New-York tribune., 1912-01-03
PROGRESSVES HAVE
MIX-UP IN MICHIGAN
Governor Osborn. at la Toilette
Meeting, Sharply CritlCises
Absent Wisconsin Senator.
LATTER MISSED His TRAIN
Governor Prefers Taft 10 La Fol
lette, but Suggests Both With
draw in Favor Of Roosevelt
or Beveridge.

Lansing Mich. Jan. 2.-GovernOr Chase
Osborn to-day took charge OF meeting
Of Progressive Republicans gathered to
hear Senator Robert NJ La Toilette who
failed to appear, and delivered an address
he had prepared to introduce the Senator,
thereby causing an outburst Of complaint
from some of the audience, who objected TO
the Governors remarks in referring to
Senator La Toilette.
The Governor said that as between Taft
and La Toilette he preferred Taft, but
asked that both Taft and La Toilette with
draw and join in nominating Senator Bev-
eridge or ex-President Roosevelt.
when the Governor criticised some OF
Senator La Follette's acts and called him
a politician who looked out for himself
primarily. persons In the audience shouted
that Governor Osborn had no right to make
such remarks I'm hall rented by support
ers Of the Wisconsin Senator.
"Well. what did YOU people expect when
YOU asked me 70 preside" replied the Gov
ernor with emphasis. "You knew wnere
stood Did YOU think [ would allow you
20 censor my remarks? ] am more sorry
than you that the Senator was not here
hut I am more than glad to pay for the
hall If that makes any difference - YOU
Secretary Hannah of Senator La Fol-
Jette's staff called up the Masonic Temple
where the crowd had assembled, shortly
after o'clock and asked that " be an
nouuced that the Senator would not ap-
pear. When this word was carried to Gov
ernor Osborn he went to the platform alone
and. after stating that the Senator Wou'u
not be present he explained that he had
prepared certain things to say, ana III
view of the fact that they were To De pup
lished he saw no reason for not saying
them
IN the latter part Of the address la
Toilette partisan in the rear of the nan De-
gan 10 shout: who Is paying Tor the
hall?" but dessted when several near MN
suggested that nc should stop D.
AS the Governor concluded fraI.k no
hard. the state manager of the La FOllette
campaign, rushed to inc riau,plra ,,para ~nr
are; the Senator will be mere "luhh d nan
hour -, . -
At this the crowd returned to their seats
and Governor Osborn added:
Good. I'll stay and introduce him
bard played several selections while
RObard endeaYored 10 ina out WheTe thc
Senator was. evidently hoping 10 get nm
TO Lansing in some way to answer lhe
Governor Half an hour later Rooard de.
cided il was useless to hold the crowd
longer and again the people were dlsinlsseo
Robard criticised the remarks OF Cover
nor Osborn as shameful" but the Coy
ernor asserted his right to say what ne
pleased so long as the La Toilette people
had invited him TO the meeting.
Reviews La FoIIette's Record.
TIE Governor was applauded when he
suggested that both Taft and La Toilette
ridge 10 make the race. lie said In part:
The Senator's style of camrfaign tends to
arouse the passions OF the people and make
for a condition of public intolerance, which
is always worse than personal or lndiVld-
ual intolerance, because Il has so much
more might as a force
In Senator La FOlIette's speeches and
Writings-snd in this connection let me
say that ! have taken and enjoyed LA
Folette's Weekly and ! am a subscriber
~ il now-I do not think he distinguishes
between honest men in big business and
dishonest men.
We have got to have big business in this
country If we are TO compete IN the mar
ufactures and transactions of the world.
But big business should not be permitted to
oppress the people.
/ have noticed also that while Senator
La Toilette did great work in Kidding WIS
cOnsin OF corrupt railroad domination he
has never said anything against brewery
domination In that state: really, as D.
tween the two, | should prefer raliroad
domination. However, it was good poll
tics to fight the railroads in Wisconsin,
hut Il would not have got senator la foI-
lette anywhere probably II he had fought
the brewery. owned saloons.
What I wish to make clear about this
statement is that the Senator has taken
up those things which might be termed
popular and that contained the least dan
ger To himself. Now, this may be entirely
Unfair but have thought IL. and DO tlilnk
if still. and | wish 20 say il to you and
10 him face TO race.
Detroit. Jan 2--To a Saginaw 'cabbie"
IS assigned the blame for Senator La Fol-
lette's inability to carry out his engage
ments TO speak to-day at Lansing aud
Ovosso The driver took the Progressive
Presidential candidate to the wrong station.
Tbr Wisconsin Senator intended TO leave
Saginaw for Owosso over the Grand Trunk
Railroad. but. by mistake. he was driven to
the Pere Marquette station. There he
boarded southbound train without a TICK
Of which prevented the employees from
discovering and rectifying the error. He
was well on his way toward Detroit be
fore he found that ne was on the wrong
train.
Meanwhile members Of the senator $
marty were waiting impaiiently at the
Grand Trunk station, and only gave up
hone Of being joined by their chief when
they saw the train vanishing in the dis
tance
Nrrappements were then hurriedly made
to effect a 'cunion Of the party at Holy
Int when all was ready for revised pro-
cramme TO be announced 1t was found that
train schedules would not permit the--Sen-
ator's visits to OwOsso and the state capi-
tai IT was then decided that he should 30
directly to Grand Rapids for meeting this