The Bismarck tribune., 1925-06-19
ROBERT MARION LA TOILETTE

La Follettes stormy political career has an end
NO man loved contest better than he did Few had more
bitter opponents loyal friends The intensity with
which he fought for the things he believed be just earned
hm the sobriquet Fighting Bob" Many defeats embt
tered nm somewhat but failed to kill his indomabe spirit
Early he cast his political lot with the progressive or
radical wing of the Republican party but party featv to-
ward the close of his meant nothing to him and his
Republican fellows after the November elections read him
La Toilette fought his way to the ton politically in his
own state y attacking the corporations. He singled
the railroads especially at time when it popular
TO attack them Corporations more prominently rep
resented in politics in those days The pass was useful
instrument to further political fortunes contributions
corporate influences of Wisconsin, however, did not always
fight La Toilette He went Washington as friend of
Stephenson and not too dstasteu Spooner fac
ton but coming back from Congress guberna
torla race he made the railroads and corporations generally
the issue.
He fearless advocate of any cause he espoused
put was unable to work long with political organization
he stood out always alone and more or less forom His
attacks We're bitter put seldom personal nature the
personal side Bob" La Toilette was lovable character
HIS home Life ideal and he numbered many his most
bitter political enemies among his personal friends.
The world war and his refusal to vote for the entry
this nation into that conflict intensified the bitterness to-
ward him nationally, but the folks back home continued
to send him to the United States with increased ma
Jores North Dakota and Wisconsin always regarded
the La Toilette states until the November elections
Returns showed there thousands of admirers of the
Little Giant in North Dakota but his sway over the farm
e OF this section lost its former when he boted the
He was ready debaer. deep student and an orator
OF no mean ability When investigating any problem he
was reless and probed for material most exhaustive
scale His outlook and deductions however were tnged with
bitter prejudice toward corporations combinations of
wealth He fought them relentessly until the end
his death leaves the nsurgen bloc in the senate with
out leader La Toilette great obstructons mas
ter at lbuSter He used of practical politics
to gain his end
The trend in the last few years has been against the
radical policies of La Foette Outside prohibition there
were few extreme reforms socaled that Toilette did not
champion He advocated recall of judges and judicial de-
cislons His demand for senate investigation into various
phases OF business endeavor perennial and nsstent
Probably of the greatest fights to bring about
valuation OF railroad properties basis fixing rail
road rates. This work is still uncompeed and its value to
the nation is OF a most doubtful nature.
Opinion will be divided bitterly upon the contribution of
La Toilette to American political life He kept the parties
supplied with issues In Wisconsin, his friends dec are he
brought about many good reforms.
Some good doubtless was accomplished through his Wig
orous crusades The extreme positions he made his
following over the nation small but loyal that their ad
every state, La Toilette had such supporters He was
master propagandt and knew how to appeal effectively to
class prejudice
No public man had more blind followers than La Toilette
HIS word was enough his political philosophy was sacred to
millions. ' ~ ~ -
The outstanding characteristics of the man were his fear
essnes utter disregard of public opinion tenacy with
which ne maintained his position He UNIQUE political
figure. Many of his 'sms" unworkable but so pro-
nounced he in the vocng of his opinions and the
advocacy of his principles that his closest friends feared
to cross him. To oppose him often to bring down the
most bitter denuncations. He was crusader of most
peculiar type. 1t will take time evauae his services to
the nation