Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-31
WISCONSIN NEARS
PARTY WAR CLIMAX
Large Campaign Expendi-
lures Laid to KohIer Slated
for Court Airing.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

10 QeClQS WI1ebI1GT BOVcIIlUT cum pt
ousted from office for excessive use OF
money In a primary.
The originator Of the Statewide direct
primary system, Wisconsin has q cor
rupt practice act--With teeth in it
that places q severe curb on campaign
funds. The act provides in expires:
terms for removal Of any officer vto-
lating the statute In either the primary
or the election campaigns.
Under this law Attorney Genera
John w. Reynolds has named two spe-
cial prosecutors, Walter d. Corrigan Of
Milwaukee and Harold M. Wilkie Of
Madison, and directed them TO proceed
at once with a quo warranto suit
against Gov. Walter J. Kohler. The
principal charge in the complaint al
leges that Gov. Kohler spent 100000
in excess of the $4,000 limit to gain his
nomination September 4.
Similar to Senatorial Battles.
This case will go to trial before May
before judge and jury In the Circuit
Court unless the Supreme Court voids
demurrer Gov. Kohler already has
retained counsel, and a pitched battle
in the Wisconsin courts this Spring il
in prospect.
The case, according TO Gov. Kohler's
opponents, raises an issue Strikingly
similar to that involved in the Senate
Investigations of the Michigan primary
of 1918 and the Illinois and Pennsyl-
vania primaries of 1925. Senators New
berry Smith and Ware all had conceded
majorities in The elections, but were
challenged on the ground that excessive
use Of money In the primaries had
made them ineligible to serve in the
Senate
Events eliminating in the suit have
brought into direct conflict Senator
Robert M. La Toilette, jr., and Gov
Kohler, both young men. holding Their
first elective Offices. but leaders of rival
Republican factions at odds with each
other on all important State and ma
tional issues.
Governor Is Industrial Leader.
They are a study in contrasts. young
Bob" derived political power from the
elder La Toilette, and at 80 years OF
age stepped into his seat in the Senate
Gov. Kohler inherited q factory and q
fortune, and in his 40s is one of the
most energetic and successful industrial
leaders OF this prosperous State. These
two young men have been in collision
since the presidential primary in Wis
conSin year ago, when La Toilette lee
the balloting on the slate Of delegate.
instructed for Senator Norris of Ne.
braska.
Making his first appearance in poll.
tics, Kohler ran far in the lead on thu
conservative slate. When Young Bob
made his dramatic stand at the Kansa.
City convention, Kohler headed q re.
volt IL the delegation for the maiorit,
report. He returned home to announce
his candidacy for governor as a sup.
! porter OF the Hoover Curtis ticket anc
platform. and at once became the hopl
OF conservatives who have fought sine.
1900 to unhorse the La Toilette leader.
ship.
Beck Opposes Kohler.
Representative Joe Beck, a farmer
who had served eight years in Congress
opposed Kohler in the primary with tn,
backing of Senators La Toilette ant
Blaine. The "Progressives" captured tn,
nominations for all Offices save gov
ernor. Kohler noSing out Beck by
plurality of $1,000.
AS result Of this bitterly contested
campaign, the highest officers of tn,
State and the leaders Of both faction.
have since been involved in a maze O
sensational charges spread upon tn,
records of the courts
Under popularity Of Wisconsin law
any taxpayer may petition for an in
curry into alleged violations of the cor
rupt practices act. Two such investiga
tons have been ordered by Superior
Court Judge s. B. Schein, naming Dan
lei H. Grady, Progressive" to in
vestigate the Kohler campaign, ant
p a~kn .,.1t l.
the campaign conducted by the oppos
Ing slate.
Bitterness at High Pitch.
The reports filed by these special dis
tr1ct attorneys in Dane County hav,
been loaded with political dynamite an,
the normal bitterness between the two
factions has been raised to a high
pitch.
The suit against Gov. Kohler is base,
upon the report filed by Special Dis
trict Attorney Grady This report al.
legged that the Kohler campaign cos
"a sum far in excess of 800 900" ant
produced reports of expenditures b,
Kohler for Governor committee
amounting to $105,000. This repor
also dealt with a meeting held at tn
governors Office at the outset of tn
campaign at which it alleges the driv
for the nomination was planned. Thi
recital is based on testimony given b,
the governor and his managers an,
never has been made public by tn
court.
"At this meeting" the report states
"a discussion took place as to the prob
able cost of the campaign. Mr.. Kohle
suggested that 1t ought to be conductet
for $25 900, but he was most emphatic
ally advised by the chairman and tn
secretary selected at this meeting tina
the campaign outlined in his behal
admits that he placed no limit upon tn
amount that should be expended by tn
campaign committees"
Charges Business Books Altered.
The Grady report further alleged tina
free meals and entertainment were pro
vided visitors TO Kohler's home, tina
large expenditures were made from tn
funds of the corporation Of which he
president, and that books of account
were altered to conceal such expendi
lures in violation of law.
Judge Schein gave an oral opinion
abSolving the Kohler managers from
any willful violation of law in Dan
| County, but on GradyS recommends
ton fled the report with the attorne
general for prosecution of any offense
shown In the State at large. Five o
the Progressive" leaders, including
Philip La Toilette, younger brother o
the Senator, thereupon filed the re
quired complaint with the attorne,
Shortly thereafter, Special Distric
Attorney Barry brought In report o.
the Progressive" campaign, sizzlin
with charges of sinful and crimina
violation OF the corrupt practices act"
The report alleged violation of tn
| act Gin more than 100 separate cases.
It included an estimate that the ma
| tional railroad labor brotherhoods ha,
spent s102,O 900 in Wisconsin for tn
Progressive candidates and that tn
latter had pooled and expended an ad
ditional $4,000. Barry recommends
criminal prosecution Of Attorney Gen
/ akov ~ Ia. IN