New-York tribune., 1912-03-14
IA TOILETTE ENTERS
THE CONTEST AGAIN
Issues Platform on Which He
Will Conduct Vigorous Cam
paign for Nomination.
A NATION.W WIDE RECALL
He Asserts That Trust Flour.
ished in Roosevelt S Admins
trations Advocates Ini-
tiative and Referendum.
From The Tribune Rureau.1


Washington, March l3.-The recovery of
Senator La Toilette from the indisposition
from which he suffered recently has been
marked by the issue from his headquarters
of a long statement of his position in the
form of an appeal to the voters of North
Dakota, and by the departure Of the Sena-
tor himself for that state, where he pur-
poses to conduct a vigorous campaign for
the nomination. Senator La Toilette lays
emphasis on the fact that. unlike either
President Taft or ex-President Roosevelt.
he has consistently opposed Canadian reel
procity, and he also asserts that whereas
the total capitalization Of the trusts and
combinations" amounted to only S3, ,7S4 0O0, coo
when Roosevelt became President" when
he turned the country over to President
Taft II amounted to 81. .672, 10000. Closing
his appeal for support with a confession Of
his personal political creed, Mr. La Fol-
ette says he believes in the initiative, ref
erendum and recall, mot only as applied to
states. but also in the extension of these
principles to the nation as a whole"
Madison, Wis, March Ex-senator Robert
NJ. La Toilette in a campaign platform
given out here to-day says il is not his pur-
pose at this time to discuss the issues or
indeed, TO do more than suggest his posi-
ton on the vitally important ones He
says:
believe In the initiative referendum and
recall and direct nominations and elections,
not only as applied to states, but also in
the extension of these principles TO the ma
ton as a whole.
The equalization of the burdens of taxa
tion, upon a property basis through the
adoption OF graduated income and lnheri-
tanCe taxes.
The parcels post
Government ownership OF express COM
panies and government operation Of eX-
press business at actual cost to the public.
The reasonable valuation Of the physical
property Oh railroads, justly inventoried
and determined, as the basis for fixing
rates, and the extension OF the powers and
the administrative control Of the Interstate
Commerce Commission.
l would have the nation know how much
Of the $lS.Up,O00UJ0 capitalization was con-
tributcd DN JnOsc VINO own the railroads
and now much by the people themselves.
! believe in the creation Of a commission
with power to Investigate and ascertain the
illegal acts of all trusts and combinations.
and with power to ascertain the reasonable
yaluatiOn-not the monopoly yaluauon-of
the physical properties of the great monop-
OlieS. beginning with the natural resources,
such as coal, oil and iron; in the creation
OF Tariff Commission If experts clothed
Of all the elements of production, costs
and profits the reduction of tariff rates to
the asCcrtained difference between the
labor i'm this country and abroad. Instead
Of each Of these government commissions
investigating the same facts independently,
believe it would be practical for single
board Of expert accountants. statstlclanS;
economists and engineers TO I've empoWered
to get the facts, not Tor the confidential
use of the President or the departments,
but for Congress and the public.
! am opposed 10 ship subsidies, which.
once entrenChed, will become another cor
rupung influence in our politics.
! am opposed TO further extravaganza,
on the advice Of interested persons only.
yards. and favor an unprejudiced commits
sion to investigate and report what Is re-
oui.ed in the way of national defence.
! am opposed to the dollar diplomacy
which has reduced our State Department
from its high place as a kindly interme-
diary OF defenceeSs nations into trading
outpost for Wall Street Interests, aiming
10 exploit those who should be our friends.
am cnnoGed 10 the AldrlCh currency
scheme. which under the guise Of provd-
ing elasticity 20 our currency system ana
relieving monetary conditions is IN realty
means of concentration of the currency
and the credits of the United States under
ffty-vear franchise into those handH
which have already secured control ot IN"
banking and currency res urces OF the
country.
favor policy Of government ownership
and operation of Alaskan railroads ana
coal mines and of an Alaskan steamship
line hv way of Pacific ports through Pan
anna TO New York.
I was opposed to the Canadian reciproc-
itv agreement when President Tart sun,
n,itted il 10 Congress January -. 1871 |
was opposed To il when I was before the
Senate. argued against IT, voted against IT,
and I am against Il now.
Accompanying his platform, Senator La
Toilette makes this statement:
When Roosevelt became President the
total amount Of the stock and bond issues
of all combinations and trusts, including
tie railways then in combination. was only
S3 Ts4 O0nU'O When he turned the country
over to Taft, whom he had selected as his
successor. the total capitalization Of the
trusts and combinations amounted to the
enormous sum Of S21 .s72 o0). no.. more than
70 per cent Of which was water. Prices
we're put up on transportation. and on the
products Of the mines and factories 10 pay
interest and dividends on this fraudulent
ca pitaliZation.