pamphlets hooking up Senator
Robert M La Toilette, jr., with the
Smith program, too, using the Pro-
gressive platform which Bob La Toilette
the younger carried to Kansas City last
June, and excerpts from Gov. Smiths
speeches-his personal platform So
called-to show that they are In entire
harmony.
Represents Blaine Following.
Now, as a matter of fact. the AL
Smith Progressive Republican organiza-
ton does not represent all the old
La Toilette Progressives. 1t does rep
resent the following of Senator Blaine,
a La Toilette Progressive, who has come
out f1atfootedly for the election OF
Smith, and it does represent lot OF
other Progressives. but not all the
La Toilette Progressives. I have talked
to some quite important ProgresSives
whom it does not represent.
Furthermore, Senator Robert M. La
Toilette, ir., the Republican nominee
for the Senate to succeed himself, has
made no announcement for Smith, and
what is more, unless some ca his closest
friends are sadly mistaken, he is not
going to make any such announcement.
Senator La Toilette is saying nothing
for Smith or for Hoover. He has not
closed the door to declaration on the
presidential contest, it is true, but those
who should know say they do not ex-
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