The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1911-09-21
OFFICIAL COUNTY PAPER
La TOILETTE.

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Does any one believe for a mo-
ment that if by any chance Robert
N. La Toilette should become pres
fdent, calamity would overtake the
whole nation? That there is a
vague feeling of this sort, even in
localities when La Toilette is popu-
lar, may be readily observed. 1t
dates back to the beginning of La
Follette's fight for good government
In Wisconsin. At that time he was
looked upon as a business-wrecker,
a constant menace to property in
terests. Yet La Follette,s theories
have nearly all been written into the
state laws of Wisconsin. We have
not heard Of any finaneial disasters
following the advent OF his beliefs
in that state, Their. is q more eeui-
table 4 distribution ton! Of wealth there,
- 9 aA8EfF-.
1t Is certain. More taxes are paid
by the rich and public service cor
porations are compelled to deal more
In, accordance with the principles OF
justice.
La Toilette is pre-eminently a
tighter. He fights to win. He throws
his entire personality, his entire en-
his entire mind, into every
contest he enters. To carry his
points. he places great emphasis up
on them. He dwells more upon
what ought to be than upon what
must be. He does not take time to
give his hearers lengthy assurance
OF his respect for the inviolability
OF property rights. He does not
elaborate his concession OF the
rights ofi5the very rich to their for
tunes or their profits, so long as
their fortunes and profits area'hon-
sestly made and retained. Thus it is
that. he is looked, upon as a radical.
This is true for the further reason
that La Toilette has never been will
ing to temporize. His ideals are alb.
solute. He does not believe in quali-
flying them in the interest of expe-'
diency.
Radicalism, after all, is a relative
term. 1t may merely mean believ-
Ing alone in 1900 what everybody
may believe in 1925. 1t is always
an ofense against conventionality
for a leader to refuse to be contem-
porary in his policies. That was an
indictment voiced against Webster,
against Lincoln. against Roosevelt
Let any OF US who may have
prejudice against La Toilette, drop
that prejudice for a moment and
consider how significant it must be
IL it is fact that La Toilette repre-
sents what the people of the United
States want, Just ponder on that
thought. If, that is the case, then
what will it avail to attempt to deny
the people their will? Educate them.
you say? Well, the education has
mostly been done by the other side
The opponents of LaFollette have
maintained a policy of silence.
Whether or not it is true, the peo-
pie have gained the impression that
their defense against La Follette's
attacks is better left unsaid.f
1t seems very true that La Fol-
lette has no chance for the republic
can nomination for the presidency,
unless Taft makes an exceptionally
bad record next winter. But this
does not necessary mean that La
Toilette would not be the choice in
a popular vote by all members of
the republican party. Those who
predict Taft's denomination do Sc
with knowledge of the vast amount
OF patronage and prestige to be
found In a presidents hands.
There are those among La Fol.
lette's supporters who believe that
II La Toilette makes an unsuccess-
full campaign for the republican
nomination in 1912 and if Taft is
defeated at the polls. LaFollette
will be the probable republican nom
inee in 1915: W. are not SO SURE
about that. Several hands will be
n that game.
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