New Britain herald., 1925-06-18
SENATOR LaFOLLETTE DIES
 FOLLOWING HEART ATTACK
Veteran American Senator, Long Stormy Petrel of Senate, Passes Away at 1:21 O'Clock This After noon.

Washington. June 1S.--senatof Robert M. LaFollette, for many years a stormy petrel of American politics and 70-year-old veteran of the United States senate, died here today. His death occurred at 1:21 l p. m. from heart failure. induced by a general breakdown and an attack of bronchial asthma.
 Was Powerful Politician
 Robert Marion La Toilette, con- sidered one of the most powerful orators of his time, was a storm center of personal and political con- troversy throughout the nation and in his home state of Wisconsin for more than quarter of a century.
 Fighting Bob" the name by which he was known to political friends and enemies a.like, was title well earned almost from the mo- ment he stepped into the political arena when scarcely more than a boy. Facing battles such as few, If any, of his political contemporaries were compelled to fight, he served three terms as a member of the house of representatives and three as governor of Wisconsin, was fou. times elected to the United States senate, and finally. became an inde- pendent candidate for president in 1924.
 | Perhaps few American public men ever drew such bitter criticism as was heaped upon Senator La Fol lette during and immediately after the World War, and certainly none could have been more staunchly de tended by his friends. His speeches and public policies had been the target for widespread denunciation previous 10 1917. while the great conflict was raging in Europe. but the crisis came when he voted against America entering the strug gle when the Lusitania outrage and other violations of our neutrality were still burning in the publi" tmin,l He was hung in effigy and Eeven threatened wftll expulsion pro Iceedings in the senate. but in the Il922 elections he was sent back 10 his place in Washington by a tre- mendous majority.
 Thrice Nominated
 Thrice Senator LaFollette was placed in nomination for the Pres idency in Republican conventions in 1908, in 1912 when he charged Theodore Roosevelt with promising to support him and then becoming the Progressive candidate himself. and again In 1916. In each conVen- ton LaFollette had the support of small but intrepid bloc of dele gates, as he did in the 1920, 1924 Republican convention when he Lreceived a handful of votes, al- | though not formally placed in nom- ination.
 Nominally a member of the Re publican party, Senator La Toilette was best known for his leaning to- ward progressive or radical policies and for his lifelong fight against trusts and monopolies. Throughout his public life he was continually at odds with his party leaders and most of his associates-an insurgent of insurgents-in his home state and in the national capital.
 LaFollette's insurgency reached climax in 1924. His followers in Senate and House, defying Repub- lican leadership, had demonstrated they held the balance of power. The report was prevalent that although he had been desperately III he would seek the presidency as an indepen- dent or as the head of new party but the Senator himself steadfastIy declined to disclose his intentions
 The republicans in convention at Cleveland having selected Coolidge as their standard bearer after re- iecting the platform demands ot the Wisconsin delegation. La Follette's adherents issued a call for conven- tion in the same auditorium several weeks later. Urged by delegates 10 this conference that he accept their endorsement as presidential candidate, he sent word in a mes sage which berated both the old parties that he would enter the field as an independent. Declara- ton of his candidacy came on In dependence Day with the democrats in their New York convention still banoting for presidential nominee. His decision injected him into the campaign as a full-fedged candi- date, with Senator Burton K. Wheeler, a Montana democrat, as a running mate, and President Cool idge as his republican opponent and John w Davis his democratic op- position.
 Born on a farm near Madison, June 14, 1855. La Toilette was contemporary of Cleveland, Harri- son, Mckinley, Roosevelt. Taft, Wilson and Harding. as well as "Czar" Reed. James c. Blaine and Mark Hanna.
 In stature he was a figure to at tract attention. His build was short, heavy and exceptionally strong, with a broad chest, a wide girth and powerful arms He wore high, heavy pompsdour above deep-set, sharp blue-brown eyes with over hanging brows, and had a broad, high forehead, prominent aquiline nose and mobile mouth.
 In public address, Senator LaFol- lette's delivery was dynamic and dramatic always. with violent ges- lures and penetrating voice. When he warmed to an oratorical effort, he had a habit Of tossing back his
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