Imperial Valley press., 1924-09-02
La TOILETTE Is la3i
RADIO SPEAKER
AT WASHINGTON
At Least 25,OOO,OOO or
More Hear Labor
( Day Talk
By PAUL r. MALLON
Jnffed Press Staff COrrespOndent

WAodlNION, w Sept. p Sena- !
tor Robert M. La Toilette deliver
ed his ''primer of progressivism
as Labor Day address radio broad
cast from Washington through
dozen stations to some 5000, 900
listeners yesterday.
In cautious simple words of one
syllable, the Independent candidate
set forth his proposals for revision
OF the present economic system.
La Toilette declared he would, if
elected president, undertake to
break control of "great corporate
combinations of wealth over fthe
price paid by the American people
for coal, food, light, clothing and
everything which goes to warm the
house and feed and shelter the hu-
man family"
1t was La Follette's maiden
speech of the campaign and he
avoided discussion of politics or can
didates.
All his remarks were devoted to
| explaining his cause in a way that
any one might understand.
What He Promises
Specifically 4he promised to
!. break up: 4
"The combination which rules the
coal industry and fixes and EFFORTS
unjust prices from the consumer,
which has baffled the federal trade
commission and which, under the
last Democratic administration,
was aided by the department of JUS
tice.
"The sugar monopoly which has
its representatives on the tariff
commission which prevented the
commission from promptly report
ing a reduction in tariff duties on
sugar and which uses the tariff to
increase the price of sugar to the
public with the active aid of the
president, the secretary of commerce
and the responsible leaders of this
administration in the United States
senate.
"The oil monopoly which dictates
prices on gasoline and oil through
out the land. It strangles independ.
ent business enterprise by cut
throat competition. It resorted to
outright corruption of a member Of
the presidents cabinet to wrest the
naval oil reserves from the public
domain. 1t has Systematically de-
fled the laws and the courts of this
| country for a generation and
through it's agents has for many
years contributed large sums Of
money to both Republican and Dem
ocratic campaign funds.
Talks Of Combines -
"The banking combine through
its control Of the federal reserve
board, arbitrarily fixes interest
rates and controls credit in the in
, terest Of the big monopoly system.
F., "The transportation monopoly,
which obtained through the depart
ment of justice, under this admin
istration, and injunction placing
more than 100000 men under the
ban of law, which dictated to con-
gress the terms of the Esch Cum
Minis law, exacting exortionate
rates from the farmers, and which
has been powerful enough under the
administration of both parties to
acquire a dominant influence over
the interstate commerce commits
sion.
"The meat packing combine,
| which fixes the price on the pro-
ducts Of the farm and the food
served upon the table of the con-
sumer."
The political system built up
by these monopolies is so strong, La
Toilette said, that it "elects the
president and congress; it makes
and administers the laws. Year
by year, through these laws, enact
ed by an obedient congress; adopted
by a plant president and enforced
by an appointed court-the system
augments its power and the enor-
nous wealth of its groups.
La Toilette promised if elected
he would summon congress immedi-
ately into an extra session to put
through program of legislation
beneficial to the farmers.