Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1905-02-07
Senator LaF0lIette.

Wednesday the joint meeting of the
Legislature was held at Madison and the
formal election of Gov LaFollette as
United States senator was declared.
The action of the legislature solves
one OF the most complicated situations
that have ever confronted Wisconsin
politicians. 1t is hard to see, however,
why the matter should have become so
involved. Since the election on Nov. s
there have been only two logical cs.ndi-
datesyfor the senate-Senator Quarles
and Gov. LaFollette. The former had
the united support of the Stalwarts and
the good wishes of many others who
believed that his experience at Washing
ton made him the most efficient man his
party could choose. The latter is pre-
eminently the leader of his party in the
state, and is by far the strongest man
the Half Breeds could send to the sen
ate. He has fought the fight for con
troll of corporations; to him belongs the
credit for the final outcome. If the SEN
atorship could not go to QIarles, there
is only one man in the state that had
claim upon it-LaFollette.
The election of the governor is of
more than usr ii interest to the people
of the state and of the nation He is
man of unquestioned ability and of long
experience in governmental affairs. He
IS In sympathy with the position of
President Roosevelt and the progressive
republican leaders in congress upon the
great questions of rate regulation, tariff
revision and others that are now up for
settlement His friends assert, indeed,
that in the contest for the regulation of
railroads, he is the real leader and that
his thunder is being stolen by the men
at Washington.
The governor, in his new position,
should be the real representative of the
people OF Wisconsin. He should repre-
sent them and not the political any more
than the corporate interests. They
have endorsed him again and again,
and his election will give satisfaction to
many w 5 in both parties, who feel
that they Will have powerful champion
In the senate.
There will undoubtedly be intense
rivalry between the two senators from
Wisconsin. Senator Spooner is one of
the stroug men of the senate and has for
years been the spokesman of the state in
national legislation. There are Two rea-
ons why he will be sorely disappointed
al the governors electiOn-DecauSe of
bitter personal enmity between the men,
and because he may suffer q loss of
prestige and power through the COVER
nor's presence in the senate. Mr. La
Toilette is not the man to play second
fiddle to Senator Spooner or to any
other man He is a leader himself,
with a thorough knowledge of his own
power. If he doesn't at once forge to
the front it will not be for lack of eff
fort on his part
There is need for men like LaFollette
in the senate. That body has become
the pet of special interests. 1t seems to
exist as much for the purpose of OBJ
structing needed legislation as for any
other purpose. 1t has ceased to be u
positive force for legislation in tne in
terests of the people. 1t is constantly
trying to tie the hands of the president
in his efforts to push through the re-
forms demanded by the people. The
presence of LaFollette, with his ability
as a politician, his resourcefulness and
his courage should have wholesome
effect upon the senate and give encour-
agement to the men IN other states who
are waglng contests similar to that
which has met with so triumphant an
outcome in this state. Milwaukee
Journal