Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1917-04-04
ROBERT M. LA TOILETTE

~ W. 3D. CHlleQ STATES senator from
Wisconsin, is an interesting man, and he has had an in
terestins career. Few men have been SO unreservedly
praised; few have been so bitterly denounced; few have
been so sweeping in their denunciation of others.
LaFollette has been the struggling young lawyer,
the obscure local official. the representative in congress,
governor of his state, and United States senator. And
his ambition to be president of the United States carried
him 80 lar that at one time he was regarded as a pos
sibility for that high position, and was warmly support
ed for it by several thousand people.
At an early stage in his career La Toilette appeared.
hat in hand, before Isaac Stephenson, millionaire lum-
herman, to ask for personal support and financial as
sistance. He received both. His early campaigns were
financed by the magnate, and he came rapidly to the
front.
He became prominent in connection with railroad
and general corporation legislation in his state.
He fathered a group of measures which took the
popular fancy, and which were adopted.
Some Of them have proven beneficial. Some of them
have added millions to the taxation Of the people of the
state without being productive of any corresponding ben
eht. But. on the strength Of these laws, LaFollette be-
came the idol Of a great many people, and through the
appeals which he made in lectures, he became a nation
al figure.
distracted attention from many facts which have a bear
ing or: the shaping of his character, and on his position
as a public man. In his numerous contests in wiscon-
sin ne had the hearty and unreserved support Of many
men who gave him their assistance. and who. in several
cases. were the actual originators of bills which he adopt
ed. and for which he claimed the credit.
Practically without exception, IaFollette's friend-
ship for each of these men has been limited to the time
during which they could be of use to him. He has the
ability. which is fortunately given to but few men. to
use his friends as long as they are of service, and then
to cast them off like tattered clothing.
& Ills behavior toward Stephenson is typical. Stephen
son has befriended, supported and financed him. Yet,
when he thought that the proper time had come. La
Toilette turned against his old friend, and actually sought
70 have him expelled from the United States senate.
Not many men could have permitted the desire for
political advantage to blot out the memory Of a long list
~ acts Of friendship extending over twenty years.
.LAFollette could, and did.
Thus, man after man. he has used his friend. az
stepping stones. and he has dealt each a parting kick al
sAe paBeed on. CANA
8IA1olletts II q super-esoist. To him the universe
- osntsrsd in his own person.
&$Domtneer1ng insolent and intolsrant. he IN endur.
$1,000 m associate only when his will. is permitted to
lAaye full sway. AZ an antagonist he ID bitter and win.
Alettye. and utterly incapable Of any exhibition Of gen.
SatonSs human sentiment.
lAde - the man who was the head and front Of the
attbDtsr against the armed neutrality bill Of a month
6oesWAsn, BY the use Of senate rules which were framed
klMp6ee Tor freedom Of real debate among gentlemen.
&1aM6N4l1eA ths govsrnment Of his country ana prevented
E&SG6on ttAnalakn( into action its known will.
Sa##N H. the naan who. now when his nation u smart
46ey4M6egl ~ Aingins insults that . foreign power has
M1Hefe6. and whom that power 10 destroying without
emm49saAA1A without conapunction the lives and the prop
4kSaee - sN11sW cattssns, has ths snprsns e6Fontsry 70
9EleTsA NAAav - IN hosr. t1s sMscttvs WORKING out az
e - Aeoa, = Ssasr thak u ~ strut