Evening star., 1946-11-30
La Toilette Comeback
Would Be Difficult
But House Seat Would Provide
Good Starting Point
By Jay G. Hayden

By Jay G. Hayden
II Senator Robert M. La Toilette. jr.,
defeated for denomination, attempts
political comeback by way of the now
vacant congressional seat In the I'd
Wisconsin district, as his friends say
he may do, he will be pursuing dis
tinguished precedent.
John Quincy Adams, after serving
both as Senator and President of the
United States, sat in the House for II
years, and James w. Wadsworth Of
New York, one of the most highly
regarded members of the House today.
came to it in 1888, after serving IL
years in the Senate.
Two other present Representatives,
John M. Robsion Of Kentucky and
Matthew NJ. Nicely of West Virginia,
are former Senators.
There Is an especial similarity be-
tween John Quincy Adams and La Fol-
lette in their disregard for party regu-
larity. Adams was elected to the Sem
ate as Federalist in 1903. but resigned
from that body five years later to be-
come Minister to Russia by appoint-
ment OF President Thomas jefferson.
He continued to serve in that post and
as Minister to England and Secretary
of State under the two succeeding
Democratic Presidents, Madison and
Monroe, before he himself became
President in 1924.
But when Adams was elected to the
House in 1880 it was by the Wing Party,
newly formed to oppose the long-domi-
nant Democrats.
Twice COP Senator.
La Toilette was twice elected to the
Senate as a Republican, before he led.
in 1884, in formation of the Progressive
Party, which he rode for two more
terms. He slipped up when he at
tempted to return to the Republican
fold last summer, being narrowly de-
feated in the Republican primary by
Joseph r. Mccarthy, who went on TO
win the senatorial seat in November.
There is no doubt as to La Follette's
desire to remain in public life and pref
erably as a member Of Congress. He
has been talked of for various ap-
pointive posts and is said to have de-
clined an offer by President Truman
of dictatorship OF the Tennessee VAL
ley Authority.
La Follette,s friends have felt that
acceptance of any appointment from the
present administration would be fatal
to his political future. On this ground
he has been urged to wait out the
coming two years, on the prospect that
q Republican President after l948 will
provide him an acceptable berth.
House Opportunity.
As basis for this game Of political
waiting, seat in the House OF Repre-
sentatives would be ideal. If elected
as Republican it would give him an
opportunity to re-establish himself in
that party, while keeping himself also
in the public eye.
1t Is not so certain that La Toilette
could win the Republican nomination
for Congress Tom Coleman, Wiscon-
sin Republican State chairman, who
has been devoting all of his time for
several years to unhorsing the La Fol-
lettes, lives In the and district, and
would certainly fight to the finish
against a La Toilette comeback In any
form.
Also, Robert K Henry, whose death
following reelection to Congress in Mo-
vember caused the present vacancy,
was strongly anti-La Toilette. Origi-
nally Democrat, Henry, in 1888, Joined
with Republicans in successful coali-
ton movement against the then Gov
ernor, Philip La Toilette.
On the other hand, Senator La Fol-
lette carried the End congressional dis
trict in last summers primary by
majority of about 1900, due mainly to
the large vote rolled up for him In his
home city of Madison. Robert M. La
Toilette, ST., first was elected to Congress
from this district 50 years ago, and
rarely, If ever, in the intervening years
has it gone back on q La Toilette.
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