Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-01-04
As Between Wisconsin SEN
ator and Taft, Michigan
Executive is for Latter;
Both Should Withdraw.
SENATOR TOLD HE
HAS NO CHANCE
Friendly Scourging Of La
Toilette Planned as Intro
ductory Speech; Later
Given Out as Statement.

Lansing, Mich, Jan. a.. Governor
Chase s. Osborne, in q statement here
today, proposed that President Taft
and Senator LaFcllette both withdraw
as presidential candidates In favor Of
Theodore Roosevelt or ex-senator Al
bort ]. Beverage. The governor had
prepared q speech to this effect to be
delivered in introducing Senator La.
Toilette here. In view Of the senator's
missing his train this morning. he
authorized the use Of the speech az a
statement of his views. Governor Os.
borne added: "As between Taft and
LAFollette, am for Taft"
Governor Osborne criticised Senator
LaFollette as having taken up those
things which might be termed popular
that contained the least danger to
himself" and frankly said that he did
not believe Senator LaFollette can be
nominated for tho presidency or
elected II nominated. ........ i.
Governor Osborn further said:
"The Senator LaFollette style Of
camparign tends to arouse the pas
sions Of the people and make for a
condition Of public intolerance, which
is always worse than personal or in
dividual Intolerance because 1t has SO
much more might as force.
I'm Senator LaFollette's speeches
and writings-and In this connection
let me say that I have taken and en-
1oyed LaFollette's Weekly and I am
q subscriber to 1t now-I do not think
he distinguishes between honest men
In big business and dishonest men.
''we have got to have big business
In this country II we are to compete
in the manufactures and transactions
Of the world. But big business should
not be permitted to Cypress tho
people.
Hits Railroads; Dodses Brswerles. !
II have noticed also that while Sena-
tor LaFollette did great work in rid
ding Wisconsin of corrupt railroad
domination he has never said anything
against brewery domination in that
state. Really, as between the two, !
should prefer railroad domination.
However, 1t was good politics to fight
the railroads In Wisconsin, but II
would not have gotten Senator LaFol.
lette anywhere probably II he had
fought the brewery-Owned saloons.
what I wish to make clear about
this statement is that the senator has
taken up those things which might be
termed popular and that contained the
least danger to himself. Now this may
be entirely unfair, but have thought
It and do think 1t still, and I wish to
say It to you and to him, face to face"
In beginning his remarks, Governor
Osborn said:
eft is entirely proper for me to vel.
come senator Of the United States
to Michigan, and one who Is 50 much
in the public eye and seeks the public
favor at this time. have known Sena.
tor LaFollette and Of him for thirty
years, or ever since he made his fight
for district attorney OF Dane county
against the machine Of Boss Keyes. !
have followed his career always with
interest and with varying degrees Of
admiration and approval. Never have
I discovered in my mind a single
of what might be interpreted
as condemnation. Most OF my apprecia.
ton Of him grows out Of q defense Of
him on my part at every time have
heard him criticised. have always
believed him to be entirely honest and
I believe he Is honest now.
Hopes He viii Not Be Nominated.
fright here let me state so that
there can be no misunderstanding
about 1t that il he is nominated for
president (which at this moment
hope he will not be), will give him |
my earnest and active support and
will request my friends everywhere to !
support him with earnestness and de-
votion. But permit me to run through
his record as remember it. I will !
not have time to go into great detail
but there are some things would like
to state because they. find Judgement |
Ia my mind, and wish to be open and |
frank with the senator and with you
and with the people Of Michigan"
The governor then reviewed Senar
tor LaFollette's public career begin
ming with the district attorneyship OF |
Dane county, his tight with ''the. ma. !
chine and bosses In Wisconsin when |
4 candidate for congress, and that |
while in congress whenever It was q |
question as between the interests and |
the people he took the side Of the peo-
pie"
Governor Osborn then referred to |
suits brought some years ago In Wis
consin by the democratic administra- |
lion against previous republican treas [
urers for interest on state deposits |
which had not been turned over to the |
state. Senator Philetus Sawyer
said Governor Osborn, had signed the
bonds OF one delinquent treasurer or
naore. Statement is made that he
stood to lose several hundreds Of |
OF dollars IL the state won.
The story is that he offered to retain /
Senator LaFollette as an attorney In |
The cases. Senator LaFollette's story |