The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-09-25
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER %. 1904.
La Follette's Fight for Freedom
Al $3.50

La Follette's Fight for Free dom.
In notable article, Mr.. Lincoln
steffens continues his Investigations In
+ public conscience and government. This
time he tells how Republicanism is on
trial in Wisconsin. The outcome will af-
feet the Republican party throughout
America The issue is known as La
Follettism-but 1t is at the bottom the
world old question Of Democracy, the
right OF the people to govern themselves.
The story is told with consuming In
terest in McClures for October Of how
the Issue arose and how Governor Robert
Marion Ia toilette found himself as
champion Of the rights OF the people, ar
rayed against the whole Federal Repub-
lican machine in wisconsin from the
President and the two United States sem
4 ators down to the smallest "stalwart"
ward hee1er.,! : u I,
Briefly, - eqng LA Toilette, by brilliant
4 work, became district attorney, and there
by political sagacity and personal can
yass got reelected without asking per-
mission Of the local machine. This over
sight marked la Toilette for slaughter,
y but the same house to house canvass and
the same deep and earnest interest in the
a voters that won before. succeeded in maxi
Ing him a member Of Congress whether
:'the system" liked it or no. Now. the
system" was the organized graft Of rail-
q roads and business men, who dealt in
lumber and politics, because each paid.
4 When young La Toilette got to Wash.
4 ington he soon saw things as they were,
and the chief fact which struck him was
the position Of United States Senator
Philetus Sawyer who haying bought his
way to tho Senate proceeded to use his
powers for robbing the State of its lands
and lumber for the benefit Of the rail-
roads and '.tl,e system" La Toilette
served on the Indian Committee, and soon
came across a bill which the Indian COM
missioner says was "a little the worst
he had ever seen, Senator Sawyer had
introduced the bill, but-he could not get
Ia Follette's support, and the bill, which
provides for a. Wholesale confscaton Of
Indian lands for the sake of giving ter
(. rrinas to a favored railroad. was killed,
4 system" and from then on he had to
2 fight for his political life. And how he
did fight. lie saw the Legislature filled
with men. somA+ of whom were brlBed by
free passes and Special freight rates; 9TH
ers by cash furnished by tho railroad
"barrel.'' He saw according to Mr..
Steffens, Senator John c. Spooner, climb
Ing to his great power by peddling out
passes as RAILROAD lobbyist. He saw
railroad taxes unpaid and railroad rates
unjustly raised. and despite 1t all, no
sound from the bribed and corrupted
representatives of the exploited people.
Being man of warm heart and gem
erous instincts. nothing remained for La
Toilette but to fight and in his strug-
gle lie gathered round him good men and
true. notable among whom stands A. r.
Hull. father of the anti-pass law, whom
friend and foe alike Joins in praisng be-
4 cause, as liiping says "By Allah He, is
a Man" Notwithstanding this, the lavish
use of money boat La Toilette for the
Y -.
In the latter year. however the "stal-
warts" who supported the railroads. the
1 ring and '.tlle system" stole La Follettes
platform and promised a direct primary
under a secret ballot. and just railroad
taxation. Neither promise was fulfilled,
and SO disguised constituency elected
La Toilette Governor in 1900
@ Then came the fight for an ant-pass
law; for. direct primary; for railroad
commission, and for Just taxation. But
"the system controlled the Legislature
by the same pressure and Tie same
brides, and all The while they" said La
Toilette was ambitious, Just what tht
corrupt Democratic ring in Missouri sale
about Folk remarks Mr.. sterfens. wht
adds, ..but suppose they are right anC
The man Is vain. | don't care. DO you.
j have noticed that public official VIII,
steals, or, who like Lieutenant Governo,
lee, OF Missouri betrays his constituents
may propose TO be Gov, rnor without be
Ing accused of ambition. They, seen
10 think boodler's aspirations are natur
al. He may have n hundred notorou,
* yices; they do not matter. But re
~ forln' a man who wants to serve his peo
pie, he must be a white-robnd, spotlcs
angel or they Viii whisper that he is
what? NAyathief! oh no that would b
nothing; but that he is ambitious
Al thelend Governor La Toilette foun
his plans thwarted and promises frus
trated. He took the case 70 the peop!