LaFollette v. Kohler

Long have Progressive Republicans in Wisconsin tried to coax Philip LaFollette into standing for election to high State office. Second son of the late great Robert Marion LaFollette, brother of Wisconsin's Senator Robert Marion ("Young Bob") LaFollette, he has a name and a talent which might work political magic in his State. But Brother Phil, lawyer and lecturer at the University of Wisconsin, short-time District Attorney of Dane County, whirlwind campaigner for Brother Bob, was in no hurry. He silenced "drift talk," insisted he was "too young" (he is now 33), kept Progressive leaders waiting for his services (TIME, Oct. 22, 1928).

Finally this year he announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination for Governor of Wisconsin in the September primary. His opponent would be Governor Walter Jodok Kohler, "stalwart'' (regular) Republican, plumbing fixture tycoon ("Kohler of Kohler''), candidate for a second term. Intense, eloquent, bushy-headed like his father, Brother Phil inaugurated his Progressive leadership by trying to drive a spike of corruption into the candidacy of Governor Kohler. Last year he signed a court complaint, helped to amass evidence, that Governor Kohler had grossly violated the Wisconsin Corrupt Practices Act by excessive campaign expenditures to secure the Republican nomination and election in 1928.

Last week Governor Kohler went on trial at Sheboygan, after carrying his case in vain to the State Supreme Court on technicalities of jurisdiction (TIME, Feb. 17). The courtroom scene generated political impulses that fanned over the whole State. The trial marked the commencement of the 1930 campaign. If Brother Phil could put Governor Kohler out of office by this trial, it was agreed that a LaFollette would again be Governor of Wisconsin.*

Wisconsin law limits campaign expenditures to $4,000 per person. The Progressive charge prosecuted by special attorneys for the State was that Governor Kohler had spent some $100,000 through himself, his family and his plumbing factory. The Governor's attorneys contended that Mr. Kohler's personal contribution to his campaign was only $2,194.17, that his mother and sister had helped him as individuals but not as his political agents, that his company's employes all worked for him entirely independently of their connection with the corporation.

Governor Kohler took the witness stand early in the trial to answer prosecution questions. A white carnation bobbed in his buttonhole. A pearl pin was stuck in his black tie. Grave, composed, good-natured, he defended himself, his family, his company in a manner befitting one in his position. The crowd in the courtroom listened quietly, attentively.

Most of the testimony was trivial at first--detailed disputes over such campaign cost items as matches, banners, eye shades, cigars, meals, band music, entertainment of Wisconsin news editors at the Kohler plant. Judge Gustav Gehrz grew impatient when the State tried to make a 30-c- insignium labeled "KOHLER FOR GOVERNOR" into a valuable "tire cover," ruled it was no such thing. Again and again curious heads turned to the courtroom door, hoping to see Philip LaFollette march in, face his rival, give a touch of political drama to the scene. But the curious were disappointed. Shrewd, Brother Phil kept away from the trial, directed the prosecution from a distance.

* The late Robert Marion LaFollette was Governor from 1901 to 1905.

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