The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1907-03-09
SENATOR IA Toilette
MAKES S0L0NS SIT UP
From the Day He Took His Seat
In the eSnate He Has Been
Very Aggressive.
Put Senators On Record When
They Wanter to Trim.-Final-
ly Makes Them Come.

He led the flint which kept the rec
ords open until there can be full in
vestigation of alleged gratis in In
dian Territory.
He delivered the most exhaustive
speech that was made on the railway
rate bill.
He forced the passage of an employ
ers' liability act.
He forced the passage of a resolution
authorizing the Interstate Commerce
Commission to investigate railway and
elevator companies for the purpose
Of discovering whether q combination
existed between them by which the
farmer Is robbed.
He forced the senate to consider his
resolution reducing the hours Of labor
on railroads in the interest Of public
safety.
He introduced bills bills providing for
the block system on all railways of
the country.
Senator La Toilette is a true embodi-
ment of the popular spirit of disappro-
val which has been aroused against the
body of which he is a new member.
He hangs on the TANKS Of his COL
leagues and watches for opportunities
to raid. He surprises the enemy and
catches them in awkward situations.
That is what happened in the case
of the Employers Liability Bill. The
Senatorial army was sweating through
the Maroon and dangerous def1le Of the
five minute rule debate on the Railway
Rate bill when La Toilette flashed up
on the TANKS and offered the liability
bill as an amendment. It was ger
maine, in order, and it had been
knocking for consideration for exactly
twenty years. The eyes Of the country
were on the Senate Chamber.
La Toilette demanded roll-call vote.
He said he would not argue. He want
ed only a vote. They could vote for
or against it as they pleased, but vote
they would or they should not advance
another step.
Aldrich Elkins, an Kean (members
of the Interstate Commerce Commit
tee, where the bill was being smother
ed), grabbed white flag and rushed
out to make terms. They promised
anything. Withdraw the amendment,
and they would report the liability bill
next Friday-any old time!
Their promises were recorded in the
Record and La Toilette had won his
fight. The twenty years. campaign was
| ended and "a bill hardly less impor-
| tant than the rate bill had been added
to the national statutes.
Again in the closing hours of the
! session La Toilette fell on the cohorts
of the regulars. He demanded con-
sideration for the bill to limit the
hours Of railway employees. In the con-
| gestion of business, when little could
go forward without unanimous con-
sent, he stationed himself in the middle
of the legislative road and drew his
oratical sword. "Vote," he demanded
| Vote to take up this bill and make
| it unfinished business. Otherwise
obstruct!" The Senatorial army halt
| ed. There were nine roll-calls Each
| new call on the motion showed the
| absence of quorum; but each call
| for a quorum showed a quorum pres
| ent.
| What did this mean? Simply that
! Senators were shulking. They were
| failing to respond to their names when
the rail- was called, for the reason that
| they did not dare vote against the
| motion Of La FoRette-and their affilia-
| lions with the railway and other vest
ed interests were such that they did
| not dare vote for the motion. There
sat Burrows Of Michigan, and never
.peeped. There was the good Mr.. Lodge
disappearing intothe cloak room when
the LIS were reached. There were a.
| dozen Senators pretending that the is
sue was a partizan one, and taking
refuge in the plea that they were
paired" with an absent colleague.
But La Toilette held the pass, and
refused to be moved. They gathered
| round his desk and fed him with hon.
| eyed words. They breathed threaten
sisted But it was Of no use. Finally
Hale arose and announced surrender.
He told his colleagues who were skulk-
ing behind pairs" to come out and
vote. =
A third time La Toilette fell upon
the enemy. On this occasion the Sem
ator1al soldiers were gathered together
In a quiet place for division of the
loot. The Public Building bill. other
wise known as the pork barrel" was
under consideration. La Follette's "un
finished business"-the bill to limit the
hours of railway trainmen, etc.-be-
came the regular order
! Scott Of West Virginia, manager Of
the pork BARREL" asked La Toilette
| to let his bill wait.
| I demand the regular order" was
the calm and firm announcement pro-
pork Observation-Disclosures over to La.
F'ollette's desk and began to gesticu-
late. His face was like mask.
Hale saw that the raid must he re-.
PEELED at any cost, and he sounded
his forces to arms.
VERY WE'LL" he declared. "then I
will move to lay aside the unfinished
business, and we will have a. roll-call
on that"
This was steel against steel. and La
Toilette parted.
"Of course, my bill merely affects
the public safety" said La Toilette.
with gentle sarcasm. Il know it would
be voted down as against a bill of the
character Of the one under considera-