Evening star., 1932-08-01
LAFl.LETTE FIGHTS
TO HOLD WISCONSIN
No Corner of State Neglected
in BattIe-G. O. P. Can
didate on Offensive.

Special Dispatch tn The Star.
MILWAUKEE, Wis, August l (N.A
NA)-Along the countryside, hot and
dusty these days, and in the small cities
where folk sit under shade trees to
hear spellbinders, Wisconsin is having
another rough and tumble campaign.
Once again the La Toilette family,
sometimes called the royal family
and the La Toilette dynasty" is fight
ing to hold its political grip on this
State. It is fighting, too, with all the
showmanShip which was handed down
by the elder La Toilette, known as "Old
Bob" and Fighting Bob" whose sons
are dominating figures in public life
hereabouts.
Upon the death of the Senator in
1925, one of his young sons, Robert M,
was elected for his unexpired term in
the United States Senate and has since
been reelected, having made his mark
among the ProgreSSives in Washington.
Two years ago the other son, Philip
F., defeated Gov. Walter J. Kohler,
1acturer. who in this campaign is try
ing a comeback against La Toilette.
Blaine Seeks New Term.
Along with the 34-year-old Governor
another Progressive, Senator John j.
Blaine. is up for reelection and, if VIC
torious in the primary September 20,
these men will still face major con-
test in November. because the Demo-
Gratis, confident of RooSevelt'S popu-
larity in Wisconsin seemingly are on
the up grade, although they have not
elected a Governor in this State in
more than 40 years. Their last Win
Y1fn CnnpOn
Peck. who always wore a carnation in
his buttonhole and who wrote "Peck's
Bad Boy
This year the Democrats and So
cialists, who have given the La Follettes
substantial support in other primaries,
seem determined to fight within their
own rankS-the Socialists because the
depression is harvest tine for them po-
si fsv and dhanee tne to @in ora feif oM
account. The effect of this was dem
onstrated In the April election Of dele
gates to the Republican National Con-
vention, in which La Folletteites lost
control of Wisconsin's delegation for
the first time in % years.
Gov. La Toilette, with this shadow
across his trail, is travelling all over
Wisconsin in his Ford car, young fell
low in the front seat with him, and the
back seat piled high with luggage. No
village no little town is being over
looked in this crossroads campaign, so
like the campaigns of "Old Bob" who
never took anything for granted even
when he was at the peak of his power.
In the Summer heat the young Gov
ernor often abandons decorated band
stands to speak from front porcheS. his
coatlesS and hatleSS audience seated on
the lawn.
Maps Before Night Talks.
Politics is his business. He dresses
for comfort-light clothes and soft,
turned-down collars. AS he travels
through clouds of dust he drinks fruit
Juices from a thermoS bottle to soothe
his throat. He eats plenty of sugar,
because, he says, there is concentrated
strength in sugar. He eats Sparingly
even of light foods He never misses a
shower bath when there is chance to
get one He maps before every night
meeting and he know how to decline
the late-hour hospitality of friends.
The Governor is slender, good looking
and gifted in oratory. His finely de-
veloped voice never falters under the
strain of strenuous campaigning. ne
ciramatizes everything. The man on
his left becomes farmer and the man
on his right becomes small manu1ac-
turer or small business man. He calls
them by their first names and slaps
them on the shoulder as he tells his
story. These men have goods to ex-
change, he explains, but the trouble IS
they lack purchasing power, and back
of that the trouble is the concentra-
ton Of wealth in this country, which
brings him to the heart of his political
and economic philosophy-the diStribu-
ton of wealth.
He pokes fun at President Hoover,
who as the food administrator during
the World War told you housewives
how to make bread out of sawdust."
Ownership of Utilities.
On the public ownership of utilities,
which he advocates, he says to audi
ence after audience:
"You 90 into the kitchen and turn
on the faucet and out comes water
from a publicly owned water plant.
That's ell right. You go into the par
lor, press a button and you get light
from a privately-owned utility. When
we progressives advocate publicly
owned light utilities, so you will get
cheaper rates. stalwarts call US radi-'
Gals. Public ownership is all right in
the kitchen, but all wrong in the
parlor"
He stops at no emotional appeal.
He arouSes old feelings. He goes back
to World War days when super
patriots" he says, painted barns yell
low and forced citizens of German
descent to kiss the American flag in
the presence of their neighbors. 1t is
not always the issues of the day he
discusses-sometimes it is merely un-
usual shoWmanship.
At the conclusion of his night speech,
loo nlC
his audience profusely for coming out
and remaining so long. In farewell he
raises his hands ever his head, and
toSses handshakes to the crowd.
G. O. p. Candidate Active.
Wisconsin has developed another
political performer in John B. Chapp.e,
32-year-old editor of the Ashland Press,
who is Senator Blaine's Republican OPP
ponent Chapple stormed about the
State charging Communism, Atheism
and somewhat loose morals at the UNI
versity of Wisconsin and before any one
thought much about him or what he
was saying he went into a conVentlon
CT Republican regulars in Madison and
got himself Endorsed as candidate,
bowling over some dignifled gentlemen
who thought they knew a thing or TWO
about politics.
Young Mr.. Chapp,e is tall, handsome,
college bred and a bear for work. He
is touring the State in a secondhand
automobile, sleeping and cooking his
meals in tourists camps because ne Is
short CT money. He carries MS sleep
ing tent on the top of his car. He talks
to audiences wherever he can get them,
on street corners in halls or out in some
park. Recently he stood on the sun
baked steps of the Capitol in Madison,
under the windows of the Governors
Office, and defied Progressives to come
out and answer the 20 questions he hred
at them with his booming voice, Dut
thev kent ,.,lt of bic may He has chal-