Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-04-03
The Political Mill
By G. Could Lincoln.

SbdN Clld1 AC GANo~ASAAN
ceived much of his early education
there. Mr.. Metchan, who is now in
Washington, has no hesitation what.
ever In saying that Mr.. Hoover could
carry Oregon tomorrow II there were
presidential election at hand. He also
looks on the denomination OF Senator
McNary and the reelection of the senior
Senator from oregon as assured 1actS.
The people Of the State, he says, are
we'll satisfied with the course Senator NC
Nary has followed in connection Win
the tariff bill. His work in the interest
of a duty on lumber is known through
out the State. And II there is one thing
Oregonians are interested In just now,
1t is that same duty on lumber. They
are hoping that the Senate amendment
to the tariff bill providing such a duty
will prevail in conference.
Business conditions in Portland, Mr..
Metchan'S home, are better tnan tney
were a wear ago, he says. There is no
great unemployment throughout the
State and agriculture Is looking up.
Mr.. Metchan is not afraid Of the Demo-
cratic opposition In his State this year.
4 X \ \
If phil" La Toilette gets in the race
for governor this year, 1t will be because
of a demand made by the rank and file
of the La Toilette Progressive Repub-.
licans of Wisconsin. The question OF
whether the younger La Toilette should
run for governor is being considered by
the Progressive Republicans in State
senatorial district conferences. About
half of the senatorial districts have
taken the matter up and have given
their heartiest Endorsement OF the pro-
posal to run La Follette for governor
Apparently there is a real demand for
the candidacy Of La Toilette for Chief
executive of the State, and when all the
senatorial districts have been heard
from, it is expected that Phil La Fol-
lette will announce his candidacy.
Walter j. Kohler, present governor
and "bathtub king" is expected to be
a candidate to succeed himself. He has
the Job of defending himself In the
courts still against charges of having
violated the State election laws in the
last campaign. It Is probable, however,
that the "stalwart" Republicans, as the
regular faction is called in Wisconsin,
will line up solidly back of the gov
ernor and make of the coming contest
real race.
Phil La Toilette is the younger son
of the late Senator Robert M. La Fol-
lette and brother of the present Sena-
tor Bob" La Toilette. He is 80 years
old, which is just three years older than
was his brother Bob" when the latter
became Senator five years ago. The
youthful age Of the Senator, however,
proved no handicap and he has become
a real power in the Senate today.
Furthermore, Senator La Toilette has
won the respect and affection Of the
people of his State and he IS regarded
as unbeatable there now. If Phil La
Toilette wins the gubernatorial nomina-
ton in the Republican primary. which
takes place in Wisconsin in September,
the Republican Progressives feel GER
tain that he will be elected governor.
In that event the La Toilette Progress
sive group will occupy an even stronger
position in the State than they did
under the leadership Of the senior La
Toilette. Senator Blaine, now Senator
Toilette Progressive group. With two
United States Senators and governor,
probably backed up by the State Legis-
lature, the ProgressiveS would be in a
commanding position indeed.
The younger La Toilette has been in
politics for years. despite his youth.
He is an orator. lawyer and at one
time held the ONCE of prosecuting at
torney Of Dane County, the first public
office held by his distinguished father.
The governorship is an Office Of extreme
importance to any political faction in
any State. There are thousands of
Offices under the State government, and
It makes a considerable difference who
has the dispensing of this patronage"
X X X 4
On Tuesday the stage will have been
finally set for the Republican sena-
torial and gubernatorial primaries ir
Pennsylvania, If they are not. indeed
already set. Monday is the last day
for withdrawing names from the con-
tests. There are still those followers
of politics in the Keystone State who
insist that deal" will be effected al
the last moment which will iron out the
troubles which have arisen among the
Republicans there. But the chances OF
such a deal now seem extra ordinarily
dim. Senator Grundy, for example. is
apparently set for the contest for the
senatorial nomination, and so is Secre-
tary Davis of the Department Of Labor
1t promises to be a real battle, though
from the present outlook, the situation
favors Davis.
X n n
Organized labor through the leaders
of the State federation, have gone or
of Senator Grundy. This might have
been expected. Grundy has for years
been opposed, according to the labor
people, to the interests Of the workers
Here is what the statement of the labor
people. issued last night, had to say
about him:
Senator Joseph r. Grundy was unan-
imouSly condemned by the conference
and his defeat was recommended to the
voters Of the State because Of his out.
standing and consistent record of OPP
position to labor and humanitarian leg
islation."
The decision to oppose Grundy was
the only action taken by the labor lead.
ers. They are withholding Endorsement
of candidates until after they have hao
an opportunity to reply to question,
naires on labor legislation which viii
be sent to them. There seems little
doubt that labor will back up Mr.. Davis
in the coming senatorial race. The only
question is whether labor will give its
support to Davis running mate, Francis
Skunk Brown, seeking the gubernatoria
nomination in opposition to former Gov
Clifford Pinchot, who has been consid-
cred friend to labor.
y y + y
Incidentally, 1t looks more and more
as though Grundy and Pinchot were
being forced into the same camp IN this
primary campaign, although they have
stood for Numerically opposite things
in the past. Thomas Raeburn White
chairman of the Republican League ane
Committee of Seventy, has come out
with an Endorsement of Grundy for the
Senate and Pinchot for governor. Pin
chot is attacking the Philadelphia or
canization. headed by Ware, and so !:
Grundy. Ware Is supporting Brown anc
Davis. Mr.. Grundy has turned his gun:
on Gen. Atterbury, president of the
Pennsylvania Railroad and Republican
national committeeman for Pennsylva'
mia, charging that Gen. Atterbury anc
the Philadelphia organization are en-
gagged in a conspiracy to loot the State
How far Mr.. Grundy's attacks are likely
to carry him remains to be seen. With