PRESS COMMENT ON BADGER PRIMARY
Press Comment on Badger Primary A NAME WINS AGAIN IN WISCONSIN From Pittsburgh Post The country has become accustomed to the fetish of the name of La Follette in Wisconsin politics, but it cannot...
...THE NATION AND THE LA FOLLETTES From St...
...Government can no more stand still than anything else...
...When conservative journals can say that the people of Wisconsin stick by the La Follettes because the La Follettes stick by the people of Wisconsin, we may be sure that though Robert M. La Fol-]e!te Is dead his soul Is marching on...
...Kohler, as an Industrialist, has kept thousands of workmen in his plants manufacturing merchandise far In excess of the production justified by current demand...
...Witness the appalling reign of Cole Blease in the State House of South Carolina...
...Wisconsin will lose a good "business" executive...
...It might be that the stalwarts had arrived...
...For years a large part of the Wisconsin electorate has voted consistently for La Follettes...
...that the "reign" of the La Follettes was to end...
...But haven't the state and the nation too gained something us an offset...
...We are therefore witnessing what might be termed a very interesting conversion...
...Whether or not it...
...Kohler's record as citizen and as official was clean and good...
...There was an ouster attempt on the ground that Kohler had spent more money in his campaign than the law allowed...
...The same issue eslst* in Illinois...
...Kohler...
...The change I* in the country...
...multi-millionaire manufacturer, a high-minded and public-spirited citizen, met dismal, overwhelming defeat at the hands of a 33-year-old country lawyer who had the advantage only of his father's name...
...From father to son they increase in power as their rule increases in public beneficence...
...That Is unfortunate because business Is needed in government...
...The national government has for 10 years stood stanchly on the side of plutocracy, and most of the state governments have not been far behind it...
...His campaign was described as offering nothing but criticism and vituperation...
...Walter Kohler can not be ascribed to one issue...
...Unemployment inevitably accompanied by a spirit of protest more or less manifested at the polls probably was a factor even though Gov...
...personally, may no' represent much of anything, but the more than 100,00(1 majority by which he was nominated shows that the people are not satisfied that government shall stand still, or be administered by the very rich...
...Philip La Follette is a progressive and Gov...
...La Follette was a candidate for President on a third ticket he merely served the Republicans as an economical bugaboo...
...Technically the law was not violated, and the governor was purged of the charge...
...backed by his brother, "Young Bob...
...PHILIP LA FOLLETTE (From Cleveland Press) Philip La Follette...
...The other Is to be governor...
...But "Young Phil" La Follette...
...The average public man in the states thinks to gain power by a species of scalawag-ery...
...It not only had an estimated deficit of $3,500,000, but conditions were such that It had been feared it would run much higher...
...But the governor won the«decislon...
...Kohler for the Republican nomination for governor of Wisconsin, is the real heir to the La Follette political fortune...
...Untouched by the breath of scandal, it has seemed, to exemplify as well as preach elevated principles of public morality and to avoid presuming selfishly on the public's favor...
...Caulfleld...
...did not neglect an opportunity during Kohler's administration to take issue with the governor...
...As the nomination won Tuesday by Philip La Folleti '^sj equivalent to election the dynasty '(.strengthened...
...Whatever opinion may Ih> held as to the means by which It...
...Neither Robert M. La Follette Jr., who sits in the United States Senate, nor his brother Philip is any less uncompromising than was the original La Follette...
...So that the factions found their rallying grounds...
...LAFOLLETES IN WISCONSIN From Waterloo (In...
...To be defeated by Kohler a second time might mean a new alignment In the state...
...And this comes against perhaps the strongest man that could be found in the whole state...
...La Folletteisni Is strong in Wisconsin...
...THE LA FOLLETTES [South Bend Tribune] Wisconsin voters' refusal to renominate Gov...
...If it represented anything else than simply the spell of a name, the explanation will be awaited...
...The voters have overruled the courts...
...Louis Star) It doesn't matter much that Wisconsin Republicans have nominated another La Follette for governor...
...One of the La Follette boys In the senate...
...Even the press, visually none too alert In the popular interest, nas not missed the gulf between good government in Wisconsin under the La Follettes and bad government In Texas under the Fergusons, or the difference between higher education at Madison and higher education In places like Columbia, Mo...
...Tribune...
...Press Comment on Badger Primary A NAME WINS AGAIN IN WISCONSIN From Pittsburgh Post The country has become accustomed to the fetish of the name of La Follette in Wisconsin politics, but it cannot but be amazed at the extreme to which it ran in Tuesday's primaries when a young and untried member of the family was nominated on the Republican ticket for governor over Walter J. Kohler...
...He is already stands above any left wing Republican now in the public eye as a probable leader...
...We have in Missouri a perfect illustration of the type of public inan swept out of public life in Wisconsin by the La Follettes...
...He is secretary' of State Becker...
...There might be 47 other Wisconsins...
...The trial showed he kept his own expenditures inside the $4,000 limit of the law...
...Kohler immediately applied the sound methods required, with the result that he Is now able to show a surplus of $500,000 in the operating funds of the state...
...This notwithstanding the epithets hurled at him in his time, the anathema heaped upon his family name...
...sought its ends, those ends have been publlr-pplnt.ed and Idealistic...
...There is an impressive moral In this —a moral for public men—a moral for the nation—and a moral for the states...
...With "Young Bob" in the United States senate and Philip, only 33 years old, in the governor's office the outlook for perpetuation of La Follette power will be unusually bright...
...now United States Senator, and others of their faction, decided that' he wanted the office, Most young men In politics are content to start In humbler roles, but the sons of the elder La Follette, who for years dominated the state, would be content with nothing less than to begin where their father left off...
...All of Wisconsin realized that defeat meant a serious blow to the La Follette organization...
...is true that the younger La Follettes have deviated from the principles for which their father fought the fact remains that Wisconsin still favors La Follettes...
...For this reason every effort was made by the opposing factions to carry favor at the primary election...
...Money Is being used Increasingly in politics, everywhere...
...In the recent campaign the Kohler force tried to convince the voters that the La Follette faction is attempting to run the state government by undemocratic methods contrary to the first La Fol-lctte's principles, but this interesting experiment fell flat on election day...
...What does matter is the slant Tuesday's primary' gives on the public's attitude toward heavy spenders seeking high public office...
...Caulfield...
...His kind is numerous in the state capitals...
...It is no small victory...
...A large employer of labor himself, he showed a sympathy for the cause in general that resulted in the placing on the statute books of legislation for which workers had for years striven In vain...
...Yet the La Follettes are more lasting than any of these...
...It tri*s many experiments and adopts some of them...
...but It also demonstrated that the governor's family and the corporation of which he is head spent large sums In his behalf...
...The people have no affection for him...
...The public has shown clearly what ii thinks of vast campaign expenditures and what it thinks of evasions of the spirit of the law...
...To many on the sidelines it looked like somewhat risky business tor young La Follette...
...Both sides felt this...
...The public did not take the same view as the jury...
...We have had a long orgy of privilege...
...The governorship, of course, is a traditional step to the United States senate...
...Says one conservative journal: "The La Follette regency has been a regency of Ideas...
...The big spenders are more and more knocking at the United States spnnte doors...
...a business man of large affairs, was called to the office the state was in particular need of a business administration...
...Witness the allies of Power Trust In Maine, the emLssarles of the coal barons in West Virginia, the political high priests of suppression in California...
...Sometimes It has been Innocently used, as it was In the passage of the terminal permits bill fortunately vetoed by Gov...
...Kohler was being groomed by the politicians for a senatorial scat later...
...He Is a young man of real ability, of whom much more will be heard in the years to come...
...Whether the Wisconsin factions of the 'Republican party are described as Conservatives or Progressives, it was but natural to expect the people of the state to have the same appreciation as others of a good administration...
...Government is not "business" only...
...There was nothing against his renom-Ination—that Is, so far as his record as governor was concerned...
...Those who attended the La Follette mass meeting in the Public Hall In 1924 remember that Philip even then handled himself like an old campaigner...
...It has served notice that even good business administration does not offset what threatens to become a national menace...
...No matter what the capacity of "Young Phil" may develop, he is as yet wholly untried In important public service...
...Roosevelt of New York and our own Gov...
...It was probably agreed that no member of the La Follette organization, except it be Philip, could defeat the governor for renom-inatlon...
...Lcn Small of Illinois...
...Tribune Walter J. Kohler has made a good governor of Wisconsin...
...The consequences of this kind of government have ]ycen as disastrous In the states as they have been In the nation, l'he people have not been witnessed over a period of years the spectacle of good fjovornnient in Wis-, consin and bad government in Illinois and Indiana without making mental reservations...
...Kohler had given the state a good "business" administration, but the people, not only In Wisconsin but everywhere else, expect something more...
...Hut It also should be noted that Wisconsin is well governed Gangsters keep away from its large cities...
...It is an American classic, a shining exception which might well make the American people think...
...Witness ex-Gov...
...Once In power, he seeks to perpetuate himself by alliance with all the interests which pick the people's pockets...
...The defeat of Kohler under the circumstances seems not merely illogical, but ungrateful...
...There are respects In which the outlook of Wisconsin is indistinguishable from the aspirations of high-minded state executives like Gov...
...Even as recently as when Mr...
...It involves social rights, and when elections in the United States reach a point where, to be nominated and elected a candidate not only must be very' rich, but a heavy spender, the people's social rights are in danger, if Gov...
...Seeking a candidate to defeat Kohler the opposition to him decided upon Philip La Follette...
...It is not that the La Follettes have changed...
...It has been unceasing In Its efforts to educate its constituency...
...His administration throughout was described by unbiased critics as constructive, marked by fidelity to his campaign pledges...
...But the interpretation does nat stand...
...La Follettelsm is retained by Wisconsin...
...It would not be surprising if the La Follettes eventually are the first brothers representing the same state in the senate.—The South Bend (Ind...
...There might be a La Follette family In every one of the spates...
...They are glad to get rid of him...
...Louis Post-Dispatch Since the people of Wisconsin nominated Philip La Follete for Governor by more than 100.000 votes, there has been a marked indisposition throughout the country to continue the old hue cry' against the La Follettes as people inimical to American institutions...
...The organization was constantly at work, with eye to Kohler's retirement at t>« «id of his first term...
...THE WISCONSIN DYNASTY fFrom St...
...From the figures at hand at this writing Philip La Follette will have a majority approaching 100,000...
...Bilbo in Mississippi, who has turned the State university over to pie hunters...
...Kohler Is a conservative in a state where these issues are sharply drawn...
...In a three-way race two years ago he won nomination...
...who has proved to be one of the best executives in the history of the state...
...Witness Gov...
...The world moves...
...The high tariff bills of Washington have had their equivalents in many state capitals...
...Wisconsin is a "radical'' state...
...Under that Wisconsin interpretation of the law, anybody with money enough could bo elected to office on purchased publicity alone, over nn abler candidate without money, or only moderately rich...
...And it may be that the governor, elected as a conservative, alienated a substantial number of conservative votes by seeking renomina-tion on a platform which was not radically different, on certain points, from that presented by the La Follette faction...
...If there was a chance to defeat a La^Follctte in Wisconsin, many believed the chance was with Kohler, True, the *La Follette organization feeling the sting of riofeit by Kohler two ytnrs ago...
...Young La Follette was without experience...
...It is an unusual situation...
...Philip F. La Follette...
...No Illustrious father carried him along, as is the case with his elder brother Robert M. La Follette Jr...
...When Kohler...
...In the average state, where a governor per-iorms well during his first term, he is conceded another nomination by his political party...
...Becker is more powerful in the Legislature than any apostle of good government...
...who defeated Gov...
...Of course, the name borne by Philip La Follette was enough to win him thousands of votes...
...Kohler had not been rich and liberal with his money doubtless he never would have been mentioned as a gubernatorial candidate...
...The personal popularity of the first Robert M. La Follctet has crystallized into a sentiment benefiting his sons...
...But one of the La Follette boys, Philip came out Icr the nomination against Governor Kohler...
...The defeat came at the end of a campaign centered upon the big money issue, with the governor seeking from the public the same vindication he received only a few months ago from a jury in ouster proceedings brought on that same ground...
...Our own Legislature in Missouri has been often-time used in the furtherance of privilege...
Vol. 1 • September 1930 • No. 43
