The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1912-03-01
oRoNNA PAYS GLOWING
TRIBUTE TO LA TOILETTE
AND PRAISES POLICIES


Baltimore, Md, March Prophecy
ing that North Dakota would declare
for Senator La Toilette for president.
Senator A. J. Gronna, before the Au
GUSTAV Society here last night. paid
q glowing tribute 10 the Wisconsin
senator. He sketched the growth of
Republican ''progressivism" and gave
much OF the credit for the movement
TO Senator Ia Toilette who, he said.
was g. a man of ability. honor and
courage, of the type Of Lincoln and
Roosevelt"
Mr.. Gronna declared the progress
i've movement was not mere faction
alism," nor that it was engineered by
men seeking personal political ag-
giandizement.
Most unbiased observers" he said.
now recognize that the movement is
more than struggle between party
factions and their leaders, with politi-
cal preferment or party control as the
prize TO be won. and that il is n move
ment in defense of popular rights in
opposition to the control of govern
ment by the great moneyed interests
OF the nation"
Progressive Principles.
Predicting that the stand -patters''
in the Republican party would make
a Vigorous fight against the adoption
of the basic principles OF progressiv-
ism. Mr.. Gronna outlined them. They
included. he said. the direct primary.
the initiative and referendum and re-
call. the direct election of all United
states senator's. a corrupt practices act
and an income tax? Extension of the
recall TO the Judiciary was defended
by the speaker.
There is no reason why the judges
should be exempted from the operation
OF this principle" he contended 'If
the people have the right to say what
laws shall be enacted. they have the
right to say what those laws mean
after having been enacted Otherwise
the right to make the laws become
more or less ineffective as laws can
be nulifed in their Interpretation
ton are constitutions or statutes II
the people have the right to adopt a
constitution they also have the right
to adopt a constitution they also have
the right to have that constitution in
terpreted in accordance with their un-
derstanding Of it,"
Mr. Gronna charged that an or
ganized attempt had been made
throughout the country TO picture La
Toilette as IAN irresponsible reaction
airy and impracticable visionary. whose
efforts would be destructive and not
instructive"
la Follette's Record.
"An examination of La Follette's
record. rowever." he said. "of the laws
the enactment of which he has secured
as governor and as senator. or whose
enactment he has urged If not able to
secure it ought to convince any cam
cid man that honest legitimate busi-
ness has nothing TO fear from La Fol-
lettes election to the presidency"
Ia Follette's record as governor OF
Wisconsin then was taken up by Mr..
Gronna. who dwelt at considerable
length on the formers policy with ref
erence to the railroads of the state
This policy, he said, had resulted ia
complete regulation of railroad rates,
fair alike to the companies and 10 the
shippers, and had established new
relationship between the common car
riers and the people of the state of
Wisconsin highly beneficial to both.
Referring To the Wisconsin Sena-
tors tariff views. Mr. Gronna said his
policy was merely "a tariff equal 10
the difference in cost of production al
home and abroad" La Toilette, he
said, advocated the establishment OF
permanent tariff board to- arrive at
this difference. not a board modelled on
lines differing from the one now exist
ent.
"a tariff commission" he said, OUT
lining the Ia Toilette idea, should he
established by law having full power
to secure all needed information in re-
gard To any industry-which the pres
ent tariff board has not assured of
it's continuance even il one branch of
Congress should temporarily be in
control OF a party hostile to it, and
making it's reports TO Congress, as the
aw-mal<ing body. and not to the pres
ident as the tariff board now does"
For Industrial Stability.
Mr. Gronna then touched on La Fol-
lette's opposition to the Canadian re-
ciprocity measure. his connection with
the framing of the Mckinley tariff law
ond his condemnation Of the proposed
monetary legislation. by which the