The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-12-28
.LAF0LLETTE TELLS OF
REFORMS IN WISCONSIN
Senator Who Seeks Republican
Presidential Nomination,
Speaks in Youngstown.

YOUNGSTOWN, o., Dec. 2e.-ln
Ais principal address here yesterday,
Senator LaFollette, of Wisconsin, who
is seking the Republican presidential
nomination, and who il backed by the
progressiYes OF that party. told OF The
reforms that had been accomplished
IN his state.
His address follows:
y All great movements in government
and society are matters OF growth.
The progressive movement today Is az
surely an outsrowth OF conditions as
was the Revolution or the civil War.
IL is peoples movement people
cause. IL took root I'm the great
i Granger movement OF the northwest
gin which Wisconsin took an impor-
lani part.
The nation has pronted by Wiseon-
SINS civic evolution. In the begun
ming eur program OF legislation was
viewed with alarm. and denounced as
visionary, extreme, radical, ana
menacs 10 capital and TO business m
terests. Today the justice the WIS
dom, the economic soundnessAof every
Wisconsin law TO which the progress
slve movement gave being has con-
quered opposition, and compelled APP
Proval In every enlightened Common
And the last Wisconsin Republican
platform. with all its pledges fuln!led
by all intelligent and faithful legis-
lature Is the strongest guarantee yet
tsiven for perpetuating self-govern-
ment.
The newspaper files, a few years
back would DE found TePlete with
accounts OF a political uprising In
the state OF Wisconsin led by Il
dangerous and fanatical demagogue.
The leading papers in almost every.
state pointed To MtsConsin ha "A warn
ing and urged the suppression every
where OF any similar spirit and the
stamping out, In Its tncipency, OF
any like manifestations. as OF deadly
plague. In business circles and politt-
cal gatherings, Wisconsin was men
toned with sneer and The strictest
rules or quarantine were invoked
against any idea which came out OF
that state.
However much the reputation of
that movement and the good name OF
the meu connected with IL suffered in
the estimation of the American people.
within the state progress was made
year after year. and the work begun
decade and half ag) is still gong
steadily forward. IL IL not claimed
tog the progressive cause I'm Wisconsin
that IL has attained it's final destiny
that II has settled all OF the questions
Hthdt YEA and trouble thoughtful people
everywhere, and cause unrest even
among the poor rich, bat We do know
that we have achieved certain things.
We know that government has been
made representatire-truly represen-
tative. We do know that the dire AMI
awful 2 predictions which alarmed
honest business III Wisconsin haze
proven false; that capital has not ned
from the state but is more secure than
elsewhere. that state banks, subject
TO state regulation, are safe and fall
ure Is unknown; that the street ear.
the interurban, the gas, electric light
and water rates are undergoing regu-
lation and reduction. and yet, because
we have stability the bonds Of all our
public utilities are selling higher in
he mi at nj nI hs4p
states, that railroad rates have been
reduced. the services regulated. the
complaints OF fhippers adjusted. and
yet the railroads of Wisconsin are
more prosperous than in other states,
because sense OF security prevails
everywhere and every producer, cvety
manufacturer, knows that his competi-
tors within the scope OF state rcgula-
ton enjoy no secret favor or advan-
tage. The old feeling OF class antas-
tpnism and distrust is fast giving place
va peace, confidence, and prosperity.
IL was clearly understood at the out
set that we were entering upon new
.ra: that the wonuerful industrial de-
-teiopntent of tire country httG oHt-
grown our statutes ana Constitution;
Shat the problems We're complex amt
Intricate in high degree, and that
they required profound study and re-
search, and the application OF the best
expert knowledge available. This work
was done at the outset with such in
diNtdual assistance as could be secured.
ana InGA tleGe WAS NtplHNl ouN a pan
for the establishment OF legislative
reference bureau, an institution for
AeRiSlatiNe research, conducted by mca
trained IN the construction and draft
ing OF statutes.
This spirit OF Investigation as a basis
for legislation perVades all OF the work
az Wisconsin ~ has become the es-
t4blishcd practice 10 appoint in one
Legislature specially analited members
upon select committees to study diff
cult problems, such as Industrial in
surance, workmen's compensation ana
the wdteIpowcr. question, who in con-
junction with the Legislative reference
bureau work out well considered plans
To be acted upon by the succeeding
legislature. Whatever success we have
ASHAMED in Wisconsin throughout the
enIC tment OF wise. constructive sta
tutes has been the result OF a clear
and definite comprehension OF the i'm
portance Of the work as affecting. not
only the material interests OF the state,
hut the sociological welfare OF the
people. in the broadcast application OF
that term.
The conditions which prevailed in
policies. government, and business In
WISCONSIN fifteen years ago, are those
which the people In most s<ates and
In the nation are facing today
For years Wisconsin / al been con-
-trolled hy-a CORRUPT Do1itical machine
A half dozen men OF wealth and
power. allied with corporate interests,
with scarcely break In the line,
named state officers, United states SEN
ators congressman, and members OF
the Legislature. They selected speak
, ers, chairmen OF important commit
: tees. dictated legislation. beginning
In 1894. we undertook the overthrow
" that political machine ana the es-
tablishment OF representative govern
nent irt the state.
At tile end OF a :en-year struggle
with the machine. at last we wrote
upon the statute books OF Wisconsin