Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-08-19
MRS. LA TOILETTE DIES HERE
AT 70, FOLLOWING OPERATION
Was Counselor of Noted
Family of Pro-
greSSiyeS.
Senator and Governor, Sons,
Accompany Body to
Wisconsin.

mother and counselor OF noted Progress
sive leaders, died in Georgetown Uni
versity Hospital late yesterday after an
operation for an intestinal disorder. Her
sons, Robert M. La Toilette, jr., United
States Senator from Wisconsin, and
Philip La Toilette, Governor OF that
State, were with 1er when the end
came. So was a daughter, Mrs. Ralph
G. Sucher, who makes her home in
Washington.
Accompanied by the sons and daugh-
ter, the body was 10 be placed on
train at 2:30 O'Clock this afternoon.
The funeral party is scheduled to ar
rive at Madison, Wis, at 40 Thursday
afternoon. A second daughter, Mrs.
George Middleton, viii Join the train
in Chicago. Tentative plans for the
funeral are for a simple ceremony,
either at the La Toilette family home
in Madison or at the executive mansion
there.
Mrs. La Toilette, Y years old. was
Ill for such brief time that very few
Of her friends knew she was in the
hospital Her two famous sons reached
the bedside only a few hours before
her death, after making hurried
Journeys from Wisconsin by airplane
and train. After her operation Mon
day she was reported recovering, and
even yesterday her physicians expected
her to pull through.
Engaged on biography.
Mrs. La Toilette had recently with
drawn from the sorial and political
circles which knew her so well up TO
the time of the death of her husband
in 1925, and had been engaged in writ
ing his biography.
More than so years ago she left
farm to enter the University of Wis
consin, where she met Robert M. La
Toilette, who was to become her hus-
band. Later she became that univer-
sitys first woman Law graduate. She
never practiced that profession. how
ever devoting her energies to forward
ing the causes of her husband and her
sons. She would not even yield to q
demand that she run for the Senator
ship left vacant by the death of her
husband, but instead took an active
part in helping her son to win the
election. Yet she vas an ardent
preacher of feminism ind q worker for
woman suffrage.
Seeing her husband push forward
from district attorney to a candidate
for the presidency in 1924, she refused
to be stopped by his death, and sent
her sons to the States highest posi-
tions.
She saw new achievements inscribed
on the family roll of political victories
last Fall when her other son, Philip
Fox La Toilette, was elected Governor
Of Wisconsin.
Writings Are Extensive.
After continuing La Follette's Mag
azine as national publication for four
years after the death Of her husband
~. until 1000 dnyftfad haP writ inc
to assembly of his biography. Pre-
yiouSly she had been the author Of
many articles on foreign and Ameri-
can political economy
Mrs. La Toilette opposed wars almost
as strongly as her husband, She Endorsed
the Soviet idea of what fhe called hap
piness for all in 1928 But her views
ON the present system OF government
IN Russia had not been expressed IN
this section of the country recently.
IN fact, her voice had not been heard
in her home State for several years.
She was unable to attend the inaugu-
ration Of her son Phil" as Governor
last January. She had lived here since
the death Of the senior member and
founder Of the La Toilette dynasly."
rs opponents OF Progressivisln labeled
the family tenure in Office.
But her political acumen in "PhilS"
campaign ana the previous one OF
young Bob" for the United States Sen
ate vas admitted
It was the elder La Toilette who gave
his wife the name the counselor" He
referred to the able assistance she rem
Clered in his Office and his home while
i be rose from private law practice to
district attorney. United States Repre-
sentative. Governor and Senator and
finally to the Progressive nomination
for the presidency in 1924.
Progressive Home Forum
An active campaigner, both for wom-
ans suffrage and Tor her husband in
. 1924. Mrs. la Toilette nevertheless
. found her chi>t SUl& in making the
/ family f1fum Of ProggeSsivism. 1t
vas her wisdom rs mother and her
perennial youth Of mental outlook that
called forth the young Senator's tribute.
TIE marvellous thing about her. 10
me the Senator said last night. was
tn. youth intellect that allowed her
. lax that she was between the pioneer
and the new order-to appreciate the
problems Of this modern age
Bofn at WoneWoC, Mrs La Toilette
spent her girlhood 81 Baraboo. she
met Robert Marion La Toilette on the
campus Of the State University at 1dadi-
son. They We're married several years
Z later. after she had followed the FIRST pro-
fessicn she learned-schoOl TEACHING
That was IN 1899 La Toilette aao Just
/ graduated IN law
While ne praCticed she vent back
70 the university and studied law By
+ the time he was elected district at
/ torney she was the first worian gradu-
ate IN law Tnenceforward She shared
Z MS public lie as few wives OF public
men have done
Senate IN 1906 after several terms in
the House. Mrs. La Fell o.. established
q home inst has been maintained Fere
ever since. Here the family regularly
discussed the public affairs in which
Ia Toilette rose 70 leadership
Before the World Wsl the family
also wss a mecca for frieuds who
shared their IDEAS Mrs Ia Follettas
salons w-re noted in liberal groups Of
the Capital,
War Stand Approved.
Frierds said that Mrs. IA Follatte an
proved Of the Senator stand against
the United stats entrance IN the
World War
The family spirit again showed it.
self when the elder ia Toilette died in
1928 Young Bob 2gre Il with friends
that his mother shuu q bow to demands
that she ran 10 SIC ed his father But
Mrs "a Toilette firmly refused in favor
o. Ter son. who gas elected Last No
yembef she saw Philip slected 70 the
govern Orship
For years Mrs Ia Follstte urged her
husband 10 bring down 10 date his
autobiography II vas published with
the family history IN 1912. When he
died without having sound time for the
Husband and Wife