The 1897 Blue Book misstates Thal's statewide total and figures in Eau Claire, Marathon, and Waukesha counties.
Candidates' party affiliations obtained from the 10/22/1896 Wood County Reporter. https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85033078/1896-10-22/ed-1/seq-8/
Source for Popular Vote data: Wisconsin Board of State Canvassers, "Insurance Commissioner," Tabular Statement of the votes...at the General Election (Madison, 1896)