The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-11-20
Herbert Quick, Famous Writer,
Gives Interesting Picture OF
Wisconsin Statesman.
DEMOCRACY PARAMOUNT.
Has Made Record in His State
By Successful Efforts For
Constructive Craftsmanship.
BY HERBERT QUICK.
Editor Of Farm and Fjre.Ide

What sort OF man Is LaFoliette?
This is one OF the big questions OF
American politics today.
Outside OF Wisconsin few known
his personality or have seen the
mans soul; and in his own state
many of the best people"-who were
30 lined up with predatory interests
as to make 1t necessary for LaFol-
lette to whip them-still hate him
pltterly. Everywhere he has been
bitterly. Everywhere he has been
misunderstood and misrepresented TO
such an extent that those who would
he with him II they knew the man
are likely TO be against him. He has
been painted as a Napoleon; burning
with selfish ambition--a cold, pas
sionless being. grand, gloomy and
peculiar, true to only one interest
and that his own Anyone should be
able TO see from the results OF his
statesmanship In Wisconsin that this
is untrue; and therefore the world
should study the tremendous LaFol-
lette era In wisconsin.
As matter OF fact, "Bob"--he is
always Bob" to his friends-is
warm, sunny-natured man, compan-
ionable chap. the ideal chum for a
journey or camp, whose life re-
wolves like a planet with triple,
focused orbit about three things
his home. his friends and his public
service. In al three worlds the law
OF his life Is democracy.
In the conversation about the La
Toilette hreside, all are citizens OF
little democracy, and the suggestions
Of either of the boys, Bob and Phil,
or Of little Mary, the youngest, are
received respectfully, as they are
offered freely. Mrs. IAFollette is an
equal partner. When the elder daugh-
ter Folo-now Mrs. Middleton, wife
OF Middleton the dramatist--desired
right Ia. dispose of her life as seem
| ed 10 her best was recognized instant-
/ ~, and she exercised that freedom
which in the LaFollette philosophy is
the sacred right OF every human soul
The LaFollette boys treat their dis
tinguished father as a chum, and in
the give and take OF their banter with
him, the char and Josh" Is like
that OF three college boys.
Among his friends the senator Is
true brother to all. The house Is
as open ss an Arab tent to hundreds
! who have the entree. The friend
| be he court-card or nine-spot, walks
in without ceremony, and takes his
bite to eat and a seat at the fire. No
distinction OF person Is recognized or
] felt there.
| Bob" LaFollette has lived for 20
years in an atmosphere OF the most
strenuous warfare. and yet has kept
his nature sweet and sane. The world
wondered why Lincoln could remain
so free from morb!dity with all his
cares and struggles, but finally found
the answer In his saving sense OF
| humor. The same fondness for Jokes.
for good stories, for the laugh that
clears away the clouds, Is a distin-
gushing feature Of this man LaFol-
lette He likes the typical humor Of
! America. He sees in the personages
Of public life actors in a drama full
OF humor as delicious as that OF Bill
! Nye, Mark Twain or Artemus Ward.
He likes the humor OF the west. To
hear him read "Wolfville Days" Is a
. u.
loves tragedy, and likes TO read It.
aloud. When a student in college he
swept all competitors before him
with his oration on Iago. He loves
poetry and art. His mind is alive to
the humors, tragedies and beauties
OF this wonderful world, but engaged
very intensely in problems OF state
= craft
No man ever went to the presiden-
! tial chair with such record in con-
| structive statesmanship as that al
| ready made by Robert NJ. LaFollette.
| Should he die tomorrow, he would go
down to history as one OF Americas
great statesmen, leaving behind in
the institutions OF Wisconsin mon
ument destined to last forever.
His public career has been OF a
piece with his private life-warm, hui
man. honest. and above all woven
through with thief ceiling OF the equal
ity OF all men, and Of all women and
children with men. LaFollette's soul
in This regard IS one with the souls OF
.iuColrd Jcfer Dn To!stcv--a1d In
n rettrrr t-w''h HIN who ne mi
md s'rners,
~lq, nan
IN s OF T. Il e7 - % . ities
4 l,rna 4 81 "a ."
rl m i'r 70 ~
IT p n "c'Hoa -r "A
ro''c
.ar -"
it'l Cor mon. h3yt
1cer rioa had ir fc
acr fccs ucep~sarv t1 ratai.
nut DC IA boiad SIS amt,
1 aI' hlcb ooh Lincoln troi ~
Office to stump the nation
\ siavtry. This is tie amcitic
service. He believes that the @
hope OF the nation lies IN The riuu
Z OF real democracy o. the constr
tive statesmanship in which he b
already so signally triumphed ! shat
have more to shay tomorrow.
II. n.