Evening star., 1936-04-05
FRANK CUSTER, STALLED,
NOW BELIEVED CERTAIN
Clash Between Gov. La Toilette and Uni
versity of Wisconsin Head Expected
to Figure i'm Campaign.

vlouS TO the much puDlclZed removal
Of the athletic directors, Spears and
Meanwell, to grow up in the institution.
Even these, however, admit that, in
addition to alleged faulty administra.
ton, the appearances of Frank recent
| ly as critic of the New Deal admin
istration of President Roosevelt and
his failure to cooperate with La Fol-
lette" were factors which influenced
the Governors course.
1t has been noticed for year past
that the Governor lost no opportunity
to snub Frank. There was the oc-
casion last Summer. for example. when
Secretary of State Hull came to Madi.
son to receive an honorary degree.
Gov. La Toilette failed to attend the
ceremony. although he was invited.
The neutral consensus is that Madi-
son just isn't big enough for two
aspirants for the presidency. Gov. La
Follette's friends frankly concede that
he aspires to enter the presidential
lists In 1910, and they charge that
Frank has his eye trained on that same
presidential year.
Specifically, the Capital Times
charged Frank last January with
speaking before the Union League Club
at Chicago under the auspices of the
Republican National Committee.
Frank denied at the time that he had
been informed that the Republican
high command had anything to do
with his broadcast. but it was so an
nounced by the broadcasting company.
Reported G. o. P. Keynoter.
About the same time, it was re-
ported Frank would be the keynote
orator at the Republican National Con-
vention at Cleveland and also that he
was being considered as dark-horse
candidate for the presidential nomi-
nation this year. 1t has been reported
in Wisconsin newspapers that it was
Franks plan to emulate the course Of
Woodrow Wilson, by first running for
Governor and then for President. This
carried the implication that Frank
might oppose La Toilette for re-elec-
tion to the governorship.
More than once, Frank has been
asked to make addresses which other
wise might have been made by the
Governor.
Figuring in the situation also is the
peculiar relationship that has existed
in times past between the La Follettes
and the University Of Wisconsin.
Fighting Bob" in the early days,
drew heavily on the university faculty
in formulation of his progressive
issues and in drafting legislation. He
made the institution highly valuable
adjunct of the gubernatorial Office.
Then came the war period, in which
large number Of the university pro-
fessors bitterly opposed the La Toilette
anti-war attitude. At one time these
men signed a round-robin asking La
Follette's removal from the Senate.
This opposition to their father from
within the university undoubtedly still
rankles in the minds Of the La Fol-
! lette sons.
La Toilette Arrogance" Cited.
Added to this Is the arrogance.
which was so much a part of the
character of the elder La Toilette
and which Gov. Phil has shown in
creasing signs of emulating. 1t is
a La Toilette characteristic never
to brook willingly any sort Of oppo-
sition. Wisconsin is strewn with men
who. at one time or another, have
broken with the La Follettes, and
1t Is not remembered that any one
CT them ever was invited back into
the fold.
The La Follettes always have main
tanned their position by organization
and strict discipline. 1t is stated, for
example, that Gov. Phil, during his
present term, has not appointed
single person to Office who was not
a known member of the Progressive
party. This policy Is Illustrated by
the fact that every one of the II
members of the Board of Regents Of
the university, appointed by La Fol-
lette, are Progressive party workers.
Quite few of them, in fact, have
no other visible qualification for this
office, except their known subservience
to dictation from the Governors Office.
(Copyright, 1885. By the North American
| Newspaper Alliance. Inc)