The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-24
RECOLLECT|ONSOF
 MARTYR M'K|NLEY Senator LaFOllette Writes
 Interestingly CRITICISES MIR. REED Despite the Strongest Political Pres- sure Brought to Bear Mckinley Steadfastly Refused to Ap- point Lobbyist

New York, November 23--Senator Rob- ert M. LaF ollette treats of the Reed con- gress of New National issue in the install- ment of his autobiography in the Ameri- can Magazine. He also recounts some of his personal recollections of William Mc- Kinley. In these two connections MT. La- Toilette days in part:
 During those years in the sos while I was ff Congress, the lines between the progressive and standpat elements were already beginning to appear. The align ment of forces was not so clear to me then as 1t is now, but knew well enough where the leaders stood. Reed always used his great power in defending the existing system. He sneered at those who desired new legislation He closed one of his spechs with these words: And yet outside the patent offices are no monopolies in this country and there never can be, but what is that I see on the far horizons edge, with tongue of lambent flame and eye of forked fire, ly it must be the great new ckimera, trust
 ly it must be the great new chimera trust. What unreasonable talk this is. A dozen men fix the prices for 6o,O00,00O free people. They never can do it. there is no power on earth that can raise the price of any necessary of life above just price and keep it there. More than that, If the price is raised and maintained even for a short while, it means ruin for the combi- nation and still lower prices for the con- sumers.'
 Reed had no sympathy with the inter- state commerce bill and voted against 1t.
 q always felt that Mckinley represent ed the newer view. Of course, Mckinley
 was a high protectionist, but on the great new questions as they arose he was generally on the side of the public and against private interests.
 And this the people instinctly sensed. In my own state of Wisconsin during the campaign for the republican nomination in 1896 I voted for Mckinley but the old machine leaders. Payne, Sawyre, Spooner Pfester and Reyes all worked vigorously for Reed. Reed had big busi- ness with him; but these in the state was too strong by the bosses. The wise dele gation to the St. Louis convention or which I had been elected as anti-machine leader, was instructed for and stood sol- idly for Mckinley.
 1T know of my own knowledge that Mckinley stood against many of tlie corrupt influences within his own lparty-that he even stood firmly against the demands of his best friend, Hanna. Mckinley had no sooner been elect ed than the Wisconsin machine, backed only by Hanna, demanded the appoint ment of Henry G. Payne as Postmaster | General and l with others brought for
 ward the. name of Governor Heard oi Wisconsin as candidate for Secretary l of Agriculture. A few weeks before
 McKinley's inauguration. upon his in vitation, I went to Canton to see him l I explained to him what forces Payne l represented in Wisconsin and indeed he had already known Payne's work as a lobbyist in Washington in con nection and especially with beef trust matters and I knew he abominated that sort of thing But he told me that he believed no man had ever been so strongly indorsed by prominent, in huential politicians in every part of the country as was Payne for the appoint ment When it was nearly time for me to go Mckinley said:
 Bob, I may not be able to ap- point Heard, but will say to you that Henry Payne shall not be member of nay cabinet
 "When I saw Mckinley at the White House in the following winter he told me how the effort to secure Payne's ap- pointment had eliminated He said that Hanna had come to him just before his final decision was made and said:
 You may wipe out every obliga- ton that you feel toward me and I'l ask no further favors of you if you'll only put Henry Payne in the cabinet
 "McKinley's answer was: Mark. I would do anything in the world I could for you, but I cannot put man in my ca binet who Is known as lob byist.'
 And he kept his word"