The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1905-10-28
Declares Ten Years VIII Tell
Whether People or Money
Kings Will Rule Country.
Wisconsin's Leading States
man Sounds Voice Of Warn
ing to Harmful Power.

1--WE have not representative form
Of government today" said he, "The
foundations of the government are be-
ing undermined and it's strength sap
ped. I want to be conservative and I
am conservative because I want to get
the business men with this cause. The
corporations of commerce, combined
with the political machines, control
wherever they seek to control.
Twenty seven per cent Of all the
wealth OF the country is in the control
Of few corporations. They need en-
larged franchises and enlarged powers
and maintain trained Hobbies at every
state capital to secure their desires
Legislators Listed.
Before every legislature meets,
every man is listed. His associations.
his weaknesses, his vices and his debts
are all known to these lobbyists and
the moment he arrives at the state
capitol he is taken in charge by some
one detailed to minister to these weak
nesses or vices and gain power over
him."
Governor La Toilette went back to
revolutionary times and compared tax
alton without representation to the
present system whereby, he declared,
the people are compelled to pay taxes
which corporations dodge. 1t is op-
pressivc, he asserted. to permit monop-
oily Of the natural resources, such as
oil, coal and iron, now az 1t was to
quarter the soldiers Of King George
on the people in the days of our FORE
fathers.
TIMES Have Changed.
He read this statement by the
French writer, Alex de Tocquevtlle:
In the United States never heard
Of man spending his wealth to cor
rupt the people,
THAT was seventy-four years ago.
said the speaker, and the audience
laughed.
Governor La Toilette paid particular
attention to the railroads after he had
depicted the conditions Of the country
in strong language. When he declared
that from 1873 the state OF Wisconsin
had been under the control of the rail-
roads until recently (referring to his
own election), the audience gave him
an ovation lasting several minutes.
Rate Reform First.
"Our forefathers recognized the fact
that transportation is a. function of
government he said. do not mean
government ownership. Do not hurry
me. We will come to that later, but
first want to Sc a thorough system of
rate regulation adopted by every state
and by the federal government. If
that fails, there is no avoiding govern
ment ownership"
Governor La Toilette praised Presi-
dent Roosevelt, saying that he had
never been known to dodge a crisis,
and that all the railroads were against
his nomination.
TN 1904 1 was here at the conven-
tion," said he, but did not get in,
because every railroad influence in the
country was against me-
Governor La Toilette advocated the
amendment Of the interstate commerce
law so that the commission will have
power to put the rates down to a reas-
enable limit
La Toilette on eoodlsrs.
In closing Governor La Toilette had
this to say of boodlers:
he first time I was up for NOM
ination for governor Of Wisconsin. I
had enough delegates pledged to give
me the nomination on the first ballot.
delegates were bought over night at
$25 to 5000 apiece. said bought, and
I wouldn't say that II I couldn't prove
it. After that a boss came to me and
said: IT you won't squeal we'll take
care Of you when the time comes I
told him I had always taken care of
myself
If you are fighting for reform you
can't carry the white flag or COM
promise.
I'VE think our government starts
with the election. That's only a little
part. Back Of the casting OF the BAL
lot is the making.
Il learned recently that it cost a
certain man $500 to buy of my Sec
ond nomination.
Americas Greatest Peril.
Il believe that the greatest peril
that ever menaced this government is
undermining 1t beneath the very foun-
dations Of the structure nurtured by
Washington and preserved by Lincoln.
1t would be all right If this peril were
visible. ii it were an invading army.
Our government will never be over
thrown by foreign foe. The trouble
is that it Is unseen. It will accomplish
Its work without bloodshed or blowing
Of flies.
Our government is being under
mined with corruption, and in the next
ten years, say, the history of the
democracy will be written in this coun-
try: 1t will be decided then whether
we are to have an oligarchy or a repub-
lican government. It remains with the
people. am confident they will bat
tie for the latter"