The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-08-01
Senator La Toilette Delivers an
Address at Emporia.
Speaks 8 Hours on Government
by Special Interests.
LARGE CROWD THERE.
Much of the Subject Matter Per
tains to Longs Record.
The Wisconsin Statesman Is q
Guest of Editor White.


is here today to hear Senator Robert
M. La Toilette. of Wisconsin, in his
speech, Government by Special In
terests." in the tent located on the
Garfield school ground. Three thou
sand seats were provided, but were not
enough. The speech consumes three
hours. The senator arrived here at
noon.
Congressman Murdock will speak to-
night.
Mr.. La Toilette is here upon the in
vitation Of Editor w. A. White Of the
Gazette
Senator La Toilette spoke as follows:
l wish to revert to the discussion of
special interests thai have secured
control of our government by divers
schemes, one of the most pernicious
of which is their domination of the
peoples representatives in state legis-
latures and in congress.
How may we determine the extent
of such control of legislation? The
only way 1 know of getting light on
this subject is to examine important
legislation and determine whether it
be in the interests of the people at
large or whether it be in the interests
of some few specially favored individ
uals. Then look in the records and see
how the various representatives voted
on these measures
You will make some startling dis
coveries. You will be able to make
pretty clear division between those
representatives who vote faithfully in
the interests of their constituents, and
those who vote consistently for spec
cial privileges in the interests of big
business.
For a number of years. / have made
| it my business to examine the records
of public men as revealed in the Con-
gressional Record and in legislative
journals. / have demonstrated time
and time again, that legislatures in
my own state of Wisconsin were con-
| trolled in the interests of the railroads
| and other corporations. In that state
1 have submitted proposed legislation
| to the voters / have stated its purpose
| and l have read the votes from the
record. whether they were for or
| against the legislation, and invariably
the Line up" has been the same on all
measures favoring the railroads and
other corporations We found the
same men always voting with the cor
porations, always voting against the
| people; and when men line up in that
| way against the interests of the people
upon matters such as the equal taxa
| ton of railroad property with the 9TH
er property of the state; legislation to
give the people of the state fair and
| equitable railroad rates; legislation
| which would take out of the hands OF
the railroads and their legislative ser
elections; in word, legislations which
would restore representative govern
ment in that state and make its gov
| ernment serve the Interests OF the
people-when I found these things.
submitted that the government was
controlled by the corporations and for
the corporations.
| In all the long lists of records
which 1 have examined. I have never
before seen a record which disclosed
such consistent service to special IN
| terests and so little respect for the
public interests as that of the senior
senator from Kansas
II has not been possible to review
all the votes cast by your senior SEN
ator. 1 learned from his Emporia
speech that during his service In con
gress. he cast 695 votes; that is. he
| answered that number of roll-calls.
| Tn that speech he acknowledged some
votes upon questions when there was
no roll call. There has been placed
! before you a record of thirty-hve roll
calls. The senator complains that 1t
| is not fair to base his record upon
these thirty-f1ve votes. But 1 submit
| that these votes taken from the most
important questions upon which he has
| ever cast a vote are a fair index to the
character of the votes which he cast
,,nor other questions. OF course, all
| ~ these 695 roll calls are not included.
| only those of great importance are
| given. those taken upon questions in
volying a clear issue between the in
terests of the people and the interests
| of the specially favored individuals
and corporations
| And upon every recorded vote upon
! chose questions the senior senator from
Kansas lined UP on the side Of the cor
norations and against the side Of the
! people.
| In his defense of his record. the sem
| Tor senator complains of the unfairneSs
| Of the treatment which e has received
and bases his defense upon slight in
| accuracies made in statements as to
| the records, but in no instance is there
| an inaccurate statement as to the vote