The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1925-06-19

ever thought Of questioning his
continued dominance.
La Toilette graduated from college
in none too good health, and with
a mother and sister TO support. Tbs
district attorneyship of the county
attracted him nightly. So he be
gan to work toward 1t, while wait
ING for clients. He worked amone
the farmers and the university
students. Boss Keyes suffered
him to continue for some time ant
then sent for the young man
HE told me, said La EoHelte
who the next district attorney q
Dane county. was TO pe-and ms
name was not La Toilette.
From then on, Bob La Folletta
WAS an ir1surgent. He was "agin'
thA organization. He won out IT
his first fight by a narrow margin
which confirmed him in his IN
surgency.
Rise Was Rapid.
His rise in politics was steady
from that small beginning. From
the county he went out and de
feated the district organization, and
went to Congress at thirty years
of age. :.
He took to Washington his IN
surrency and his 'progresslvelsm
Railroad reform was one OF his pc
hobbies. and he pursued 1t assidu
ously. but without much success
for he did not find the nationa
organization so susceptible to DC
feat as the local organizations II
In 1890. after three terms. h,
was defeated. He went back e
wisconsin, az he said, heavy d
heart But it was not long be
fore he was again in public life.
Elected Governor.
He was elected governor in 1900
after ten years of bitter warfare
with the state organization. lie
served three terms in all, and the
reforms and progressive legislation
lnaugurated during his reign gave
birth to the so-called wisconsin
idea" His reputation spread outside
the State and became national.
Yearning to transplant the Wis
constr idea" to tho national field,
La Toilette gave up the governorship
and again went to Washington
this time as Senator. And there for
nearly score Of year he battled
for the same regulation Of railroads
and big business" generally that he
had installed in his own State.
That he cherished the ambiation
to be President there is no doubt.
He was q candidate from 1908 on
until his death. His big chance
came in 1912, when the Republican
party split on the issue of progress.
siveism. He believed until his dying
day and often said that he WIS
double crossed" nj Chicago in 1912
by some of the most powerful pro
gressives Of that veal, who had lent
him early support and later switched
tn Roosevelt.
The greatest THAI of his stormy
career came during the war. He
hated war and he opposed America s
entering. He did not Obstruct sue
cessful prosecution OF the war,
after the declaration, but he stuck
grimly to his ideals and his beliefs.
And. when pressed, he said openly
and defiantly he thought American
entrance to be q mistake.
As direct result Of speech he
made in st. Paul resolution of
expulsion was introduced against
him in the Senate by, then Senator.
now Secretary of State Frank b.
kellogg. In later years, 1t develop
ed that La Toilette had been mis-
quoted in this speech, but the recti.
hcation OF the error came too late
To spare the Wisconsin Senator
from the bitterest hours of mis- life.
The memory Of it left a deep scar
on his heart. He never forgave
Kellogg, and later he partially even,
ed the grudge by accomplishing the
defeat of Kellogg for reelection to
the Senate