Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-10-23
ShROCNC LAUGHTER,

The coming ten years will be years
Of transition in our politics. LaFol-
lette has fitted himself to play an i'm
portant part. He is known to the
country now about as he was to the
senate when he entered it. The coun-
try may feel inclined to laugh at his
spectacu lar and dramatic challenge Of
republican mana cement. But he is not
to be laughed out Of a hearing. He is
a man 10 be taken into serious account.
His triumph may not come this year
nor next But in the end the country
will listen to him.-Des Moines Reg
lister and Leader
Leader is more accurate than its esti-
mate and analyses Of the present. The
country is not the politicians except
specifically. The plain voters who
are the country have never been in
clired nor are now to laugh at LaFol-
lette. On the contrary no man who
over appealed personally to the voters
by act and word of mouth has been
more enthusia sticallv received and aD-
plauded When LaF'ollettc came into
Iowa some years ago he was met by
studied political defamation, gar5led
and untruthful news reports written
by special men assigned for the pur
pose by standpat corporation news
papers. Every effort was made to dis
credit the man and his issue. But in
+no 81 beIr in ipy,
control of Iowa publicity LaFollette
spoke to mighty assemblages who
CHECKED and listened and urged him to
continue speaking to the last limit Of
voice and strength. There was little
laughter in LaFollette's audiences and
less in the opposing camp. When La
Toilette went away from Iowa he stood
esta blished in Iowa. In the state as
in others he has strength all his own
and q record which will attract kin
dred strength to it. If LaFollette
comes into Iowa fighting for its delega-
ton he will develop an immediate and
astonishingly powerful following. In
a straight presidential primary he would
carry the state over Taft by crushing
and overwhelming majority There is
no inclination to laugh at LaFollette's
candidacy on the part Of the common
/ voters. Those who hate him for what
he represents may sneer but they do
not smile. Those who have assisted to
vote into the government Of Iowa some
Of the reforms that LaFollette has
written into the Wisconsin code might
smile in welcome. LaFollette neither
wears nor provokes the smile Of ia
tuity. He Is a serious man with seri-
Gus and answering purposes. who
seeks no political friendship except that
which includes those purposes, no per-
sonal support which denies the politi-
cal issue It is hard to smile at men
of this type.
! The fact is that "the country" has
moved up close to LaFollette. Issues
more than the man have made him q
leader. but the man has never wavered
On the issue. His strength Is that of
the. issue rather than personal but It
comes very close to and may readily
develop into powerful personal feel
! ing such as Mr.. Bryan has created for
| himself or as Theodore Roosevelt COM
manded and still retains to large
extent Men love leaders for the enc
mics they have made. the fights they
have fought, and LaFollette has tough,
interminably and aroused innunerabls
ennnities which make for common
friendship.
To admit so much is not to prefe,
LaFollette over all others as a presi.
dental candidate. 1t is simply to b.
honest in estimating a great man witt
a consistent record and q great pur
pose.