Evening star., 1936-10-04
Republicans Think Simple
Mathematics Fail to In
cIude Several Factors.
LA Toilette STIRS
WRATH OF DEMOCRATS
Traditional G. 0. P. Strength Is
Greater Than in Half Dozen
Years, Observers Say.
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN,
Staff Correspondent of The Star.

Wisconsin's IL electoral votes to Pres
ident Roosevelt. 1t looks to them to
be as simple as two and two make
four. Take the La Toilette Progressives,
the dominant political group in the
State and add them to the Democrats.
Together they swamp the Republicans.
Quod est demunstrandum.
Some Of the politicians, particularly
the Republicans, say that the
mathematicians have overlooked sew
eral factors in making their Roosevelt
computation. And even some of the
and Democrats admit
privately the problem is not quite
so simple as 1t seems on the surface.
Another formula Is put forward.
The basis is the solid Republican
strength, which appears to be greater
in Wisconsin than it has been for
half a dozen years. To the Re
publicans are added the disgruntled
Democrats, of whom there are very
considerable number in this State.
and the La Toilette ProgresSives. who
follow the La Follettes joyfully in
their own campaigns for office but
who resent being turned over like
so many pawns to President Roose-
welt. The result. the supporters Of
this formula insist. makes the State
a very close political battle ground.
Lemke and Socialist Factors.
Still another factor must be taken
into consideration, the Lemke-for-
President support in Wisconsin. Nor
can Mr.. Roosevelt look with any great
degree of comfort toward the Mil
waukee Socialists. They have their
own presidential candidate, Norman
Thomas. The brothers La Toilette are
out in the State trying to persuade
the radicals who are inclined to sup
port Lemke that they will be merely
throwing away their votes in the
presidential race unless they turn in
for Roosevelt. And there is some
reason to believe that the Lemke
threat in this State is subsiding.
However, the North Dakotan is likely
to get a crop of votes here in Wis
consin and most of them will come
from men and women who would
otherwise be found voting for Roose-
welt.
Old Line Democrats in Wisconsin,
object strenuously to the manner in
which the New Dealers. the Roosevelt
Democrats, play into the hands of the
Progressives. There are, too. a num-
ber of Democrats who cannot stomach
some of the New Deal policies. Al
Smith had a good-sized following III
Wisconsin in the days of 1928, and
some of them are inclined to follow
the lead of Smith into the Landon
camp. The Republicans are giving
them a welcoming hand.
The La Follettes, Senator Robert NJ.
and Gov. Phil, and other Progressive
leaders are on the stump lambasting
the Democratic candidate for Gov
ernor, Arthur W. Lueck. They are
complaining bitterly also about those
Democratic members of the State
Senate who joined with the Repub-
licans at the last session OF the Legis-
lature to put the skids under the
500. 100000 works bill sponsored by
Gov. La Toilette. And while they
attack the local Democrats, these
Progressive leaders are shouting their
heads off for the reelection of Presi-
dent Roosevelt. There are local
Democrats who are not willing to take
their drubbing at the hands of ths
La Follettes lying down. And When
they see the Democratic high conf
mand apparently playing into the
hands of the La Follettes, they do not
care so much about the Democratic
national ticket.
Democratic "Economy' Hit.
Orland S. Loomis, Progressive NOM
inee for attorney general, speaking in
Manitowoc yesterday, charged that the
last Democratic Governor. Schmede-
man, sacrificed the schools of Wis
consin on the burning altar of a mis-.
conceived conception of governmental
economy" Schmedeman was elected
Governor of the State in the Roosevelt,
landslide of 1892, when the people
went hell bent for anything Demo.
cratic in their desire to get away from
the depression-smeared Republicans
In that same year Gov. La Follette
had been defeated in the Republican
primary for denomination, and ths
La Toilette Progressives threw theil
votes in large numbers to Schmede
man in order to bring about defeat O.
Walter Kohler, the bath tub king,
whom the "Stalwart" Republicans ha,
nominated over La Toilette. These
unkind words of Loomis fall with ,
sickening thud on the sensitive ear,
Of local Democrats.
And hear Senator La Toilette, talk.
ing in Wautoma about there beins
Democratic members of the STATE
Senate who supported Republican.
and so killed Gov. La Follette's bill fol
public works program, to which ths
La Follettes say President Roosevelt
has been willing to contribute $780,.
0.000 Of Federal funds. In order
to enact real progressive program ir
Wisconsin, said the Senator, "we
must elect q Progressive Legislature
as well as q Progressive Governor ant
State officers. No Governor can put
Progressives' laws on the statute book,
with q cabal of reactionaries in the
State Senate determined to block every
sincere, constructive proposal offered.
The Democrats have their list ol
candidates for the State and they dt
not take kindly to this line Of attack. II