The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-05-23
GOVERNOR LA FOLLETTE'S VIC
TORY.


No Northern man in this decade
has won SO far-reaching a victory for
the people in their contest against
the transportation trust as the present
Governor of Wisconsin, who has re-
Gently been elected to the United
States Senate from that State. The
| New York Sun, which is not given to
advocacy of principles such as Gov
ernor La Toilette has espoused, thus
lrecounts his victory:
"Wisconsin's Legislature has adopt
ed the bill for a State Railway Com
mission advocated by Governor La
Toilette, and the campaign conducted
| by him for more than four years
against the transportation corpora
tons has ended in a complete victory
seemed probable that the railroads
would succeed in having the bill modi-
| fled to provide for the election of the
commissioners by the voters, instead
of for their appointment by the Gov
ernor. Mr.. La Follette's announce
ment that if the Legislature consent
| ed to such a compromise he would
resign the governorship and become
a candidate for one of the commits
| La Toilette as Railroad Commissioners
was not wanted by the railroads.
Governor La Toilette has subordi-
mated all other issues to that of rail-
road regulation in his State cam
paigns. Some of his enemies have ac-
cused him of insincerity and alleged
that he would not settle the issue if
| he could, for fear its disappearance
would mean his political death. These
ich n mn Ccin tha
voters of Wisconsin. They believe in
| La Toilette. On the railroad issue he
| has obtained control of the State Re-
| publican organization, humbled the
| Republican national committee, GUST
ed the Federal crowd from party
power in Wisconsin, been elected Gov
ernor twice and been chosen United
States Senator. His record for the
| last decade is one of continual sue
| cesses, brought about by persevering
and undertaking application to one
proposition.
when Governor La Toilette has ap-
| pointed the members of the new Rail-
road Commission and got that body in
working order, he will feel at liberty
to resign his present office and enter
the United States Senate, to member
/ ship in which he was elected last
winter. An energetic politician, an
organizer of foresight and resource, a
| lively and shrewd talker (his friends
| call him a well known Orator) he
will leave one victory over the rail-
| roads to enter another campaign
against them. The Senatorial career
| of the Hon. Robert Marion La Fol-
lette, of Wisconsin, ought to be-spec-
tacular, entertaining and instructive"
| There is a lesson in the success of
| Governor La Toilette, which ambitious
men of every party should take into
consideration. The people are tired
of putting men in public office who
! talk init to the people and vote
init" the railroads. They are tired
of men who are conspicuously silent
| when legislation affecting the agrees
sions and the extortions of transporta-
| ton trusts and other trusts are up
permost. Republicans wish men like
/ La Toilette and Democrats wish men
like La Toilette. The only reason the
candidates of monopoly win is be-
cause the people do not demand of
candidates that they appeal for votes
upon vital issues.
| Mr.. La Follette's fight has been an
| inspiration to good men of all parties
and is proof that the people will rally
to a brave and conscientious man who
fights the transportation trust when
they know he is not a demagogue or
| q self-Seeker.