Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1905-03-13
ROBT. LA Toilette
POLITICAL ACUTENESS OF WISCON.
Sin man SURPRISES MACHINE
The Basis of His Popularity Was His
Efforts to Compel -ShirkerS
to Bear Their Just Proportion of
the Burdens of the State. Is d
Born ReVOlutiOniSt.

Great was the amazement when it be.
came known in Wisconsin that Bob"
La Toilette aspired to be governor of the
state. Twice or thrice he tried for the
republican nomination for governor, and
the machine ran over him. But it was
noticed that each time he gathered
strength. He had developed wonderful
capacity as leader. Not only had he
the gift Of oratory to a remarkable de-
gree, and was thus able to charm and
attract the masses, but he knew how to
organize and direct all who were drawn
within the circle of his influence. He
left the large cities, where the machine
was invincible, and drove up and down
the muddy country roads, speaking in
schooihouses or by the wayside. He
soon had larger personal acquaintance
than any other man in the state. 1t is
told of him, and | believe with truth,
that for years he kept card index of all
the men in Wisconsin he ever met. 1t
was arranged by localities; and on his
way to county or township he would
con his cards, refreshing his memory as
to the men there he had once met, that
he nigh call them by their first names
or renew acquaintance in other famii ar
and flattering fashion. 1t is not surpris.
ing that in time his personal following
became a force which he could WELD,
that scores of thousands of farmers and
workmen and small shopkeepers knew
him as Little Bob," and worshiped him.
Like the true leader, he knew it was
not enough to denounce the old system
he must have something to put in its
place. He recognized that all through
the state. particularly in the rural dis
tricts, there was discomfort with the
dominant organization; but in rallying
the mass against the oligarchy he must
have definite, workable, programme,
An ideal.
So he set out for primary reform. The
people were to be made more powerful
than the politicians by wiping out the
caucus and giving every man free and
untrammeled vote for all party canGi-
dates. Thus, he rallied and led a
| formidable host; he built up from the
bottom, where men were thickest and
most easily manipulated, as must every
man who is to prove his genius tor revo.
luton. Meanwhile he did not forget to
pay attention to the caucuses AMI the
county conventions. So well had he
done his work that the last time the ma
chine beat him for the governorship
nomination his friends claim they did it
by means of bribery.
Then he was nominated and elected.
"Little Bob" became the "little gov.
ernor" in the familiar and affectionate
words OF his admirers. As governor, he
at once attempted to pass primary.
election law through the Legislature, but
was defeated by the manipulation Of the
machine and the railroads. They en-
deavored to deprive him of second
term, but he fought fire with fire. He
| TOOK q leaI out Oh tnelr DOCK ana organ
lied political machine Of his own
through the state patronage. With the
instinct OF the born revoutionist, every
time his enemies assaulted his works he
sprung upon them new issue designed
to rally popular support to his cause
first and all the time il was primary re-
form; then it was proposal to compel
the railroads of the state, notorious tax
shirkers, to bear their proper share Of
the burdens OF the state. On these issues
he won his first and second elections.-
From "The Rise of La Follette," by
Walter Wellman, in the American
Monthly Review of Reviews for March.