The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1908-06-13

| Washington, June 10. .-Ine Things
Ibcst known about Robert NJ. La Fol-
lette are: That he is a reformer who
has figured in Wisconsin for a num-
lber of years; that he has been gov
member of the United States sem
late: that he lives on nuts and veg
letables instead OF meat and potatoes;
THAT he does the Chautaqua circuit
Iproiitably during the summer time;
that the railroads hate HIM; that
members of the United States SEN
ate are not fond of him. that he
makes a good speech; that he is OPP
posed to the vested interests and
THAT all railroad men think he wears
hoofs and horns.
He has been in political life for
twenty-eight years, during which
time he served three consecutive
terms in the lower branch OF Con-
gress. and three tines as governor.
He was defeated for reelection to
the House in $780, and that year
marked the beginning of his re-
markable struggle against the dom
Iinaton of railroad and other corpo-
ratons in the politics of Wisconsin.
At the end of ten years effort he
became Governor of the state. The
Iexperences of those ten years were
varied. They included house to house
campaigning, many defeats, patron
eye brides and even offers of money
Itby corporations snteyested In get
Iting him out OF their way. In one
instance. 1t is alleged, the nomina-
Ition for governor was stolen from
him by the purchase of delegates
But at length his strength with the
Ipeople became so overwhelming that
Ihe was nominated and elected.
During his service as governor, La
Toilette was so successful In his
propaganda of reform that an honest
majority was secured in the legisla-
Iture and laws were enacted compell-
ling the valuation of railroads and
Iother ouasi-pubic corporate proper
lty and revising the taxes OF these
Icorporations 50 that they have been
Icompelled to pay more nearly their
lust proportion. A primary election
law for Senatorial and other nomlna-
Iti9ns were passed. A good law was
secured, covering the grant of street
railway franchises to municipal cor
poratlons in the state and permitting
la vote by the people on all such i'm
portant privileges.
Having cleaned house in his own
state, I.aFollette decided to enter
broader field, and in 1905 he was
Ielected to the United States senate to
succeed Joseph D. Quarles, and took
Ibis seat January 4, 1906.
That LaFollette would be ineffect-
lual as a member of the United States
lsenate was the prediction freely made
lby his numerous enemies.
The powerful interests which he
lhad antagonized in his own state
feared and resented his presence in
the United States Senate
He has disappointed his enemies
no less than he has pleased his
friends. Those who believed that he
would be content to make noise
and let 1t go at that have found that
they were mistaken. Others who
thought that he would render himself
luseess by ill-advised personal at
itacks or undgnified conduct have
found they were equally in error.
On the dther hand, the smooth,
diplomatic gentlemen who run the
lr, iY1nngcihlA tn
lmove LaFollette from his regular
lrourse of action by soft speech,
promises or hopes of any kind OF re-
ward. Neither Offices, nor rendered
appointments on important commit
tees nor pleasant social relations
have been effectual in swervlng l@-
IWollette frdm the course he had
mapped out.
Senator LaFollette has constituted
himself a very important minority oil
lone. In this capacity he objects To
had legislation and uses his objec-
Itions to secure what Is possible foI
Igood legislation and the fact that
1.-The Senate does business practically
iby unanimous consent, has made La
Follette's legislative independence q
potent factor in the law making pow
er.
The best speech on the administra
ltions railroad rate law was that de
liyered by Senator LaFolIette He Is
responsible for more amendments II
that law as 1t now stands on tht
: books than any single member o'
n the Senate His long fight with thu
railroads in Wisconsin had given hin
! a wonderful preparation to deal will
0 this subject intelligently and force
n fully. President Roosevelt acknowl
lodged the assistance rendered by la
Folletfe In this fight. and several o