The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1906-05-12
ONE LAFOLLET r MAN
-. GOES To- SOCIALISTS
Life Long Republican Says
Wisconsin Movement Is Now
One of Principle.
Claims It Has Degenerated
Into Campaign of Spells ;
Since Leader Is Away.

Wyocena, Wis, May 10.-Political
circles are upset in this little town on
account Of the announcement of F..
W. Hammond. M. d., one Of the La
toilette leaders that he had served
his relations from the Republican
party and had affiliated with the So
c:alists. When asked for a reason for
his change he said:
I was born a Republican, lived and
came to maturity in a Republican at
n:osphere, and cast my first vote for a
Republican president.
The old party that made Lincoln
president, and gave the slaves their
reecon:. must be right in policy and
honest and just in its administration
OF the laws, I thought.
This feeling of security in the
unquestioned integrity of the party
leaders lulled me into a party of SON.
ambulance from which I was not
aroused until the fight was started
within the party of Wisconsin, with
LaFollette leaders Of the insurgents
I'VE are all acquainted with the de-
tails Of this fight, and it has been a.
very instructive time for the INITIATED.
We realize for the first time the rot
tenness that existed under the old re-
glme, the influence of the corpora
tons and the party bosses in dictat-
IN g or blocking Legislation and above
all, the crookedness Of the office hold
er.
Il united with the La Toilette forces
for to him and his campaign of ed
II {@1k
liverance from my former condition of
indifference to political affairs.
Il had heard of Socialism and it's
principles, but at this time it seemed
as far away and ephemeral as the COL
ors of the rainbow, very beautiful;
perfect in shading and tint, but not
within the grasp of man.
Il combatted the principles of So
c1al-Democracy for eight years and
voted for La Toilette, his reform
movement with the disgraceful and
disgusting political jobbery and cor
ruption that were unearthed and that
sprang into existence as a result OF
this fight brought me nearer to So
ciaiism.
Il began to realize that the same
old methods OF the political bosses
an dtheir tools were employed by this
new faction with the possible excep-
ton of the unemployment of money.
which I do not think was done) to Sc
cure for itself the offices and places
OF public trust. so lately vacated by
the agents of the corporations.
And thus we have another political
machine built up in the state, which
In time, when the annimosities9 en-
gendered by the late fight have slight
ly cooled, will be again assimilated
and owned by the corporations.
Il do not question the integrity of
these men at the present time but T
see the beginning of the dissolution of
the LaF'ollette forces.
What are the signs: First, LaFol-
lette practically out of the fight in
Wisconsin. Second and last, four of
his chief lieutenants actively engaged
in pushing for separate canvases for
the nomination of governor at the Sep
TENDER primary.
The question suggests itself: Are
those four men fighting for principle.
or are they fighting for their own per-
sonal advancement? Are they prompt
ed by an unselflsh motive-their de-
sire to serve the people of their state
or are they prompted by a desire to
advance themselves an their own in
terests?
"They have severally fulfilled their
platform pledges and have Influenced
others to do likewise. Is this act in
dicative of special merit, that they
should accept political advancement
as pay for doing what they were elect
ed to do? The appreciation of de-
frauded, disfranchised people, for the
honest administration Of a public Of
fetal should be however enough
II have given conditions as see
them, and in these conditions are em-
bodied my reasons for joining the So
cialist movement
when T vote the Social Democrat
ticket, I am not controlled by senti-
ment of by selfish motives; I do not
| vote for the man, I vote for the prin-
| ciple he stands for"