The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-10-23
HOW MRS, LAFOLLETTE
WORKED DAY AND NIGHT
/. TO HELP HER HUSBAND
"The Happiest and Most Hopeful
Years We Ever Spent" Says
Wisconsin Statesman.
WAS FIGHTING HIS FOES.
Built Up Organization To Defeat
Aims of Political Machine
In Wisconsin.
WAS FIGHTING HIS FOES.

NEW YORK. Oct. 23.-The second
tnstallment or Senator Robert NJ. La
Foiiettes striking AUTOBIOGRAPHY IL
published today In the November
American Magazine LaFollette tells
how he spent 10 months following MS
first election to congress- ut-Detore
he entered upon his duties, reaulng
and studying and watching the old
congress, day and night at Washing
ton, to prepare himself for his new
public service He tells the inside
story OF his first personal skirmishes
with the machine from 1855 TO 1891,
when the onslaught oil these private
interests was reaching its height.
Il did not then fully realize" evil
dence OF community Of interests,
which was rapidly getting control OF
our political parties, our government,
our courts. The issue has since be.
come clear Watcher il shows itself
in the tariff. In Alaska. in municipal
franchises. in the trusts, In the rail-
roads, or the great banking interests,
we know that II is one and the same
thing. And there can be no compro-
mise with these interests that seek TO
control the government Either they
or the people VIII rule.
Builds Machine of His Own.
Naturally, the gang didn't want La
Toilette reelected TO congress for a
second term So he built up a ma
chine" OF his own--the common folks
In his district lie made list OF all
the voters.
1T was clear TO me-" he says. that
the only way TO beat boss and ring
rule was to keep the people thorough
ly informed Machine control Is based
upon misrepresentation and ignor-
ance. Democracy is based upon knowL
edge"
So he sentout- hundreds of letters
"Phe size OF the bills paid the gov
ernment printing office for many years
was one OF the reasons why | found
myself so poor when left congress.
he says. THE bulk OF the actual
mechanical work OF all this cores
pondence and pamphleteering fell
upon Mrs. LaFollette and myself. Oc-
casionally we INDUCED in the extrav-
agance OF hiring a stenographer for a
few weeks. but as a rule, while was
engaged in my congressional duties,
Mrs. LaFollette worked until the late
hours, writing letters, addressing en-
, velopes and sending away stacks OF
speeches. We do not look upon these
DAYS with any self-pity. We were
both young and vigorous and they
were among the happiest and most
hopeful years we ever spent.
The task OF building up and main
tanning an intelligent interest In pub
lie, affairs In my district and after
wards in the state, was no easy one
But Il was the only way for me, and
am still convinced that II Is the
best way. Never in my political life
have | derived benefit from the two
sources OF power by which machine
politics chiefly thrives-I mean pa
tronage, the control OF appointments
TO office, and the use OF large sums
OF money in organization. During my
fight in Wisconsin the old machine
used its power OF dispensing patron
age TO the utmost against me.
People Support insurgents.
When Mr. Taft, soon after he be-
came president, began Withholding
patronage from the insurgents, with
= the idea. | suppose, OF disciplining
them. | stated my own views, and the
position of the insurgents editorially
in LaFollette's Magazine, as follows:
at is we'll to have this patronage
matter understood. The support or
the progressives for progressive leg
islation will be given without refer
ence to patronage or favors OF any
sort. That support will be accorded
on convictions: And II Is idle for the
president TO presume that he can Sc
cure adherence from the progressive
ranks for any policies, or support for
any legislation reactionary in its char
acter for the sole purpose OF party
solidarity
I'm general 1t can be said OF all the
group known as insurgents or progress
siyes that they have won their VIC
tories without complicated organiza-
ton, without patronage, often with
out newspaper support and with the
use OF very little money. Nothing
could show more conclusively thar
they represent a popular feeling SO
deep that II cannot be influenced by
machine methods.