The River Falls times. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1894-1933, 1897-03-16
The r1enaCe of the
Political r1aChine.
ADDRESS OF R. M. LAFOLLETTE BEFORE CHICAGO UNI
VERsITY, FEBRUARY %, 1897.

ference, through mistake or misrepro-
sentation, through trickery or fraud,
or fine work. the minority control in
the caucus, the laws will be made and
executed by the agent of the minority
and the first principle Of our govern
ment fails.
Legitimate Political Organization and
the Machine Contrasted.
''To enlist the interest of every indi-
vidual, encourage research, stimulate
discussion of measures and of men,
prior to the time when the voter
should discharge this primary duty of
citizenship, offers political organiza-
ton opportunity for the highest public
service. Teaching the principles of
the party, reviewing political history,
discussing pending and proposed legis-
lation, Investigating the fitness of can
didates for Office, quickening the sense
of obligation and personal response
bility in all the duties of citizenship,
commanding the continuous, intelli-
gent, personal interest of the individ-
ual voter-and when the campaign is
on, conducting the oanvass-there are
the legitimate functions of political
organization.
"Such organizations cannot be used
las a political machine for individuals
Tor factions. Whenever such organiza-
tions are maintained political states
are shattered and political bargains
fail of consummation. Cliques, rings,
machines thrive upon the citizens in
difference to the plain duties of repre-
sentative government.
"There is no likeness or similitude
between political organization that ap-
peals to every voter in&the party and a
machine that appeals only to the most
skilled and INSCRIPTIONS workers of
the party.
''That a political organization can
exist without degenerating into
political machine; that it can serve the
cause of good government, sometimes
in defiance of the machine, is very re-
cent political history.
Peoples Triumph Over the Machine.
ct is well known that, for long
time prior to the last Republican Ma
tional convention, the conditions then
prevailing throughout the country
were such as to occasion a widespread
and profound interest in the selection
of a Republican candidate for the pres
| idency. 1t is well known that this in
terest centered upon Major Mckinley
! 1t is well known that the political
! machine in every state where it con-
! trolled party organization cooperated
| to defeat his nomination. The ensu
| ing contest was one of the most inter-
esting in American politics, and well
| illustrates the distinction I would
make, between machine politics de-
signed to control in defiance of the
desires of majority, and Legitimate
political organization which seeks only
fair and honest expression of the
peoples will
| "The admitted choice of nine-tenths
| of his party, without wise leadership
and perfected organization, Major Nc
KinIey would have been defeated. The
time and opportunity were ripe for a
victory over the worst elements in the
party The people were in earnest
and ready, but the field covered con-
tinent, and it was a prodigious under
taking to marshal the masses, I'M
trained in the arts of political man
agement, against the disciplined Veter-
ans of the machine; to force the con-
test out into the open field; to leave
no opportunity for surprise or betray-
al; to make every politician wear his
eolors and declare his choice.
''There were other candidates of
high merit and distinguished public
service, but owing to existing condi-
tions their support was chiefly local
or sectional.
lizard pressed the machine resorted
to the usual plan of dividing the peo-
pie by inspiring the candidacy of a
favorite son, in each of as large num-
Der of states as possible. Failing in
this the last desperate trick was at
tempted, of securing delegates nom
inally for Mckinley but in fact for any
candidate to defeat Mckinley. This
expedient was promptly met by in
structing delegates to vote in conven-
ton for the peoples choice. And the
convention which finally assembled at