The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1905-09-29
Conditions on Which He Will
Accept the Senatorship.
Railroad and Other Laws Must
Be Permantly Accepted.
Badger States Railroad Law
Not Too Radical.
From Thursdays Daily.

From Thursdays Daily.
Governor and United States Senator
elect Robert NJ. La Toilette of Wiscon-
sin spent few hours in the city this
forenoon He came in from New Ulm
at 7:3O a. m. and departed on the l0:45
a. m. train over the Omaha road for
Rock Rapids, Iowa He is on lectur-
ing tour, having filled an engagement at
New Ulm last night, and will speak at
Rock Rapids tonight. Later he will lee
ture in this city under the auspices of
the Y. NJ. c. A. lecture course.
Governor La Toilette had breakfast at
the Saulpaugh and then spent portion
of the forenoon in driving about the
city, as the guest of Congressman Nc
Cleary. who pointed out the sights of
interest to him. He was very favor
ably impressed with the city and the
public improvements lately made.
Governor La Toilette is small but
energetic gentleman, full of fire, and has
a very genial and pleasant manner He
impresses one as being earnest, and a
man who will stand by his convictions
to the last. He made friends of those
whom he met in Mankato. He is looking
in the best of health.
The man who is better known by repu-
tation outside of his state than any
other man in Wisconsin was seen by
The Free Press reporter, and spoke of
the important legislation enacted by the
last legislature and how it is being put
into effect. He also discussed his own
political status to some extent.
When asked whether he intends to
take his seat in the United States sen
9te when congress convenes in December,
Governor La Toilette replied that he
could not say as yet If the recently
enacted railway, civil service and other
legislation is in working effect, without
friction or danger of reversal, he would
probably take his seat and at the same
time resign the governorship. IT, on
the other hand, it appeared that these
laws were defective he would give up
the senatorship and call a special ses-
sion of the legislature to remedy the
defects or to take such other action as
might seem necessary. He desired above
all other considerat ions that the laws
for which so long and hard a struggle
had been made should become safely
intrenched as the permanent law of the
state.
Governor La Toilette said that the
new Wisconsin railroad law is not based
on the law of any other state, but the
good features of the laws of several
states had been engrafted into it. 1t
was not radical but at the same time
was intended to protect the rights of
the people. The railroads would be
required to furnish schedules of their
freight rates and where they were found
to be unfair the railway commission is
given power to regulate them. The
commission cannot forcibly inaugurate
a new schedule of rates and require the
railroads. to observe it. All interests
are guarded and thus far the law has
worked smoothly. In some ways it
is not as radical as the Iowa law, while
in others it is.
The civil service law has not been
in effect long enough to know how it is
going to work, but the Indications are
that it will be all that is expected of it.
Governor La Toilette was asked
whether, in case the recent legislation
is working nicely, he would resign as
governor to 90 into the senate, but he
replied that he could not say as to that.
There were other considerations to be TAX
en- into account. but these he did not care
to discuss for publication, although
privately he stated his position with
some defniteness.
From a conversation with Governor
La Palette it is plain to see why he
has such a hold with the voters in Wis
consin. They admire his sincerity and
have confidence in him.