The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1906-04-26
LA FOLLETTE'S SPEECH
The Wisconsin Senator Delivers Most
Notable Speech of Modern Times
Sounds Keynote of Future
Political Battles.


made one of the notable speeches
Of recent years in congress on the
afternoon of the 10Th inst, speaking
on the regulation of railroad rates.
He spoke to crowded galleries, but
to slim representation of lawmakers
of the upper body at the start. 1t
was predicted before the determined
fighter from Wisconsin resigned his
gubernatorial Office to take his seat
in Washington that the senators of
the school would show him the cold
shoulder when he attempted to speak.
Mr.. La Toilette violated one of the
time-honored legends of the senate
to some extent by getting into big
debate SO early in his senatorial ca
reer, for it is decreed that newcomers
shall serve their probationary terms
in silence.
Nevertheless he made his debut in
big debate, backed by years Of study
of the great questions of the day and
with an oratorical effort that showed
most careful preparation. After speak
ing half an hour Mr.. La Toilette
said:
Il cannot be unaware of the fact
that senators show want of interest in
what | am saying / want to say the
seats now temporarily vacant will be
made permanently vacant in the
course of time"
Applause from the galleries followed
this declaration and Senator Dean
half insisted on motion that the
galleries be cleared. The New Jersey
senator also suggested call Of the
senate to get a quorum to hear La
Toilette talk, but the latter said he
did not want that. Soon thereafter
the senators came trooping back into
the chamber and gave the speaker
earnest attention.
Senators may SMILE" said Mr.. La
Toilette at another period of his
speech, "but the American people who
have been knocking at the doors of
congress for twenty years will feel
that there has been an interference
with the liberty of effort in every
field of industrial activity
Mr.. La Toilette took a position
against what has come to be desig-
mated as a broad court review, say
ing that the railroads should be salts
fed to have their constitutional
rights preserved, and adding:
Does any one honestly believe the
corporations are clamoring for a
broad review in the interest of JUS
tice? Would they care for the priv
ilege except as it gives opportunity
for endless delays of litigation that
tend to defeat substantial justice?"
He announced his intention to sup
port the Bailey non-suspension amend
ment, saying there is much less dan
ger Of railroad companies suffering
from the decisions of the commission
than that of the shippers being
wronged by the action of court that
grants preliminary injunction.
Competition Gone
The senator claimed that the rail-
roads of the country are practically
controlled by six groups of men, each
dominating its own territory. With
agreements as to classifications, rates
and divisions of traffic, he said, the
railroad business ceased to be COM
petitive.
Mr.. La Toilette declared flatly that
the Dolliver-Hepburn bill will not
solve the transportation problem un-
less it is greatly strengthened. In
reality, he said, the bill has no more
extended purpose than to patch up the
plumbers of the present law, but he
adnait1ed that II would work some