The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1911-09-14
THE MEN OF THE HOUR.

President Taft has seen mt to open
the presidential campaign thus early,
taking advantage of a visit to Hamll-
ton, Mass, to deliver speech IN
which he attacked members of both
great political parties for their action
in opposing the One-sided Canadian
reciprocity recently foisted upon the
country. The campaign OF 1917 being
thus opened, The Iowa Homestead
believes it is time that certain issues
now before the public be presented
to it's readers fairly and lmpartlally,
in order that all may be fully advised
as to where the best interests OF the
farmers lie.
In the first place, The Iowa Home
stead believes that now is the tlme'
if ever there was one, when the farm-
ers of the country should put aside
party prejudice and consider men
and measures in the light only and
greatest number. The Iowa Home
stead does not believe that it is heed
solely of the greatest good to the
lessly or needlessly usurping any OF
the rights of each Individual to
choose for himself when it contends
that no man who does not consider
the welfare of 100000 American
citizens any more than VIM. II. Tart
did when he foisted one-sided Canad-
ian reciprocity upon the nation is DE-
serving of the support of those 49,
100000 citizens Farmers and resi-
dents of farms) for the, presidency.
One-half of the entire population of
the United States resides outside of
towns of 5000 population. One
half of the entire population resides
upon farms. Is not the welfare of
this proportion of the whole nations
people as much entitled to consider
alton as that of the minority which
resides in the large cities? Presi-
dent Taft, in his Hamilton speech,
saw fit to attack his political Oppon-
ents because they voted for the 49,
100000 American farmers. The
Iowa Homestead believes that now
is the time for these 100000
American citizens to decide once and
for all that the man who ignores
their existence, who pays no heed to
their welfare, who betrays them to
the entrenched interests, is not de-
serving of their continued support.
no matter with what honeyed words
he may attempt to explain and con-
done the wrong already done.
To whom, then, shall the farmers
of America (the lovers of good gov
ernment) turn as the standard bear
err? The Iowa Homestead does not
wish to appear to be saying that such
and such man is the only one avail
able in the crisis, but it does believe
that it would be untrue to it's duty
and mission if it did not, at this time,
point out how the president has fail
ed in the performance of his oath to
serve all the people without favor or
partiality) and how in each great po-
litical party there stands out a lead
er, tested by time and responsibility,
each one of whom has been true to
his trust to serve all the people, eth
er one of whom would lead the coun-
try to continued prosperity The
Iowa Homestead believes that the
farmers of America should rally
around these men and by giving them
the support they deserve show those
who serve only the intrenched inter-.
'ests that might does not necessarily
make right and that the people do,
indeed, still rule The men whom
The Iowa Homestead commends are
Robert NJ. La Toilette, of Wisconsin,
in the republican ranks, and Wood
row Wilson, of New Jersey, in the
democratic ranks.
Among the men who loom up big
in the republican party, none has
more persistently or consistently
fought the battles of the people than
Senator Robert NJ. La Toilette. From
the day he entered public life, SEN
ator La Toilette has been in the thick
of the fray. Thrice elected governor
of Wisconsin, he secured for that
state many needed reforms, the most
notable being primary election re-
system by which the railroads es-
capped bearing their proper share of
the taxation burden, and the regula-
ton of railroad rates. When Mr.. La
Toilette entered the United States
Senate seven years ago every effort
was made to belittle his achieve ;
nents. He was assigned to the most
committeeship in the
body, that of the improvement of the |
Potomac river. When he first arose !
% speak the old guard of republican !
senator's noisily quit the chamber,
leaving Senator La Toilette to speak
20 empty seats. He prophesied that
he day would come when the seats
,hus temporarily vacated would be
permanently vacated Time has vim
1icated him. Today, La Toilette is
he leader of the senate. His person. =,
Atty is stamped upon the legislation
there. When the senate and |
he house attempted to come togeth-
or on tariff matters, during the last
session, the senate placed the bills in
La Follette's hands to do with as he
chose, pledging itself to accept what
ever results he secured. The chief
speech in the senate against one
sided Canadian reciprocity was deliv-
cred by La Toilette. The condition by !
which the progressive members Of
10Th the republican and the demo-
cratic parties fought the old guard,
md whipped it, was led by Senator
Ia Toilette. His is the dominating
personality of the senate. He Is the
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