The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-01-07
WASHING TON S EYES
ARE ON liz TOILETTE
Wisconsin Senator Enters Under
Heavy Handicap, Without
Capitol Support.
BY w. w. Jermane.


Toilette is easily the most interesting
and spectacular figure in the United
States sepate at this time, and much |
interest will be taken in him during the
remainder of this session, at least, or
until he has definitely outlined his pro-
gram of procedure and the novelty of
his presence here has worn off. For /
Washington is an eager seeker after
novelties and sensations in national
political life, and La Toilette has been
taken up as the newest combination
of both types After while it will
know just what course he intends to
take, and then he will drop down to a
normal level, and from it begin his real
ascent or descent to permanent sena
torial reputation. .....s
His Present Reputation.
He comes to the senate with the
! reputation Of militant reformer. His
enemies call him. dangerous man, a
fanatic, an unsafe and unthinking rad
ical His friends call him statesman.
| In Wisconsin, where he is best
known, there has lately been something
of shrinkage Of his fame, due to a
growing impression that, like nearly all
| puUl1C ulcu, Hc ID uO1C VI 1cSS CdlCuldC-
ing and selfish. Obviously, he would
not be human if he were not something
of both these things, and his opponents
at home who have cast these first stones
at him because he does not possess all
the virtues, forget about their own
shortcomings.
La Toilette is a seasoned legislator.
He had been in congress three terms
| u-bor ho hx, ho
cratic tidal wave Of 1890, and had be-
He cannot be kept down in the senate,
but whether his methods Of keeping
before the public will be of the con-
ventional sort or in keeping with some
of his acts while governor, Washington
which will make him a center of at
traction here for some time to come.
Most Lonesome Senator.
He will begin his senatorial term the
democrats, who focked to his standard
in Wisconsin and three times helped
=. make him governor, will not be of any
help to him here. He is not on good
terms with his colleague, Senator
Spooner, and most Of the republican
senators will view him with suspicion.
He will not receive an ELUSIVE well
come at the White House. Rumor has
it that he believes the president has
stolen his thunder as a reformer, and
d there is a rather wide belief that he is
! jealous of him. Whethersthis be, true
OF not, is certain that The president,
does not trust hints afraid of his
judgment and political sanity, and
would be the last man in this city to-
ask his advice on any important ques-
} ton. "-> rs ~ l. -
Rates His Speciality.
La Follette's specially during this
session will probably be railroad rates.
AS champion Of reform along this line
he will quickly discover that he is not
dealing with Chautauqua audiences,
which applaud everything that is well
said, but with men Of long experience
t in public life, most of whom look upon
$ him with suspicion, feeling that he is
e more or less Of a crank, and very many
s of whom differ from him on the rail
t road question. These men have thought
d out the rate matter as carefully as he
k his, and his oratory will not move
}. them. ':
e There will be no attempt in the sen.
f ate to keep him in the background. He
t holds brief, has conned it we'll and i:
d entitled to be heard. He will hardly
l. be snubbed as Beveridge was when h,
+ appeared in the senate. La Toilette il
It not lover Of rhetoric for it's own sake
d he has convictions and is tenacious O.
j. them; he is man Of mature years..
IA congressional veteran, and represents
great many people in this country out
side the boundaries of his own state a
we'll as inside these boundaries. .. .
% 49,. Carries a Handicap. ss.,.
sd So thoroly advertisedis he as rad
e. cal reformer that he necessarily come
81 into as conservative a body as the ser
H. ate carrying a heavy handicap. H
ne will hardly be listened to there wit
n patience, and if he should undertak
ar to force his views, he will quickly a.
as rive at a state where he will contrt
CHI only his own voice and his own vote.
ed This was the danger which col
4 frontd Beveridge, but that gentlema
I'd was able to live down his earlier IL
G. discretions of posing, rhetoric an
he sophomore eloquence. After he Ia
If, done 50, and it had become known tn;
IN. he was contrite and would not SO often
ay again, he was restored to full fello1
mt ship, and today he is one Of the Sc
ate's leading figures.
But should La Toilette once To-
tor caste, it will be for good. This is h
M greatest danger at the opening Of h
on senatorial career. It is a danger whit
i o has overcome even greater men thu
vas he is, and it's significance is not to ]
,at dismissed with sheer.
nd Federal Patronage.
70 The most annoying matter. pressi,
ner r on him at the beginning Of his senat
req rial career is that Of postoffice al
she other federal patronage in Wisconsi
zen He is leader Of the g hail breeds
Isl: that state, Senator Spooner the lead
tai of the stalwarts. Just how they W
an: compose their differences or wheth
I'D, there will be: any efforts at compost
tie. them, nobody yet knows. In a test
She strength, Spooner would undoubted
orr, win, in majority of instances, DO
aid in the senate and at4Sthe White Hou
aid but in neither place is this test desire
'ea. La Toilette is embarrassed on Il
patronage business, because the ha
~ breeds expect that he will promp
turn all the stalwarts out of office a
=, put his own friends on guard. This S
IIa Ia, uation will demand that he confer W
lc a.. NV q