The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-01-01
SUBMITS RECORD
In a Speech at Flint, Michigan,
Senator LaFOllette
Tells What Progressive Laws
Have Done for Wisconsin.

Flint. Mich, Jan. 1.-'sHow Wiscon-
sin Has Prospered Under Its Progress
sive Administration, was the subject
of an address by Senator LaFolletle in
this city. The speaker said that pro~
gressive legislation in Wisconsin has
not been destructive, as its enemies
predicted Instead said he, "of
driving capital out of the state, it has
attracted capital more than other
states. It has made investments safe
for all. instead of speculative for a few
1t has beenn constructive as well as
progressive. Not one of these progress
sive laws has been overturned by the
supreme court of the state and not one
has been carried into the federal
courts
Continuing, Senator LaFollette said
the general business conditions in Wis
consin concluSively show that instead
of being retarded by progressive legis-
lation Wisconsin has advanced finan-
cially and commercially more rapidly
than the country taken as a whole
Judged by commercial failures, Wis
consin has prospered better than the
entire country During ten years of
progressive legislation the expenses OF
the state have increased, but the bur-
den of taxes upon the people has de-
creased.
''The property of the state is paying
81 per cent less taxes in proportion to
its value than it did ten years ago"
Before 1aIling how he would solve
tbs 1sssAz So etsHsiaa. e aftsaERA LAX tn3~
lette discussed the administration of
the canal zone. He praised the policy
of Clifford Pinchot with respect TO-
Alaska and said:
.aThe problem before US is not TO
hoard our resources, but to develop
them in such a way that the benefits
flowing from development will inure
not to few, but to the rightful own
ers-all the people of the United
States. With the experience Of the
past the waste of these resources, the
turning of them over to speculation
and monopoly would be a crime
against the people of the United states.
At Mercy of the Syndicate.
ITO permit the Inorganic Guggenhe1m
combination to remain in control of
railroads of Alaska means that all the
men lured there with pick and shovel
and pack will, in the end, be complete
ly at the mercy of Morgan and Gug-
genheim. Every pound of coal they
mine will pay such tribute to the
monopoly-own transportation COM
pany as it chooses to exact.
Alaska was purchased with the
peoples money, taken from the COM
mon fund-the treasury of the United
States. Whatever of profit, whatever
of advantage in anyway accrues from
that purchase belongs to all the peo-
pie They are entitled to get the
benefit in the reduction in the cost of
living which will come from the utili-
cation of Alaska's treasures. The
whole Pacific coast demands access to
the enormous coal deposits. The peo-
pie east Of the Rocky mountains will
gain by their development. Even the
navy department of the federal gov
ernment is compelled to pay from
nine to twelve dollars on the Pacific
coast for what costs three or four dol
lars on the Atlantic coast. I believe
that our future power on the Pacific
ocean depends upon the utilization of
the coal of Alaska. Congresses first
duty to the people-the owners of
these magnificent coal fields, and 9TH
er deposits of mineral wealth, is to
provide for their proper development,
and in case of private concern, so
in the case of public ownership, the
frst step to be undertaken should be
the creation of proper transportation
facilities. whereby a market may be
afforded for the resources. The
wharves. docks. railroads and terminals
in Alaska should at once be acquired
oy the government for the same busi-
ness reason that would move a private
corporation to acquire them if it
owned the coal fields'