The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1924-08-04

photographs of modern times; La Fol-
lette's own story of adventures in politics
as written by himself in 1872 together
with an authorized narrative of his ex-
periences in the years since then.
SYNOPSIS OF PREVIOUS
INSTLLNENTS
La Toilette enters political life i'm
mediately comes into conflict with Wis
consin political bossism; nevertheless is
elected district attorney of Dane county,
and then goes to Congress despite the OPP
position of the Madison ring" From
the beginning he actively opposes political
self -seekers. Most people then. he says.
looked upon Congress and the govern
advantage for themselves or for their
home towns or home states" The pri-
vate interests he says infant indus
tries" and struggling railroads de
manded even more government help when
they grew strong. 1T was easy ID
grow rich by gifts from the government"
At the time I was in Congress.
from 1885 to 1891, the onslaught of
these private interests was. reaching
it's height. 1 did not then fully real
lie that this was evidence of q
great system of community of in
terests," which was rapidly getting
control of our political parties. our
government, our courts. The issue
has since become clear.
Whether it shows itself in the
tariff, in Alaska, in municipal fran
chise, in the trusts. in the railroads,
or the great banking interests, we
know that it is one and the same
thing. And there can be no com
promise with these interests that
seek to control the Government.
Either they or the people will rule.
l have endeavored to show how, in
those days, the consideration Of pri-
vate interests of all sorts over
whelmed Congress. have showed
how. in several Instances. and in 2.
limited way, tried to fight against
them-singly.
But I do not mean to imply that
there was no hopeful no construc-
tive movement then going forward,
or that patriotic men, in both
branches Of Congress, were not doing
their best to stem the tide. SUCH
men as Sherman in the Senate and
Reagan in the House were real con-
structive statesmen.
First Efforts
While l was In Congress the first
efforts were made, through the pas
sage of the Interstate commerce law,
the Sherman antitrust act and other
measures. to reassert power of pop
ular government and to grapple
with these mighty private interests;
but of that significant, constructive
work / shall speak in the next chap
ter
Even then the two Numerically
opposite ideas OF government had
begun a death grapple for mastery
in this country. Shall government
be for the benefit of private inter
ests. as the Quays, Germans. and
the Aldriches believed? Or shall
government be for the benefit of the
public interest?
i come now with great persona,
interest to an account OF what was.
with a single exception. the most
and exciting session OF
Congress in all our history, and one
of the most important. 1t was the
so-called Reed Congress" of 1889
to 1891.
For the first time in fourteen
years-since 1S75-the Republican
party had come into full control of
all the departments OF government;
but while Harrison had comfortably
Of Iafr
in the Cabinet. the House OF Pep
resentatives was Republican by so
narrow a majority that there was
some talk that we might not be able
TO organize the House and elect a
speaker.
1t developed Immediately that Nc
Kinley and Reed were to be the two
chief candidates of the Republicans
for the speakership. and the lines
of the contest were soon sharply
drawn.
was for Reed; was for Reed
Notwithstanding the fact that felt
for Mckinley a peculiar admiration
and affection. I thought Reed bet
ter equipped in temperament and
character for the struggle which we
all knew must follow.
Mckinley and Reed was not at
all alike. Mckinley drew men to
him by the charm, courtliness and
kindness of his manner; Reed drove
and forced men; he scourged them
with bis irony-stung them with his
wit.
Mckinley was a magnetic speaker;
he had a clear bell-like-quality of
voice, with a thrill in 1t. He spoke
with dignity. but with freedom or
action. The pupils of his eyes would
dilate until they were almost black,
and his face, naturally without much
color, would become almost like mar
nle-a strong face and a noble head.
Reed on the other hand. impressed
one with his power. He was rough
and sharp and strong. He was one
of the ablest men in either house of
Congress-next to Sherman, who
was a broader statesman. perhaps
the ablest.
He had a marvellous gift Of ex-
preston. Ellis sentences were short,
crisp, strong, and his diction was
perfect, but his voice was harsh and