Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-09-27
Io,ya Newspapers
STANDPAT VIEW OF LAFoLLETTE
Nevada Renresentatiye)

STEAMBOAT VIEW OF LAFoLLETTE
Nevada Representative.
| Inc nrst time we ever saw LaFoi-
lette was in the spring Of 1879. when
La Toilette, then a senior in Wisconsin
University. came to Iowa City, where
the writer was then a student AS the
representative Of Wisconsin in an ora
torical contest setween the representa-
tive college orators OF the several mid
| western states. La Toilette not only
came but he saw and conquered. ana
{ LOT years afterwards he was a nero
among the college students Of all TINS
territory. The demonstration OF brains
was absolute and irrefutahle. A num-
Der OF years later. chance took the
writer to Washington for a season. the
time being the first half OF the Harri-
son administration ond the term Of the
glorious Tom Reed congress. La Fol-
lette was there. in his third term al
ready as congressman from Wiscon-
sin, member Of the ways and means
comslittee and an associate OF Nc
kinley and Dingley and Gear in the
framing of the tariff Of 1890. We knew
| by repute something Of the value Of his
service in the framing OF that bill. and
we heard the speech he made upon the
bill. a speech which was not in that
| debate nor, we think. at any time
thereafter. surpassed III its strength
and excellence as viz dication OF the
application of the protective policy 70
agriculture. We think we know that
at that time La Toilette was an eXpon-
ent OF what is hest and soundest in re-
publican principle. as Major Rathbun
and the writer understand such princi-
pie.
La Toilette went down in the wave
OF defeat that overwhelmed the re-
publican party shortly after the pas
sage of the Mckinley tariff. and il is
unquestionably the fact that when the
next arose 10 the surface II was as the
opponent Of the existing republican or
ganization in Wisconsin. and when he
had OverridGen that opposition and
been transferred once more 10 Wash
icgton ne as certa inly did appear there
as ore who was disturbing the pro-
cessiOn. In most Of these proceedings
il has been our sentiment that La
Toilette was overriding thngs-just as
for six or seven years I'VE had the same
idea OF Roosevelt in the White
House: but il IS very distinctly our
La
consist with itself much better than
will Roos.velt's. and d!sreg riding the
imprecatiorS and recrj~.irations Of the
controversies !; i worth while to take
some stock anew of LIE Fcl!stte's fight
and is results
~ We understand the matter the
main points in La Folla:,e'S principal
contentious Rave been that The Wis
cia.es were making too much person
ally OF, Of the states funds. that the
lax laws % Wisconsin Were inequir-
able and much needing TO he reformed.
tha. rates OF transportation were too
high and should be reduced. that the
interstate commerce law was not as
effective as il ougat 10 be, and thai The
great protective interests WsTe fu--
suing 4 selfish policy toward other in
Gust-ies and the country. AS 10 the
state treasury. we think The Wisconsin
courts sustain the La Toilette view AS
to the tax laws. we never have seen
any tex Ia US yet that were not in need
OF reforming and we have seen very
few people who We're getting Out OF the
payment ~ Just taxes and at the same
time willing 70 come III? but We DO
understand that the revised Wisconsin
TAX laws are being enforced. AS to
transportation. -he L.. Fo.ette way
vas 70 appoint a con- mission 10 inTes-
ttsa,e and revise and We know that
when things were going wild in Iowa
OF the railroad question the railroad
attorneys and representatives we're
a skiing friends il this state 10 aid them
in securing tire acceptance here. as A
compromise Of the conclusions reached
10y tn. La Toilette commission in Wis
cons!n AS 70 interstate commerce ne
think there should he no further criu-
cism Of Ia Toilette in the interest Of
Taft since the Kidding Of the Wicker
sham bill: ana as 10 the tariff. me
record stands that after the great In
dustries had gotten thu rates they
wanted in spite q La Follette's charges
Of selHshness they turned about and
co-operated with President Taft IN
removing duties from .he agricultural
products as TO which their interest was
for cheapress and not prosperity.
Upon full review il appears 70 MS
that consistent standpat opposition 10
La Toilette Is based upon The impress