Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1912-04-19
REMARKABLE ADDRESS HEARD
BY NINE HUNDRED.
HUNDREDS TURNED AWAY
Declares Corporation Greed is Great
est Menace Which Ever Con-
fronted American People.
~ OBERT NJ LasFollette, vet.
N eran of hundred political

TX eran of hundred political
battles and who more than
fought with beasts at Ephesus," put
the momentous questions confronting
the American people into a remark
able address delivered last night to
nine hundred people who packed the
big auditorium of the Grants Pass
opera house. Three times that num-
ber would have heard the speech II
they had been able to have wormed
their way into the room. Many were
turned away. LaFollette talked to
thrill, even while necessarily COM
PEELED to speak slowly as the result
of ragged" throat, as he expressed
Il to friends who met him at the
station. The candidate for the re-
publican nomination for president,
who had the temerity to go down into
the valley and meet In combat two
political giants instead of only one,
as did his prototype In the days OF
militant Israel, for nearly two hours
told the story of brutal greed against
the American people. II was re-
markable address, and becomes more
remarkable when calmly analyzed, be-
cause II sounded a warning which de-
clared all of the trembling moments
for this republic which had agitated
II in the past was not nearly so mem
acng as the present threatening con-
ditlon. La Toilette says what he
means; and no man is so bold as to
declare that he does not mean what
he says. He may never become the
president OF the American republic,
but there are days yet unborn when
statesmen will stand in the classic
halls Of the nations capitol and
quote what LaFollette said In the
year 1912.
Il was hushed audience which
listened to this man last night Every
word was drunk in with eagerness
and profound interest He spoke In
part as follows;
It is my belief that the most ser
lous time in the history OF this coun-
try now confronts us. The days OF
Washington and those perllous days,
with all the horrors at Valley Forge,
typify the struggles underway In
this government today Then that
other time when our people marched
away TO war to music under the flag,
to save this government. The time,
however, Is more momentous now;
and I want TO tell you why-lt is be-
cause our government is the freest
lin the world We desire all the lib
erty possible, but still to retain a
framework OF a government.
Now this condition is what makes
our government a weak government
I'm a way. Menace to human society
in other days was arlstocracy; an
Iother time II was the pleblan horde,
and then some other element menac-
ing But today the menace Of this
republic is the great corporation,
with no heart, no soul with an or
ganlzed appetite for power, more
money, more power, more money,
more power, more money-that Is
what we must now fight.
serlous-mlnded men are asking
rs representative government to fail
IN the United states?" ! don't be-
lleve It, but I must say to you that
II you are 10 beat this thing YOU
must do II soon. II is only decade
or so old, but this power beats your
ballot and II gets your representa-
tiyes.
You IN oregon worked up to pow
or and blazed the way and created
new instruments Of democracy, the
. initiative, the referendum and re-
5 call. II was a glorious thing for Ore
gon 10 put rs banners away out on