Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-08-02

presented itself. Nestors and old
time leaders and recognized managers
of this great body, though voting
against his proposed measures with
precision, found it necessary to keep
an eye on the horizontal plane toward
his seat, while the lesser lights looked
in his direction. believe the Senator
surprised even his best friends by
his accomplishments these first seven
months, and no doubt he disappointed
his enemies in the same ratio. He
certainly stirred the big guns to a
remarkable degree and started a
healthy reputation as a splendid
fighter for the people against cor
porate graft and corruption in it's
varied phases.
Regulation Of railway rates and
services was, perhaps, the most i'm
portant measure before the last Con-
greSS. All the foremost Senators,
the great constitutional lawyers.
debated upon bill and amendments
during at least seventy-two days.
The masterpiece in this great dis
cusSion was, in the opinion OF many
nereabout, a speech upon the PROPOSE
tion delivered by the Junior Senator
from Wisconsin. The fund of accurate
information which he contributed as
illumination for the general public
relating to transportation and the
obligations Of common carriers was
the most complete presented.
A clear and pleasing voice, with
volume unsurpassed in the Senate:
logic, skill, and reSourcefulheSs of
expression; forceful earnestness in
contention; Suave manner. People in
Wisconsin know these qualities,
residents of the District of Columbia
and all the visitors who frequent
Washington have come to recognize
them. That is why popularity and
standing came quickly. In vernacular
of the street. the Senator has made a
hit with the folks
am Offering in these paragraphs
no biased expressions of civility, no
FASHIONED account, but merely repeat
ing Voluntarily the sentiments /
overheard from day to day, spoken
ia the halls of Congress, on the streets,
and among fellow clerks-people of all
sections, who through years of con-
tinued observations in the capital
city can somewhat reliably formulate
comparative estimates Of public men.
Already an important figure in the
Senate, Hon. Robert NJ. LaFollette is
looked upon to zealously guard mani.
fold interests in the future.
Everybody has deserted Washington
to escape the vitality-sapping mid
summer humidity of this season.
That is, everybody who could 60 to
the mountains or the seaside. Running
city water comes from the pipes at a
temperature about like warmed-over
soup: heels of your shoe leaves an i'm
print on the asphalt pavement in the
street and it feels like walking over
rubber ice", as the boys use to call it
back home; we simply take our hats
off in the sun to save the price of a
hair SINCE at the BARRIERS.
With the President and family at
Oyster Bay, the Roots on a cruise in
South American waters, the Tafts at
Murray Bay, Canada, the Hitchcocks
up in New Hampshire, the Cortelyous
and Bonapartes up north also, the
Metcalfs In California. the ambassadors
distributed over the leading watering
places, and the rest of us
Well, who cares about the rest Of
US? 1 wish we were in Wisconsin.
Yours, ETC.,
G. EDMoNDE LAVIeNR.