East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1912-01-04
LA FOLLETTE'S WAY.

If Senator La Toilette wins out in
his campaign for the presidency his
success will be due TO the frankness,
vigor and courage he is showing in
his public addresses. La Toilette Is
the chief of the insurgents and in the
campaign he is waging he is hitting
straight from the shoulder.
Such a course as this is bound to
be pleasing to those who are interest
ed in the progressive cause. This time
the progressives will want a leader
upon whose zeal and courage they can
back. They are disgusted with the
Taft sort of progressive.
Discussing Senator La Follette's
course the san Francisco Bulletin, an
ably edited progressive paper, has the
following:
Senator La Toilette, in his speech in
Cleveland, the largest city in Presi-
dent Taft's home state, dealt boldly
with the big issues now before the
country. With characteristic frank
ness he told his auditors just where
he stood. He was even brave enough
to declare his belief that ultimately
the federal government will, in its
regulation of trusts, fix the wages
and hours of the men who make the
trust products. In no other way, he
contended, could the government fair
ly fix the price to be charged con-
sumers. For this reason he re-
jected Judge Gary's plan of price reg
ulation. Pending the time when pro-
tective regulation of wages will be
possible, Senator La Toilette proposed
a commission with powers sufficient
to assure prompt relief from burdens
imposed on the people by com bina-
tions in restraint of trade.
The utterances of the progressive
republican leader on the tariff aues-
ton were also emphatic. For ex-
ample he said 1.-The passage of the
Payne-Aldrich bill was the most out
rageous assault of private interests
on the people in tariff history" Thus
did he make it plain that he is not
wholly in accord with the high gov
ernmental official who referred to the
Payne-Aldrich bill as the best tariff
measure in all our history.
Senator La Toilette also made clear
his position in regard to the Aldrich
money plan. In the proposed ma
tional reserve association he saw
great power for the trusts and
less for the people. "The great
est menace to competition al
the present time" he said, sis the
control of credit and the concentra
ton Of money in the hands of those
who control the trusts. Elasticity in
our currency is imperative and must
be secured but any plan to secure it.
like that of the proposed National Re-
serve association. which puts control
in the hands of the banks and mon-
eyed interests, will strengthen the
power of the trusts to get apital and
to keep competitors from getting it.
Any such plan must be controlled by
the people.
In discussing the progressive move.
ment in politics. Senator La Toilette.
after declaring the cure for the i'll.
OF democracy is more democracy said
that the struggle now on has for its
object the supremacy of the people
over legislatures, over governments.
over presidents, over constitutions ana
over courts.
That is straight talk. the kind the
people ought to hear They have had
too much Of the timid, pIayerinp
kind. 1t is vital campaign that "a
now opening. The people want the
truth. and Senator La Toilette. pro.
gressive candidate for the republican
presidential nomination, is going to
give It to them. regardless Of the ef.
feet on his political fortunes.