The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-08-02
La FoLLErrE's METHODS.


The usually .leve1-headed Washing
ton Star takes occasion to criticise-
it appears to the State journal unduly
the methods of Senator La Toilette
in his lectures this summer The
Wisconsin statesman in the course of
his remarks describes certain amend
ments that were proposed to the rate
regulation bill which he believes were
in the interest of the people, and he
reads the list of the senators who
helped to kill these various amend
ments. This list is known as la Fol-
lette's black list" The Star says:
I'm criticising as a lecturer before
Chautauquas his associates in the sem
ate by name for their votes on public
questions Mr.. La Toilette is pursuing
course which occasions no little
criticism. 1t is certainly unusual.
And it looks unfair. He may already
have expressed himself IN terms of
equal force in the senate on the same
subjects and in effect about the same
men, but when speaking in the sem
ate he had those senators for audit
ors. They were present to defend
themselves. and had the right to at
tack him in turn. AS a lecturer he
has the stage all to himself. He may
go to extremes without being called to
account at the moment.
This is a new feature of our new
times. 1t is q new style of stumping.
ating or crystallizing public sentiment.
paid his own way, or drew on cam
paign managers. In the new style the
people pay. The gate receipts re-
munerate the speaker, and, besides,
yield profit to the management. In
an era of entertainment this form has
taken strong hold on the public
and a Chautauqua fayorIte addresses
large audiences, and scatters his views
far and wide.
"In the case of a senator, however,
there is a risk in Mr. La FOllette's
method. He may as a senator pay
dearly for his popularity as a lecturer.
For his deliVerances in the latter ca
pacity are all noted, and he is held to
account for them. Mr.. La Toilette by
reading from a black list of senators
may entertain his audiences, and even
increase their size, but by holding his
fellow senators up TO opprobrium in
places where they have no reply he
cannot fail to arouse their animosity
and make cooperation with them on
public questions the more difficult He
diminishes his usefulness as a senator
to the extent that he opens or Widens
a chasm between himself and his asso-
ciates. Personal agreeabIeness is a
great factor in a body where courtesy
and tact and taste are reckoned
highly.
"A senator in OTnclal debate is eX-
pected to speak to the point and with
all the force he can command Though
compromises are constantly made. and
are. indeed, necessary in such a body.
they are the better in the senate when
they grow out of a vigorous presenta-
tiou of the case by both sides. Mr..
La Toilette in the senate will be the
more effective for plain speaking, but
will lose as a senator by a course
which smacks too much of trying his
case out Of court, or rather abusing
the court after the judgment has been
handed down"
Isn't it straining at a gnat to argue
that Senator La Toilette should not
make this sort of a speech because the
people pay an admission fee to the
chautauquas to hear him? What diff
ference, pray, does that make?
And is not La Toilette to be allowed
to tell the truth about corporation
senators because they are not present
at his meetings. In these days the
people are easily reached through the
press. and If La Toilette quotes the
record wrong he can easily be called
down. and the people will resent his
misrepresentation.
A case in point is the alleged state
ment Of Senator La Toilette at clay
Center Monday that Congressman
Curtis favored the sale of the coal
lands in the Indian Territory. Mr.
Curtis believer the senator was mis-