The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1912-01-02
HAS not
FOUGHT TQF
BREWERIf
Attacked Interests to Make a
Showing
Why Did He Not Attack the
Brewery Domination?
Would Have Taft and LaFoI-
lette Both Give Way

Lansing, Mich, Jan. 2,-Gov Chase S.
Osborn in a statement at meeting
here today proposed in the interest of
republican harmony that Senator La
Toilette and Taft both withdraw as
presidential candidates in favor of
Albert ]. Beveridge or Theodore
Roosevelt.
The governor had prepared speech
to this effect to be delivered in intro
ducing LaFollette here. In view of
the senator missing his train and fall
ing to reach here on scheduled time
today, the governor authorized the
speech as a statement of his views. He
added, "as between Taft and LaFol-.
lette, am for Taft"
This suggestion was made after
Governor Osborn criticised La Fol-
lette as having taken up those things
which might be termed popular that
contained the least danger to himself,
and Osborn frankly said he didn't be-
lieve La Toilette can be nominated.
La Follette's style OF campaign"
said Osborn, ''tends to arouse the pas
sions Of the people and make for a
condition or public intolerance, which
is always worse tnan personal or in
dividual intolerance because it has.
so much more might.
In La Follette's speeches and writ
ings l don't think he distinguishes be-
tween the honest men in big business
and the dishonest.
Il have noticed also while La Fol-
lette did great work in Kidding Wis
consin Of corrupt railroad domination,
he has never said anything against the
brewery Nomination of that state. AS
between the two 1 should prefer rail-
road domination.
Was Good Politics.
However. It was good politics to
fight the railroads of wisconsin. But
it would not have gotten La Toilette
anywhere probably if he had fought
the brewery owned saloons
What wish to make clear about
this statement is that the senator has
taken up these things which might
be termed popular and that con-
tained least danger to himself. Now,
this may be entirely unfair, but i've
thought it and think 1t still, and I
wish to say it to you and to him face
to face
Governor Osborn reviewed La Fol-
lette's public career beginning with
the district attorneyship of Dane
county and his hight with the ma
chine and bosses in Wisconsin when
candidate for congress.
i've always believed, said Osborn
that when LaFollette chose to make
a profession of politics, that he had
his own interests at heart. and I've
wondered whether LaFollette, with his
brilliant oratorical and intellectual
crusades, ever considered that there is
very little moral distinction between
an assault Of a more powerful mind
upon a weaker one and an unequal
combat of physical arms.
i hope LaFollette may be retained
in the United States senate during his
entire life. II he is made president
his influence will be over in eight
years. even if elected to a second term.
If he stays in the senate he will be on
the lighting line for quarter OF a
century yet. don't believe he can be
nominated to the presidency nor elect
ed If nominated"
Governor Osborn concluded by de-
claring il LaFollette and Taft with
drew from the presidential race in
favor of Beveridge or Roosevelt it
would calm conditions OF the party,
supply candidate who has the re-
spect Of the people. insure an admins
tration That will make for the highest
welfare of the country, and present q
front to the enemy that will be invin-
chile.