The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1924-10-31
.LAFOLLETTEREA
PEOPLES MAN
go
Has Been Staunch and Vail
ant Defender of Public
Interests.
BY ALBERT o. BARTON
Author of "LaFoIIette's Winning Of
Wisconsin,"

Wisconsin,"
LaFollette took his seat in the sen
ate in January, 1906 He has three
times been reelected, in each instance
by overwhelming vote of the people Of
Wisconsin.
, He had been in his seat but q few
weeks when he made one Of the long
est and most notable speeches of the
session on the Hepburn railroad rate
bill, which revealed him as one Of the
authorities on the subject, and fore
Swallowed the leading part he has
taken in railroad legislation since In
that and the sessions following he took
an active part in legislation on the
great problems relating to tariff,
finance, transportation and conserva-
ton, with an eye single to the public
interest as opposed to special priv
lege legislation.
True Friend of Soldiers.
It was on the outbreak Of the World
war that LaFollette proved himself of
the mold Of heroes who can remain
true to their ideals in hours of su-
preme trial He opposed the precipi-
tate entrance of the United States into
the war, which was demanded by the
mOney-lenders, the munitiOn makers
and prOf1teers. He foresaw that this
war, like most wars of history, would
lead to the setting back Of the wheels
Of progress, the losing Of the ground
gained for popular government, the
probable loss Of thousands Of lives and
millions Of dollars in propertV, the alb
rOgation Of freedom Of speech and
press, the imposition Of crushing bur
denS Of taxation, and an era Of hatred.
violence and intolerance, with dicta-
torships and intensified national zeal
OuSies. Against all this ne counseaed
m0aeratioA. He believed congress
Should have the pewer 10 declare war
and tsAt It was the duty Of its me4a-
BEES to vete Aeir honest convictions
tes OF against It. AS tAe leader Ct the
group that dared to staad eat again5st
Immediate participates, he had to
bsag the hSHat IL { stSrn 81 abuse,
$780, E1':eee..ss ssS ssfEtssgstsading sgSh
as seldom kaa desee1ded HPoR TIE
head Of 1 PUBLIC servant. -
Son csss Mac. .a.l5sa...
WITH var DECLARED, However. he
urged its effective projection ana
sent hia son into the sgf7fSg Hs -.
posed tie !dec1arsEiod Of war, the draft
act and the espionage law, infelIghed
against the censorships and arbitrary
arrests, but held that a law once
made must be Obeyed until repealed
LaFollette favored every bill to bet
ter the condition Of the soldiers and
sailors. He secured an approximation
Of 100000 for the benefit Of soldiers
and their dependents during the Next
can troubles. He voted 70 increase
the pay Of soldiers sent abroad: ia
VOred every appropriation bill to SIM
port the army and navy. He fought
the hardest fight Of his life to make |
war profits bear a reasonable propor- |
ton Of war taxes, and it was largely !
through his efforts that taxes on the |
poor mans table--tea, coffee, cocoa
and sugar-were defeated
Activity Increases.
LaFouette never was more active in
the senate than he has been in the
past year or two. The investigations
into the Teapot Dome and other oil
steals Of the Harding administration
and still more recent ones into the
prices Of sugar and gasoline were
largely set on foot and directed nv
him. He led the fight defeating the
p5OO,OOO,OOO proposed exemption Of
foreign trade corporations in the 1921
tax bill, Aand he halted the move Of
he Harding administration fora legis-
alton to pay S5OO,OO0OOO of the gov
ernmenfs. money to the railroads be-
ore the-railroads had paid what thew
WED the government on account Of
!9aluable new equipment bought for
hem by the government during war
ime operation.
LaFollette is emphaticallv MOO
ae's man. He has been proof against
ny temptatiOnsto be anything else
lev has put aside the auurements
which ease and privilege have offered
nd has borne Inevitable abuse and
misunderstanding in order that the
ause Of human freedom might Sc adj
aneed.