The Elk Mountain pilot., 1924-10-02
Ia AN
INSPIRING STORY
Ambition. Fidelity and Hon,
esty Principal Factors
in His Success.
BY FRED L. HOLMES
Newspaper Correspondent and Mag.
azine Writer.

Newspaper Correspondent and Mag.
azine Writer.
The career of Robert NJ LaFollette
Is nm inspiring story of success due to
heroic efforts and faith in ones self,
combined with unswerving devotion to
principle Before he entered the sem
ate and thus became prominent ma
tional figure, he had already done a
notable work.
Born June IA, 1858, in Primrose,
Wis. of French-H HugmenOf and Scotch
irish ancestry he is a product of the
people and knows as part of his life
.heir 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 1,50O votes ahead OF
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 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 LaFoliette 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-
nry, 1905. 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
|
and practices from previous ones. It
turned from the past to the future.
His Legislative Achievements.
AS governor, LaFollette was not
only an administrator of great abili-
ties, hut 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-
lation of his period as governor
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 $4,000. 900
year.
LaPolette 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 n ma
tion's 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
tegrlty In administration of affairs. Of
higher ideals in public service.