Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1924-09-26
GAFOLLETTE'SAN
INSPIRING STORY
Ambition, Fidelity and Hon
esty Principal Factors
in His Success.
BY FRED L. HOLMES
Newspaper Correspondent and Mag
azine Writer.

azine Writer.
The career of Robert M. LaFOllette
is an inspiring story Of success due to
heroic efforts and faith in ones self,
combined with answering devotion to
principle Before he entered the SEN
ate and thus became a prominent ma
tional figure, he had already done a
notable work.
Born June IA 1885, in Primrose,
Wis, of acknowledgement and Scotch
Irish ancestry, he is a product of the
people and knows as a part Of his life
their point of view.
At eighteen he left the farm to OBJ
tain a university education. He earned
his way through the university.
On graduation he studied law and
in seven months was admitted to the
bar and Immediately elected district
attorney of Dane county. He made
such a remarkable record in his first
term that he ran 1900 votes ahead or
his ticket in the next election and was
the only Republican on the county
ticket reelected,
Youngest Member Of Congress.
Entering the house of representa-
tives in 1885 as its youngest member,
LaFOllette, by the sheer force of his
gifted personality, soon became
member of the powerful ways and
means committee, Of which William
Mckinley was chairman. Before his
service ended in 1891 he was a nation
al figure by reason of his stand for
the rights Of the Indians, his fight for
legislation to prevent the fraudulent
sale of oleOmargarine for butter and
his conspicuous service in the prepa-
ration and passage of the original In
terstate commerce act and the McKin-
ley tariff act.
From 1891 to 1901 LaFollette held
no public office, but labOred incessant-
ly to break the power of the machine
which then completely dominated Wis
cOnsin. In 1900 he was elected gov
ernOr. LaFOllette was governor of
Wisconsin from January, 1901, to Janu-
airy, 1906. He was the first native-bOrn
governor Of the state and possibly the
youngest man elected to that office up
to that time His administration not
only began with the new century, but
marked a sharp departure In policies
and practices from previous ones. 1t
turned from the past to the future.
His Legislative Achievements.
AS governor LaFOllette was not
only an administrator of great abili-
ties, but he was also the resOurceful
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-
shows:
LaFOllette largely brought about the
abolition of the railroad pass in Wis
consin-
He secured the enactment of the
law requiring railroads to pay taxes
on the valuation of their physical prop
erty at the same rate as other prop
erty in the state.
LaFollette secured the passage of
the law creating the railroad commits
sion Of Wisconsin, which provided for
the physical valuation of the railroads,
gave the commission power to regu-
late rates and charges and saved to
the consumers of Wisconsin 100000
year.
LaFollette secured the passage of
the corrupt practices act, designed to
purify caucuses and elections.
This brief survey of his stewardship
as governor of Wisconsin may be
taken as an earnest Of the lines of
policy he would follow If chosen a ma
TONS executive His recent platform
suggestions are in line of greater reg
ulatiOn of monopoly, of a larger voice
of the people in their own govern
ment, Of old-fashioned honesty and In
tegrity in administration Of affairs, of
higher Ideals In public service.