The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1917-03-09
La TOILETTE HIT
BY RESOLUTION
Badger SOIOns Demand that He
Support Preparedness.
OBSTRUCTION IS CONDEMNED

Gov. Philip Divorces Salary Boost
Bill from His Pet Measure-Two
Proposals Before SoIons to Increase
Their Pay.
Madison, Wis. (SpeciaD President
Wilson's break with Germany and the
alleged war plot on the part of the
Imperial government against the Uni.
ted States, has become an issue in the
Wisconsin legislature because of Sen.
ator La Follette's opposition from time
to time to preparedness.
Sometime ago both houses adopted a
resolution setting forth the loyalty Of
Wisconsin in any emergency that may
cause Uncle Sam to take another step
nearer war. The resolution was wired
to Washington, but certain statements
by La Toilette indicated that the
voice from home failed to make deep
impression on him, although he aban-
doned his threatened and widely her
olded filibuster on the big naval ap
preparation bill which was passed in
the United States senate.
Feeling that Wisconsin was being
placed in the wrong light in the pres
ent international crisis, Senator J. H.
Bennett, Viroqua, introduced another
joint resolution calling upon La Fol
Iette to stand back of the President in
behalf of the national defense pro
gram.
Senator Benefits resolution fol-
lows:
Resolutions condemning la Toilette.
Whereas, The present situation
confronting our nation is one to COM
mand immediate action on the part
of congress and the President, and
Whereas, The continuing welfare
OF the nation demands such action by
congress as will best and most ade-
quately secure to the American peo-
pie the protection Of their lives.
and
Whereas, Under the present condi.
tons, this can only be best attained by
such action by congress as will, with
out delay, give adequate appropria-
tons and such additional powers as
the President may be forced to use,
and
Whereas. Senator Robert M. La
Toilette, in seeming disregard of the
present critical need Of proper action
by congress, when failure to so act
not only results in the loss of Ameri
can lives, but postpones the secure
ment of such state of naval and mill
tary preparedness as will best insure
the protection of our nation and pre-
serve national honor, and
Whereas, Senator Robert M. La
Toilette, as United States senator
from Wisconsin, disregards, and by
his action nullifies, the expression of
loyalty to and support of, the Presf-
dem in this crisis, to maintain the well
fare, honor and rights of our nation,
as recently declared by this legisla
ture, and
Whereas, Senator Robert M. La
Toilette by presenting action of con-
gress, or by seeking to delay such ac
ton, does not reflect the loyalty and
patriotism of Wisconsin nor does he
express the sentiment of citizenship,
which in the time of impending dan
ger, gave one man out of eight OF
population, to preserve this nation,
Therefore be it
Resolved. by the senate, the assem-
bly, concurring. that copy of these
resolutions be submitted to the Presi
dent and to both houses of congress
and copy be sent to Robert M. La
Toilette, and
Resolved, That it Is the sentiment
of this legislature that Senator Robert
M. La Toilette be respectfully petition
ed to act with the President in the i'm
mediate seCurement OF such action by
congress as will initiate and insure
naval and military preparation"
The fact that La Toilette did not
conduct hts threatened filibuster on
the naval appropriation bill will not
result in the withdrawal Of the Ben.
nett resolution. The author takes the
position that other questions of pre-
paredness will come up, and it is well
for the Legislature to express itself
as provided in hts resolution.
German War Plot Anglers.
Published reports OF the alleged war
plot by Germany against the United
States caused a stir In Madison, La
Follette's home town. Hundreds OF
kilograms were sent to the senior SEN
ator asking him to desist in his oppo'
sition to preparedness and stand back
of the President. Some Of these tele,
grams were severe criticisms Of the
senator's position: others were polite
requests for him to change his atti.
tude, and other messages were more
in the nature of an appeal to him not
to block the national defense pro.
gram.
It is understood that when the Ben
nett resolution comes up that Senator
George B. Skogmo will attack it on
the ground that It was inspired by po
litical motives. 1t is understood that
1F ha 20 hox