The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1924-09-13
- MY OVN STORY--

NY OWN STORY is an exclusive
newspaper version OF one OF the
great autobiographles OF modern
times: La Follette own story of ad-
ventures in politics as written by
himself IN 1912. together with an
authorized narrative OF MS expert
ences in the years &nce then.
SYNOPSIS OF PREVIOUS
INSTALLMENTS
After years spent in fighting the
political bosses IN the House OF KEEP.
resentatiyes and later as Governor Of
Wisconsin. La Toilette IL elected TO
the Senate in 1908. At washington.
as IN Wisconsin, ne discovers the ma
chine politicians combating p7ogreS-
sive legislation. Some Of his earlt-
est battles in the Seante are fought
against the railroad interests La
Toilette is at first the Senate's lone
progressive. but gradually the new
movement grows. The fight on the
Payne-Aldrich tariff bin brings the
progressives more closely together
The little group stands steadtastly
against the measure. Partisan power
shows its head in the struggle which
ensues over the bill.
The insurgent members Of the
House, for example. were made ap-
prehensive about their patronage. A
great many of their p~ostoffice ap-
pointments were delayedand a lit
tie later the appointments growing
out Of the taking of the new census
became a critical matter.
one night nearly all of the Wiscon-
sin delegation came up to my resi-
dence. They were very much
wrought up. They had discovered
that the Administration was dis
eliminating against the progressive
members in Wisconsin and in IA
vor of Senator Stephenson. who was
voting regularly with Aldrich.
Senator Stephenson had said TO
them that the President was going
to allow E. A. Edmonds to name the
supervisors of census in all the dis
tricts Of Wisconsin. Edmonds was
chairman Of the State central COM
mittee of Wisconsin and the men
who had managed S~tephenson's cam
paign when he spent $1,000 in the
primary election.
They said they anne to me be-
cause 1 was chairman of the Com
mittee or Census Of the Senate. and
they thought 1 might ascertain If
Taft was going to turf over all the
patronage of the State to the stand
patters."
Directly Contrary
[ told them that such an action as
this was directly contrary to what
he had said to me when discussing
the civil service features Of the
census bill; hat 1 had eel him
about strengthening those section OF
the bill and he had then assured me
49, a. ,o-,orr- hrYraaF v-QG nnf ~ no
made a political machine.
1 told the delegation that if it
would be any satisfaction to them l
would bring the matter to the Presi-
| dents attention. So l saw the Presi-
dent and told him just what had
been reported. He looked out Of the
window and said;
It's a lie; not a word of truth in
it"
We'll" 1 said, may I say to
them, Mr.. President, that they can
file their recommendations with the
expectation hat they will be treated
as other Republican Congressman
are treated?"
We'll" he said. Il can't take this
HldllCI UP Until dLAC1 GAO 6~NA OHA
Is passed"
Then I knew that this patronage
matter was being held as a club
over the Progressives-
When the tariff bin was passed,
Mr.. Lenroot, Mr.. Nelson and Mr..
Cary, Wisconsin Republican mem
bers, all voted against it When
they filed their recommendations be
fore leaving Washington for super
visors in their respective districts
they were promptly turned down and
stand-patters recommended by Ste
phenson and Edmonds appointed in
their places
There was n Democratic district
in Wisconsin where no recommends
ton had been made. DR.. Durand
said he would be glad to have me
make a recommendation for that
district The man 1 suggested was
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