Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1922-09-29
Straight Talking Gave
Bob" His Record Vote
NEW YORK EDITOR PRAISES
SENATOR LA FOLLETTE'S
POLICY OF PUBLICITY

POLICY OF PUBLICITY
Ia an editorial headed, Straight
Talking Wins Editor and Publisher.
New York, has this to say concerning
the good example set other political
leaders and newspaper editors by La
Toilette of communicating to the pub
lie without reserve the facts as he find
them The editorial is as follows:
Senator La Toilette, consistent OPP
ponent of secrecy and the old order
of politics that has as its basis gov
eminent Of the many by the few, has
received an Overwhelming vote of con
fidence from his own people in Wis
consin
In his victory there is more than
one worthwhile lesson for the profess
sional politician if he cares to stop to
study causes; there is also a cause
that played an important part in the
final result that is deserving of the
serious consideration of American edi-
tors who are seriously concerned
about the secret of winning public
confidence.
Whether we agree with LaFollette
in his political beliefs is immaterial;
but of one thing, namely, that ours
is a government with the consent of
the governed, he has been a fearless
exponent.
HE not only preached this govern
ment belongs to all the people, but
he won the hatred of political parti-
sans and opponents by ripping aside
wells of secrecy and exposing the
operation of the public's business to
the public's view.
In Other words, while many others
have only preached, La Toilette, in the
full belief that the American people
are worthy of being trusted if given
all the facts in matters of their con-
Germ, has refused to play the
political bicker and trade per
ed doors that holds haIt-truths as
its chief ally.
ut is true that La Follette's course
has not won him popularity with his
Senatorial colleagues, but to him that
is certainly immaterial for among
them he is the only one this year who
can. boast of a public trust that was
spoken with 100000 majority.
AFsegardlegs Of what we may think
of e e lettes' eessitieaI acts, he has
been good reporter, In a speech be-
fore the United States Senate on July
z ard he gave "a better report of the
tariff experiences of this government
since the passage of the Mckinley
Bill than the newspaper men assign
ed to cover Washington made of
that speech.
It is a scathing arrangement Of back
stairs tariff-making that is disclosed
in a reprint from the Congressional
Record of a part of that speech in the
Searchlight for Julf 81
al liz Cll1S Ids Lid HO1lSlIS lOl-
gotten his obligation to his constitu-
tency and never has he failed to re-
port to it on the meaning of business
transactions in Washington
1T was because of his ability as a
reporter that La Toilette was not
made Republican member of the
committee that drafted the present
tariff bill, a place that rightfully be-
longed to him under party rules.
La Toilette has never admitted the
right of executive sessions in the tran
saction of public business and he has
always maintained himself under the
accepted practices of gentlemen by
giving due notice before entering
such meetings that he would make a
complete report of what occurred. For
this reason La Toilette is not consid-
cred a safe man where any trading
is to be done at the peoples expense.
'La Toilette is a good example of
what a newspaper reporter should be
if he wishes to win and hold public
confidence in the times of his news
papers greatest trials.
Some Washington correspondents
las well as newspapers should pro
fit from the example of La Toilette
in giving the public all the facts as
they have found them and reap the
rewards of public confidence"