Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1929-05-09
FITTING TRIBUTE
PAID LAFOLLETTE
CONTINUED from Page u

ling that Of Father Marquette, the
explorer. The second was given by a
unanimous vote of both houses Of the
Wisconsin legislature, to La Toilette.
Blaine said, La Toilette saw that
there had been only one issue in the
history of the world, and that issue
as he put it, has been between those,
who labor and those who would con-
troll the laborers-through slavery Of
one form or another
"Grasping this truth, he devoted his
life to the restoration of representa-
tive government and the advance
ment of the common man."
Statue Is Unveiled.
The statue was unveiled by La
Follette's grandson. Robert La Fol-
lette Sucher. and Marion Montana
Wheeler, tiny daughter of Senator
B. X. Wheeler Of Montana, La Fol-
lette's running mate for the presf-
dency in 1924.
When the statue was unveiled,
showing his life-like similarity. many
| who had loved him, did not attempt
to hide their tears, for them there
will never be another Bob"
Family Side of Affair Is Voiced.
Phillip La Toilette took the speak
er's platform to express the La Fol-
lette family's gratitude to the state
of Wisconsin, and his voice vibrated
with feeling as he told of the other
speakers loving Bob" as their COM
rade and their leader, as man, but
Phillip La Toilette was speaking of
his Dad"
Were we alone concerned" he
said, mo words need or would be said.
Our tribute and thanks would be ex-
pressed in the only language possible
the eloQuence of silence. For deep
est feelings. there is no language or
oratory."
Phillip La Toilette told of the day
in 1917 when friends came to his
father and urged silence. ''The World
| war was on us. The rage and hatred
of vitriolic press and selfish profit
GERS were stirring to fever heat the
passions of men. Friends were urging
him to silence. He told this group:
1.-The children may live to see the
| day when sentiment will change to-
ward me and what am about to do;
l never SHALL
He walked out of his office to the
| floor of the senate and took a posi-
ton from which he never wavered
and which brought down upon him
| the attacks which are now in his
tory.
The placing of this statue here,
| within ten years of the war, would
have been for him lasting confirm
alton of his faith in the ultimate judg-
ment of mankind"
Early Political Battles.
Charles G. Crownhard, justice of the
Wisconsin supreme court, told Of
La Toilette as he had known him dur
ing his first political battles in that
state. The farmers placed their faith
in him because he saw fit to defy the
political bosses, Mr.. Crownhard in
| timated.
Some of the outstanding legislative
| achievements of La Toilette were
sketched by Gilbert E. Roe of New
York, La Follette's former law part
ner and one of his closest friends.
The 16-hour law for railroad work.
ers. the employers liability act, the
railroad valuation act, the Seamen's
law, and the anti-gag law in postal
service were cited by Mr.. Roe as a
few of his accomplishments.
Loved by TOilers.
Edward Heating, manager of the
Labor weekly, said, mo man ever
wrote into the law of his country as
many constructive measures designed
to ameliorate the condition of the toll
ers as did La Toilette.
ITO a greater extent than any other
public man since Lincoln, Senator
| La Toilette commanded the confidence
of the workers of America-organize
and Observation-Disclosures they labor
ed on the farm. in the mine or fac
tory, or on our far-flung transporta-
ton system" he said.
Claude G. Bowers, nationally known
author of historical works, closed the
ceremonies with ringing speech, in
which he declared:
| His monument belongs in the
capitol of the country because he
served it with all his mind-and it
was the best of minds-with all his
| heart-and it was the warmest of
| hearts-with all his soul-and it was
the whitest of souls-and because in
all his public acts he symbolized the
noblest traditions of the Republic.
| "Of him it can truly be said that
there is not a farmer in the fields,
not worker at the forge, not brake
man on a train, not sailor on the
sea, not woman at her desk in home
or shop, not child in school or fac
tory dreaming of the playground, who
/ IL IL