The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-04-20
la FOIL ETTE GETS MAD
IN RATE BILL SPEECH
EMPTY SEATS MAKE
SENATOR ANGRY
Wisconsin Senator Chooses an I'm
fortunate Day to Speak on
Hepburn Measure.
BY w. w. Jermane.

BY w. w. Jermane.
Washington, April Ex-senator La
gFollette's much-heralded speech on the
rate; bill fell on ansunfortunate day
for him. The Associated Press had
prepared q synopsis of 1900 words, in
tending to carry it to the country for
the afternoon papers Of yesterday, but
the press of space on account of the
sensational news from San Francisco
was so great that this synopsis was cut
down to 900 words, and it is safe
guess that even this much did not see
daylight in many Associated Press pa
pers. The speech, as a WHOLE. was
long.
Advance copies Of it were furnished
the various news associations here, and
it has been estimated that it embraced
10000 words, or enough matter to fill
about sixty newspaper columns, reck-
oning 1900 words to a column. During
the earlier part Of the speech, which
for the most part was read from manu-
script, many senators went downstairs
to lunch, and at one time, not to ex-
coed about a dozen were in their seats.
La Toilette Gets Mad.
Noticing this absenteeism, and per-
haps regarding it as being a slight
which some of the senators desired to
put upon him, La Toilette departed
call attention to the empty chairs and
to state that some of those chairs, now
vacated temporarily, might be vacated
permanently unless their occupants
were careful.
This remark was made with tremen-
dous emphasis, La Toilette bringing his
clenched fist down on his desk as he
spoke. There was vigorous applause In
the galleries, whereupon Senator Kean
of New Jersey arose and demanded
that the vice president enforce the
rule prohibiting such applause. This
was done, and with it went a short
lecture to the galleries that if the ap-
plause were continued the galleries
!, would be cleared.
Discourtesy Not Intended.
After a time the senate began to ill
up, lunch being over, and for the
greater part Of the speech Mr.. La
Toilette had a good hearing, as is
given all set speeches on the rate cues
ton. It is unfortunate for La Toilette
if his remarks are to be interpreted as
expressing belief on his part that the
senate as a whole intended to show him
any discourtesy, for that is not the
case. There has not been debate in
that body for years which has been
as closely listened to as the rate debate.
No matter which side a senator
takes, If he has anything that it is
RESPECTFUL hearing, and this, On the
whole, La Toilette had. His intlma-
ton to the contrary is regarded as an
indiscretion which may do him more
harm than good in the end.
Radica1isrn Orops Out.
There has been a. good deal Of com
ment regarding La Toilette s attltude
toward the Hepburn bill, as outlined
in his speech. His radicalism cropped
out in a way that has caused some OF
his colleagues to marvel. Nobod ", no
even the president, expects that thu
Hepburn bill, if enacted into law, O.
without amendment, will be panace;
for all the ills the public has beef
suffering at the hands OF the grea
transportation lines. The president an
his advisers have been as quick to Sc
the weakness Of that bill as Senate
La Toilette. ,
But while doing this, they realize tina
the bill is as nearly perfect as an.
measure congress will at this time b
willing to pass, and 50 they accept 1t
NOT AS the end of railroad regulation
LEGISLATION, but as merely the begln
nino of that legislation. The bill, t
begin with, makes sweeping aftlrms
ton of the power Of the government I
regulate transportation, thus cafryln
out the idea expressed at the outset 0
The president s annual message, an
+hen T. goes as far in the direction o
the exercise of that power as the SCI
ate. AS at present constituted, WI
pei ni' Agitation Will Continue.
r. ia the belief of all the administr'
+;on snnDorters that the rate questlo
in some of it's phases, will, following tt
enactment of a. law at this session, (
an issue before congress at each su
ceedinp session for many years to com
and that in the end, as the result OF tn
continued agitation, some form OF reg
lation Of railways will be adopted whlt
will be fair and right to both CARR
and shipper. a4o4
affairs can be produced in the inltiato7
railway act, with nothing in the way
experience or precedent to- guide, co
gress in preparing it, is the height
absurdity.
aette's acquaintance are beginning
Ysay that his speech in the senate yests
day, especially that part OF Il: 1t IN VIM WI
he aGtaCkeu tuc 1lOPo'AiA DNN'
him either as a demagog or an 1gr
ramus. Few will believe him to be t
latter. and his friends do not want
regard him as the former
Eye on Presidency
Those who accuse him of demago@
however, say that he has his eye tx
on 1908, believing that the republic
party will have to nominate some re
ical man in that year. By 1908 the E
ID, to be enacted before the close OF Il
session of congress will have been
operation two years and many OF
shortcomings will have become knovv
Then there may be demand for +
ward movement in rate matters, and
La Toilette is now shrewdly laying
foundation that will make him an ava
.ible candidate under the conditions
lave thus briefly described.
This, however, is purely. speculate
md would not now be mentioned I
or the onslaught which La Folle
made Yesterday on a measure for VIII
later on he will cast his vote. A m.
general opinion than the one I hs
>eferred to is that not demagogy,
"a Follette's Unborn radicalism has
aarted itself in his rate bill speech, a
hat he is impatient because he cam
Cecure at one time, and that time NJ
ONE rate law that will fulfil the po
Al desires as he sees them. s.
1917,