Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1920-10-27
BLAINE IN FIGHrFuR NEEDED REFORMS
MRS. LA EOLLETTE
Wisconsin Campaign Issues S.d Personalities
Described in Talk t. Wenea Voters at
Eako1a

Mrs. Robert II. LaFollette at a nesting Of
women voters at the Nakomo school yesterday
afternoon drew = sketch of John J. Blaine as
q man who always adheres to his principles
placing them above considerations Of partisan
ship. She cited his Independent campaign for
the governorship as a notable illustration. She
said she believed that be now engaged in a
struggle for needed reforms that he would
keep upon until they were accomplished.
She said Il was not until Senator LaFollette
had been elected governor the third time that
he was able to secure a legislature TO carry
out the platform pledges upon which he male
his campaigns.
the reform measures demanded by the people
yet she pointed out that Mr.. Blaine as governor
through his appointments and otherwise would
have the power to bring about many improved
conditions.
She said Mr.. Blaine had alweys held liberal
views concerning women and their attitude TO-
ward public affairs. He is no receut convert
to the cause of suffrage. and she showed how
those who have at heart opposed votes for wo-
men can hardly be expected TO give to women
and the causes in which they are m st inter
ested. the consideration to which they are en-
titled. She recalled the action by Senator Ia
Toilette when he was governor through which
women are now assured of representation on
the board of regents.
She discussed with great clarity the Eseh-
Cummins bill. That it guaranteed profits, and
that it guaranteed enormous profits an I'M
fair valuation of the roads is evident now ev-
cry time one buys a railroad ticket. or has
anything 70 ship by railroad or purchases any
thing which has been transported by rail.
She told how Mr.. MeAdoo. a conservative
business man. had urged that government oper-
atton should at least be given a fair triad under
peace conditions for a period Of three or FIVE
Hines were confident that no further advance
in freight rates would be necessary.
On Great Fortunes
Concerning the great fortunes of the pres
ent day she said she would not contend that
all had been dishonesty acquired and she cited
Henry Ford who while making big profits pays
lowest prices. Yet she condemned such for
tunes as are made. for instance. in the pack
ing industry, where investigation showed that
80 out of t22 firms were making a profit of
100 per cent per annum on their capital. She
said $4,000 persons owned one-ffth of all the
wealth of the nation.
She showed her opposition TO the peace treaty
az resting mainly on the ground that il ia
calculated to get US into wars rather than to
KEEP US free from them. She said the cause
was, that economic questions were tied up with
tons we're controlled by trade considerations
and foreign loans. She commended the plank
which Jane Adams and other women attempt
ed to have Inserted in both the republican and
the democratic platforms which provided that
capitalists investing in foreign enterprises
should do - at their own risk and should not
consider that Uncle Sam bound 20 guar
antee their interest and pf .ncipal. and enforce
collections with the army and navy.
She spoke strongly against militarism and
the enormous expenses being planneS by our
government for the army and nav, She told
Of a public man who said he bs.Ieved the war
resolution would not have been passed had the
congressman been able to cast secret ballot
on the question of peace
STANDS WITH MILITARISTS
She pictured Senator I.enroot as taking his
stand with the miithrsts. He voted for the
war, he voted for conscription, he voted for
the espionage bill and he voted for all the
enormous and extravagant appropriations for
army and navy.
She said she found some women who were
saying whats the use ?" Wide spread dis
solution as 70 the results Of the war have
caused feeling of encouragement She re-
called one of Senator LaFoilcttes first speeches
in the senate. which was made in support OF
physical valuation of railrc ad property.
Senators showed that opposition by leaving
their seats while he was speaking and he said (;
Some of the seats that have been tempo
rarily vacated viii before long. BE- pssxHRaentlE
vacated"
And so it was. and little by little the react
ionafIes dropped out until at the end of eight
years of the roads passed without dis
senting vote.
As 10 Senator Lenroot's present opposition
to the peace treaty she showed how inconsist-
ent he Is for in congress his stand was always
that RI a mild reservationist.-The Capitol
Tins Madison.