Belt Valley times. [volume] (Armington, Mont.) 1894-1977, 1924-10-30
4anE -
INSPIRING STORY



The earesg ~ lsober1 A. LnFolIeste
h IA Inspiring story Of success due TO
heroic efforts and faith IN ones seif.
combined with answering devotion to
principle Esefofe he entered the sen
ste and Ehas becane 9 prominent ma
ilonnl figure. be had already done .
notable Worh.
Born June n, 1885. m Primrnse,
Wis. Of French-EuguenOi and Scotch
Irish ancestry. be ls a product Of the
people and KNOWS a. part Of his life
their point o. view
AZ eighteen be left the farm 10 Oh
tain university education. He earned
bis way through the universlty.
On graduation he studied law and
IN seven months was admitted to ihe
bar and Immediately elecfed district
attorney Of Dane county. He made
such remarkable record In his frsi
term that be ran f.D00 votes ahead Of
his ticket 10 the next election and was
the only Republican on the county
ticket reelected.
Youngest Member 81 Congress.
Entering the house OF representa-,
tives In 1885 as its youngest msnbeE.
LaFoIIette. By the sheer force Of his
gifted personality, soon became
member Of the powerful ways and
means COMMITTEES, Of which William
Mckinley WIS., ,chalrman. Before bis
service ended In 1897 he was q nation
81 figure By rsason Of his stand for
the rights Of the Indians. his fight for
legislation to prevent the fraudulent
sale OF oleomaFwafine for butter and
his conspicuous service IN the preps-
ration and passage Of the original In
terstate commerce act and the McKfn-
ley taFiR act.
From 1891 to 1907 LaFcIletfs held
no public once, but Iabored lncessant.
" TO break the power Of the machine
which then coAnplefely dominated Wis
eonsln IN 1850 he vas elected gov
ernOr. KsaF0lleste was governor OF
Wisconsin from January. 1901. to Janu-
airy. 1908. He wae the first native-born
governor Of the state and possibly fine
youngest man elected to that once up
10 that tIme. His administration not
only began with the new century. but
marked q sharp departure In policies
and practices from previous ones. II
turned from the past TO the future.
fsls Legislative Achievements
As governor. LaFollatte was not
only an administrator Of great abilfs
ties, but he was also the resourcefuI
and inspiring leader In bringing about
remedial legislation demanded by the
new spirit OF the time A survey OF
some Of the more outstanding legiS
lafion or bis period AZ governor
shows:
i.aFolIette largely brought about the
abolition Of the railroad pass IN wis
cOnsin.
He secured the enactment OF the |
law requiring railroads 20 pay taxes
On the valuation Of their physical prop
crty at the same rate as other prop
erty in the state.
LaEolIefte see1ired the passage of /
Inc law creating the railroad commits
sion OF Wisconsin. which provided for
lhe physical valustion0 Of the railroads,
give the commission power 10 regu
late rates and charges and saved TO
he consumers Of Wisconsin, 5000 900
\ year
LaFoiletts secured the passage bf
lhe earupt practices act. designed %
purify cAucuses sind elections.
Thls brief survey Of bis stewardship,
40 governor Of wisconsin may be
laken as an earnest OF the lines Of
policy ~ would follow II chosen q na
sons executive. ais recent platform
suggestions are In line Of greater req
aEatiOB Of monopoly, OF q larger voice
of the people 10 their own govern
nenf, OF oId-fashioned honesty and IN
legrlty 10 administration Of affalrs. Of
higher Ideals IN public service.