Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1898-07-28
la FOLLETTE'S CAREER
He Became a Congressman When
20 Years Old.
GRAFTON THAT UNLOCKED FAME.

That Enchains Big Audicnocs--"A Man
of Destiny" to His Foiiowers---No Joker,
but Rich In Dcathlcss Loyalty -iscauti-
ful Home LILO OF TN, LaFoiiettcs.
Madison, July se,- Robert Marion La
Toilette has the physical OUTFIT fer
greatness, He has u strong, smooth
face, with chin Indicative of determina-
ton and u classical brow that is truly
handsome, The face would attract at
tention in u crowd, Bryan and Fay
Mills the evangelist. have the same cast
of face, but Bryan has hooked nose
aud Mills face Is not so fine lined, Mr.,
LaFollette Is thick set. positively
chunky, IN fact, For this he Is called
the "Lhtlo Giant by his admirers, IL
Is an inheritance from the gentle, ac-
tive, little mother, who is well renem-
bored in Madison, and from whom, too.
he Inherited force of character, will
power and an outfit OF sterling man
hood.
AIR, Blaine orce said he had known
a good many inferior sons OF foreeful
women, but no had never known u
strong, masterfuL successful man who
did not have behind him remarks
bic mother ny this he did not neces-
sarily mean highly cultivated, pol
ishea woman, but he did mean a seri-
GUS minded, earnest, diligent, forcoful
| mothcr--n short, what they call down
IN New England ~ smart woman am
bilious for her boys and herself " reser-
| voir OF character. nawdlers and
| dreamers do not breed sons to rule,
Not nm Accessible Statesman.
MIR IaFollettc has an abundance of
black hair, which he wears pompadour
| fashion. He has a pleasing voice. well
modulated In conversation and capable
| OF remarkable rhetorical effects In pub
| lie address, He speaks with decision
and has a good deal OF genuine dignity.
| He la not what Ia called u good fell
| low" among men. being quite devoid
| OF humor and seemingly never forget
full Of what IL expected OF statesman.
| He Ia famlliarly known ~ Bob but
| those who address him thus are few,
one can see him, however, occasionally.
| in hotel corridor with u cigar In his
mouth, usually unlighted; and there IL
no awkward retlcence on his part; but
the rolliekIng familiarity that some pol
iticians AFFECT Is wholly absent There
| liz usually row OF bystanders rever-
man of destiny. The explanation OF Mr.
| LaFollotte Is probably his great amhi-
| ton. lie takes life seriously and hia
| thoughts and aims are concentrated on
something. some public policy, perhaps,
or some new honor; and the tfitlea and
| jocosltles that interest most men have
no part In his theory OF career
This lofty attitude Is sustained In all
| that Mr.. I.aFollo!te does He rarely
| shows himself In public, and Madison
secs little of him, II Is next to impossi-
BILE TO get u speech out OF him, even ON
n state occasion, He is never seen ut
the round Of banqueta and anocchmak-
Ing functions, though always invited.
| The semi centennial management
sought In every way To get him to make
IL public appearance, but In vain. This
mystery that envelopes the public man
even extends to his office II Is only
| by long wait IN the ante-room that
| one can see him, and telephone call
for an interview is apt to be met by u
plea Of pressing dutles, and the petit
! toner pidetracked. This sort of thing,
no doubt, impresscs many, but II IL not
| the traditional way To get popular With
| the masses. only genuine merit ana
| commanding qualities can command adj
herence from the rank and file of us
| Americans who want TO feel near" our
! idols,
II should be said that the stranger In
town, after being thus chilled on his
approach. * often appointed TO an IN
| tervlew later or To dinner; and the re-
suit In an enthusiastic loyalty to Mr.,
LaFollettc. Moreover, many OF thosc
who are most devoted these young
Madison lawyers and others, who work
most slayishly and dlsinteresIedly out
OF pure admiration, have known him
for many years,
A Log Cabin aud Hard WorIu
Mr.. LaFollette'H career reflects great
credit, for he has earned his way II In
not strange thnt he takes life serious
ly for until he was well out ~ college
the bread and butter issue was q seri-
Gus one with him. lie II pure Wis.,
consin product. lie was horn In the
town OF Primrose In Dane county, In a
log cabin. The date was June IA, 1856.
No he has Just turned his 43d milestone.
When he wan years old the family
moved over into Argyle, across the
county line. From then until he was
IL he was busted with the country
school and farm duties, The name La
Toilette" IL French Canadian In Its ex-
traction. While his boyhood home was
among the Norwegian Americans, and
he learned thoroughly to understand
them. the impression that he carries
their blood Is, believe. an error. He
IL, however. great fayorite among
them. Robert lost his own father when
an infant Of | year. Older residents
remember him AZ n man Of character.
He was, ] believe. chairman Of the town
and man Of some local prominence.
| The mother too. richly endowed him.
She was an Indiana-bor woman. and
OF southern extraction. her father being
n North Carolinlan. and OF Maryland
| mother. She was thrice married, first
to n buchanan, and some years after
Roberts father died 20 Sexton. When
Robert was a collegian she was third
time widowed. The relation between
| the mother and this son, OF whom she
| prophesied great things. was close and
tender. Robert excelled az boy In
declarations and In the spelling school