The daily Nome industrial worker., 1917-10-05
THE Iir0LLETTE CHARGES.


 Robert Lafollette has been q member of the United States Sen ate for many years. He has been the original insurgent, the first re- publican progressive. He has been q consistent fighter of special prl- vilege and the general work that has been accomplished in clipping the wings of that privilege wheth- CT very extensive or not has been his work in a great measure. That Roosevelt and many others stole his politices is no matt"r. The fg'i has been Lafollettes even if the victory has been another's.
 Now Lafollette is what may he called bourgeois reformer His aims are essentially middle class aims and although he is credited with the work of getting through the seamen's act, none the less his work has been for the little bust, ness man.
 The charge now made against him is due to the policies which he has pursued all along. It is absurd to say that LafOllette is pro-Ger- man. un-American and what not because he is against the war. That his acts may be distinctly pro-Gcr- man in their consequences would be safe to urge but that he has such purpose as distressing the ope- rations of his country is ridiculous.
 It may be taken for granted that there are few men in politics reflect their economic environment and it's political force so directly and obviously as does Lafollettt, unless it be certain men like PenroSc who are rejecting the force and inter csts of big business all the time.
 L.afollette cannot see wherein the war will beneft that class for whom he speaks. While great interests in industry and finance and com merce may ultimately or presently hope to benefit exceedingly from it, the small fry will in LafollCtte' s mind be ultimately the loser.
 Lafollctte's vision does not see that those whom he represents have been injured to such an extent fly the German policies as to warrant the entry of the United States intt this war. and whether because he is the representative of ar inland state or no, he has not been able to don the fears of German at tack quite freely entertained or coastal sections.
 Naturally then. assuming that ht has been elected to represent the views of certain constituents La toilette insists upon the right d: Senator to give expression thereto even when that expression brings him in direct opposition to the Ad ministration,
 Quite freely it is evident tha Lafollette has not been able t' grasp the fact enunciated by Presi dent Wilson that this war IS t make the world safe for democracy Lafollette's observations have, W judge, led him to believe that tn interests which arc proftting mos by the war are as greet menace t democracy as the Kaiser. The lon fight which he has carried O against the money truts, againf the "malefactor3 of great wealth to use Roosevelt's pithy phrase. Ina induced the belief that the design of such as they are can be viewe with suspicion.
 In considering this rather dougl tv senator it is only fair to under stand that he is the creature me- tally of an environment in whic he has wrapped himself these man years That is an essential middle class reformist enyironmen with many devices considered lt batterng the condition of lit business, but none at all to relieN the masses permanently of the r suits of exploitation.
 It is only a very short time ae when Lafollatte was spoken of { presidential possibility and b' fore Roosevelt seized the honors Bull Moosedom to which the Sel ator felt himself entitled. At th'