The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-08-08
GRAFT ALL OYER,
SAYS La TOILETTE
WISCONSIN GOVERNOR -SENATOR
,-. FLAYs CoRRUPTIoNIsTs.
Makes Impassioned Speech of Three
Hours at State Fair Grounds-De-
clares Senate Is Ruled by Special In
terests-He Is Trying to Make People
See the Situation.

and from these three to public officials
turnout the land, Governor Robert M.
La Toilette of Wisconsin at the state
fair grounds declared yesterday that
graft and corruption rule.
"Every periodical of any standing
today is dealing with the subject Of
| graft, which is fastening itself on all
governments, municipal, state and ma
tional,' shouted Governor La Toilette
in impassioned tones. "Graft is the
bane Of this country. Such is the ex-
traordinary extent of bribery in this
| The hotels and congress at Washington
are nest Of iniquity. This corruption.
| is not a little pimple here and there
or breaking out Of the rash. Graft,
graft, graft is everywhere, in city, state
and nation
Spoke Three Hours.
| At first the governor spoke i'm a
rather low, confidential tone, but when
he sought to lay clearly before his 1000
listeners the story Of graft, his eyes
blazed and his voice Increased in vol
ume and power. For three hours he
stood upon the platform, and turnout
that time the crowd sat, spellbound.
When he concluded cheer after cheer
broke forth and continued until after
the speaker had buttoned his black
bow tie and descended from the stand.
The speaker began with a recital of
the Investigations by the grand jury in
Milwaukee which has been in session
for six weeks. Twenty eight public Off
Gals at the first report were indicted,
and Of the number fourteen have been
convicted, four have pleaded guilty, ana
ter are still under trial. Since that
time twenty-five more indictments have
been found against public officials.
"At every drag Of the net we find
it enmeshing public officials who have
stopped SO low as to sell a public trust
for money! continued Governor La
Toilette. -,
"Who have we to thank for this?
fearless work Of our prosecuting attor-
ney, Frank McGovern. -.
"Yet Milwaukee today is not whit
worse than any other city OF It's size
in the United States. Graft, graft,
nothing but graft, and more graft do
we find on all sides.
} Roasts Future Colleagues.
"Scan the faces Of our United
,, States senators. Over nearly every one
: is writ in large letters the corporations
! they represent. One represents the
steel trust, and in nearly every one OF
them there is some 'steal.' Upon near
" every department Of our govern
ment, municipal, state and nation, graf'
: has settled. It was anticipated years
> ago, and we are now beginning to rear
= the harvest Of what was complacen'
| seeding time years ago.
3 cit was Garfield who termed the
feudalism And feudalism it certainly
: is, bending all to it's serfdom.
~ could 60 into the 1920 trusts ex
| where, at each turn, they were robblne
. the American people not only OF thell
: wealth, but Of that which we prize
= beyond wealth-representa govern
ment:
without every other trust rushing to it
aid. You cannot get after the Ameri
can book trust without the railroad
lobbyist rushing to it's aid. They arr
l all bound together, by community O.
interests. Look at the officers Of tn
great trusts and you will be astoundet
s by the similarity Of names which hea'
t the directorate of each one.
!, y Pillories Rockefeller.
a "All the railroads Of the land ar
K controlled within six great systems. A
e the head Of one of the greatest i
d Rockefeller. I mentioned that nam
l, once at Springfield. I noticed quee
Il look come over the faces, Of my audi
u addressing Baptist Chautauqua. Blu
r I never have found a way to pad m
r remarks or make them softer. I toll
J. them what l thought Of Rockefeller.
CHTell us! Tell us' from the fou
corners Of the hall.)
"John D. Rockefeller has done NOR
to poison and corrupt the political lif
Of the people Of this nation than hav
G all the other men who have ever live
J 1t was he who taught the railroad
their pernicious system of rebates. A
along the way are the wrecks Of home
Id occasioned by the business rivalry pr
IF voked by his pernicious system. Th
IT hopes of thousands of homes have bee
1e blasted thru his industrial persec1
n tions He first saw in it's broader scoI
I. the power in the control Of the publ
IN highways
is Governor La Toilette then took U
IN the question Of railroad rebates. H
ty said that the people had taken tt
e. question upon themselves and that tt
D, interstate commerce commission Won
at be granted increased power. The hi
es tory of his fight against the "sts
ng warts' was also recounted.
w. w. Publishing Members Records.
'h' we nave got To 40 dUU
as present conditions,' he said, eff '
Mt wish to restore the kind Of Cover
Mt. ment we had in the beginning. It
expecting too much of human natu
lot for politicians in Washington who o1
e. their political influence to the trus
D. to oppose them. I hope to make t
people of Wisconsin learn the recor
of the senators and congressman tn
have sent to Washington. I do 4
know anything about your represent
tives from Minnesota. When I was
representative I know that Senat
Knute Nelson never failed to vote
the interests of the people. I do r
know if he has changed or not. I {
a seeking to arouse the people to the ct
ditions that exist
y Discussed Rates.
"A While in St. Paul Governor La F
SD lette was the guest Of the St. P;
~ Board Of Trade, and discussed
question Of rate regulation with
representatives. G.. S. LOTUS, v
president of the board, met the g
ernor in behalf Of the club and esco
ed him to the fair grounds.
In the evening Governor La Folle
met committee Of four from
board at dinner, heard their views
4 | rate rar111 ation and gavn Soma Va