The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-06-27
NEA Service Writer

SMdhhoOug hC otaiWoi 10
are marching once more to drive
the progressive LaFolletets fro. .
political. power in Wisconsin. .
1t looks. according to political
leaders on both sides IKE knock
down dragon fight. Income taxes
have been doubled in order to pay
for Governor Philip F. LaFollettc's
$6,500,000 unemployment rclief
program and most people with big
incomes are pretty sore.
The Stalwarts, as the conservn-
tive regular republicans are called
IN this state. will have large CAM.
paign chest.
Two big Fights
There are two fights of national
interest which will be concluded
In the Wisconsin republican pri-
maries of next September: :
Phil LaItollette, the idea1istic but
peppcry and practical 35-year old
son of "Old Bob" will be opposed
for denomination by formre Gov
ernor Walter J. Koi1ler, the mid
dle-aged millionaire manufacturer
of bathroom fixtures.
John B. Chappfe, the publisher
from Ashland, who apparently has
the blessing of the Hoover admin
fstration, Is going hammer and
|tongs after the seat Of u. s. Senator
John J. Blaine. a leader In the
LaFollette group.
The results, especially in the gov.
ernship fight where the contest rs
thought Hkciyto be closest, should
provide a rear test OF the wide
spread theory that American voters
are turning conservative rather
than toward the left.
Amusement Providers
A TAX revolt" Of uncertain pro-
portions, the attempts OF the con-
scrvatives to demonstrate that the
progrcssives are leading the state
straight toward communism and
charges that the University of Wis
consin here Is h "hotbed" of ra-
dicalism and atheism, have provid-
ed most of the entertainment to
date. &
Blaine seems, more likely to be
rcnomirated than young Phil. al
though many long range predic-
tons incline to favor both. LaFOl-
llette leaders say Phil's chief danger
Is that he Is an lin" at time
when voters are all mixed up. are
tending to have overheard their
present public officials and are
more than ever likely to vote their
emotions Sfli9 RI RI 4
They <say the use Of money al
ways creates an uncertain factor
and the wealthy class. distinctly
angry and frightened at what they
consider Pills socialistic theories
about redistribution OF wealth. IL
willing TO, pay heavily to see him
licked. They know Phil would like
to tax them 1still more.
What tho Struggle Means
| Thus the struggle becomes some
what suggestive of a struggle be-
| tween rich and poor. LaFollette
will have to depend or the low In
come and the no income groups to
save him from defeat" His theory
is that starvation must not be per-
mttted and that the incomes OF the
wealthy and well-to-do offer the
only place to get the money to pre-
went II. He has even called off the
county officials from sales of prop.
crty for delinquent taxes.
Wisconsin communities spent
about $4,000, 900 for relic, in 1880
and about $4,000, 900 in 1881, al. the
end o. which year Phil aLFollette
sent out a statewide questionnaire
asking estimates Of relief needs for
1892 He dcduccd that the sum re-
CURED would be about $l2,00O,000.
He reasoned that the total OF $23,-
00O, 900 should be raised entirely
from general property but could be
/ more justly taken through income
taxess, which towns and cities arc
not permitted to Impose.
He proposed 70 raise $4,000. 600
In that manner and. finally, after a
hard fight got the Legislatures to
pass a bill which voted $500, 1000
relief to be taken from income sur
tax.
An Ahguishcd Howl
Tax notices were sent out about
la month ago and an anguished
howl went up from all parts OF
Wisconsin. Mass meetings were
heidi, the LaFollettc crowd wal
denounced more bitterly than ever
and the Stalwarts girded them.
selves for a once-and-for-ali purg-
ing Of the state capital.
4 All through the state you hear
manufacturers and other men d
means cursing the LaFoilettes
The man who has been paying ar
income tax OF 3125 and now findi
himself forced to pay $3.50. witt
much heavier federal taxes ahead
Is In no pleasant frame of mind.
Charges by the stalwarts Of n
"orgy OF expense at Madison
and demands for abolition Of
"useful commissions and boards
fall on receptive ears.
But much Of the roar has come
from arficulate, more or less In
fluentinl men who are congenitni
Iiy ,anti-LaFoIletet anyway and