The New York herald., 1922-11-26
Back From the Exile Brought ABOUT
by His Views on the War, the
Wisconsin Senator May Hold the
Balance of Power in Next Con-
gress and Decide the 1924 Election

regarding the expressed will or the
people. President Harding has de-
manded the passage Of the ship sub
sidy bill by the prasent Congress Ad-
ministration leaders have indicated
also a desire to rush through a pro-
gram of legislation accelerating the
merger of the railroads into a small
number of monster systems, and CIV
ing the Railroad Labor Board coercive
power to ,prohibit and punish strikes
and other lawful activities of en-
ployees.
Great interests are employing their
influence with high officials In the Ad-
ministration to effect the immediate
transfer Of the national forests to the
control Of the Secretary of the In
terror. whose declared policy Is to turn
the natural resources Sof the nation
over to exploitation by private mo-
nopoly.
"These measures must be defeated"
AS the starting point Of his more or
less personally conducted insurgent
movement Senator La Toilette has Sc
Iected the Peoples Legislative Service.
whichNwas organized by him and few
other independents of both parties in
Washington about two years ago. but
which created no stir at the time be-
cause oe it's helplessness. It is in the
name of that organization that SEN
ator La Toilette, as chairman Of it's
directing council. has issued invita-
tions to the conference of insurgents
in Washington December and 2.
His Career of Forty Years One
OF the Stormiest in Politics
There Ii no man in American poll
tics to-day who has had stornier
career than La Toilette. He has been
fighting the System" and the Inter
ests," and the Money Power Of Wall
Street" and the Machine" and the
"Reactionaries" ever since he was
elected District Attorney in 1881 in
Wisconsin, the State which in the re-
cent elections chose him as Senator
for a third time by something like
225,000 majority. the largest in his
career. He was elected to Congress
in 1884, reelected twice, and became
member Of the Ways and Means
4 Committee with William Mckinley.
He was defeated for reelection in the
Democratic landslide Of 1890, but soon
entered the political lists again, de-
termined to overthrow the Machine"
He was the campaign manager for
Congressman Haugen when Haugen
ran for Governor of Wisconsin in 1894
and lost. He was himself candidate
for Governor two years later. He
battled with the State organization.
and after winning the caucuses and
district conventions lost in the State
convention.
Continuing to work within the Re-
publican party for reforms, he refused
President McKinley's offer of the po-
sition Of Comptroller Of the Treasury.
which would have removed him from
Wisconsin. In 1898 he again became
candidate for Governor and again
was defeated for the nomination. But
in 1900 he defeated the machine" In
his state. won the nomination and
was elected Governor by 100000 ma.
jofity. The State Senate, remaining
in control of the conservatives. de-
seated his program of reform legisla-
ton.
In 1902 La Toilette again won the
Governorship in memorable cam
paign. during which he charged the
State organization with all sorts OF
corruption. But again the State Sem
ate was against him on most issues.
The faction led by Senator Spooner
tried to defeat him in 1904. but he was
reelected, and at last carried the State
Legislature with him.
He at once started to put into effect
his legislation, including tax on rail-
road property and all public utilities
at the same rate as applied to other
taxable property; an inheritance tax,
a civil service reform law, a law TO
regulate paid lobbyists. a law creating
State railroad commission. water
power legislation. establishment Of .
State forest reserve, insurance law. .
child labor law, &C. He refused to ac-
cept election by the Legislature to the
United States Senate in 1905 unless
his legislative program was carried
into effect. and in this he won out.
Was IN Insurgent Leader
IN Payne-Aidrich Debates
As United States Senator he took
slll carly part liio ccnt ihONS-
ment that began to crystalize during
the fight over the Payne-Aldrich tariff
bill. He fought the bill to a finish
along with nine other .nsurgent Re-
publicans. but. they were cverridden.
1t was not until 1906. during the de-
bate on the Hepburn railroad rate bill,
that La Toilette first impressed him.
self on the country as national fls-
ure. He delivered a speech against the
bin which was ridiculed by many OF
his Republican colleagues, but which
made an impression throughout the
country. He offered ninc different
amendments to the bin based upon
the railroad laws of Wisconsin. Not
one was adopted, but since then sew
eral of his amendments have been rec
commended. by Presidents and incorpo-
rated In the law.
When the bill TO amend tho Inter-
state Commerce law was up in the SEQ
ond session OF the Sixty first Congress
La Toilette exercised real influence
in shaping its provisions. Aided by
the other insurgent Republicans, he
battled for three months III 1910 to
change this bill, and. after nine I'M
portant amendments had been made as
result Of the insurgent demands, he
voted for the measure on its final pas