The Washington times., 1911-12-27
HUGE OHIO THRONG
BRAVES STORM TO
HEAR LAFOLLETTE
Is Wildly Cheered as He
Opens Campaign at
Youngstown.
CONTINUED from First. Page. /,

that II has attained It's final destiny
that 1t has settled all OF the question.
that vex and trouble thoughtful peopi,
everywhere, and cause unrest ever
among the poor rich, but we do know
that we have achieved certain things
We know that government has bccrl
made epresentative-truIy represents.
tive. We do know that the dire and
awful predictions which alarmed hones,
business in Wisconsin have proven
false; that capital has not fled from the
State. but Is more secure than elts-
where; that State banks, subject to
state regulation, are safe and failure Is
unknown; that the street car, the m
terurban, the gas, electric light, and
water rates are undergoing regulation
and reduction, ad yet, because we have
stability the bonds or all our public
utilities are selling higher in the mar
kets than those of other States; that
railroad rates have been reduced, che
services regulated, the complaints of
shippers adjusted, and yet the railroads
Of Wisconsin are more prosperous than
N other States, because sense OF Sc
curity prevails everywhere, and every
producer, every manufacturer, knows
that his competitors within the scope
I Of State regulation enjoy no secret ia
vor or advantage. TIE old feeling of
class ailtagonism and distrust is fast
giving place to peace. confidence, and
prosperity.
= Entering New Era.
It was clearly understood at the out
set that we were enterinr 1pon now
era; that the wonderful s.rial de-
t~SAt Atrv% 10 ~
our statutes and Constitutions; that
the problems were complex and intri-
cate in a high degree, and that they
required profound study and research,
and the application of the bes: expert
knowledge available. This work was
done at the outset with such individual
assistance as could be secured, and
then there was wrought out a plan for
the establishment of legislative ref
erence bureau, an institution for legisla i.
tive research. conducted by men
trained In the construction and drafting
Of statutes.
This spirit OF investigation as basis
for legislation pervades all Of the work
Of Wisconsin. 1t mas become the es-
Ablished practice to appoint in ono
legislature specially qualified members
upon select committees to study diff
cult problems. such as/industrlai insur-
ance, workmen,s compensation, and the
waterpower question, who in conjunc-
tion with the Legislative Reference Bu-
reau work out well considered plans 10
BE- acted upon by the succeeding leg
islature., Whatever success we have at
tained in Wisconsin throughout the
enactment of wise, constructive statutes,
has been the result Of clear and def
mite comprehension Of the importance
Of the work as affecting, not only the
material interests of the State, but tho
sociological welfare of the people, in
the broadest application of that term.
Fifteen Years Ahead.
The conditions which prevailed In
policies, government and business in
Wisconsin fifteen years ago, are those
which the people in most States and In
the nation are facing today
For years Wisconsin had been con-
troled by corrupt political machine. A
half a dozen men of wealth and power.
allied with corporate interests. with
scarcely break In the line. named
State officers. United States Senators.
congressman, and members Of the leg
men of important committees, dictated
legislation. Beginning in 1894, we under
took the overthrow of that political ma
chine. and the establishment of repre-
sentative government in the State.
At the end of a ten-year struggle with
the machine, at las. we wrote upon
ary election law for the nomination of
all candidates by direct vote of the
people under tho Australian ballot sys-
tenn, and though defective in one re-
spect, 1t was a broader and better law
than that of any other State in the
Union.
Z We. secured a JUST law, since sus-
tained by the Supreme Court, taxing
railroad property by the same system
and at at the same rate applied to other
( We secured a law taxing large in
heittances, the constitutionaiity Of
which the Supreme Court has likewise
We enacted a law taxing street rail-
ways by the same system and at the
same rate applied to other taxable
We enacted ciytl service law.
civil service law Of any other state,
placing the civil service on a basis
where appointments are made strictly
uron merit. and orcn to all citizens
sAuhe, mus tnOTOuSIly uSfHOcTdtlZlnS
the. civil service of the State.
We enacted law prohibiting contri-
buttons by corporations for political
purposes.
1 Barred Lobbyists.
We enacted a law prohibiting any paid
lobbyist or legislative agent from CON-
municating personally with any neu,-
btr Of the Legislature regarding legis-
lation. and limiting the lobbyist to oral
or printed arguments. presented II
legislative committees, or TO the Legis
lature In a body.
For the first time in the history OF
water power legislation In this whole
country, Wisconsin incorporated pro-
visioi, in every franchise providing for
a. regulation OF the rates charged for
electric power. The water rowers have
T, been placed under the control Of the
railway commission. and the fowirg
water has been declared to be public
property.
We secured legislation establishing a
state forest reserve, starting with
35ooO0 acres on the headwaters of the
principal rivers of the State, and Wis
ccnsin now ranks next to New York
and Pennsylvania in its area of forests
belonging to the State, ana has adopted
permanent policy of adding annually
j to the reserve.
We have enacted an efficient child
labor law; excessive hours for women