War from Both Sides

As if to show that the two old parties mean nothing to them, two Senators will glide gaily over party lines to encourage their parties' opponents at the coming election in Minnesota; to show further that the "progressive itch" is no respecter of denominations, one of the Senators is a Democrat, the other a Republican. On July 18, Minnesota will elect a successor to the late Senator Knute Nelson. The candidates are Governor J. A. O. Preus (Republican), State Senator J. T. Carley (Democrat), Magnus Johnson (Farmer-Labor). Senator Burton K. Wheeler of Montana (Democrat) announced that he would campaign for Johnson. He added to his announcement that he was not abandoning the Democratic Party but was convinced that the Democratic candidate had no chance (which is generally agreed). Therefore the Senator from Montana prefers to help elect a "progressive."

The other Senator is Robert M. La Follette of Wisconsin (Republican--by courtesy). He has no such excuse as Senator Wheeler, because the Republican candidate is considered in the running. But neither did Mr. La-Follette offer any excuses. He would rather elect a new Senator for the "progressive" bloc than another Senator for the Republican Party.