The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-04-05
LA Toilette is
REAL THREAT IN
1886 BALL0TING
young Bob,' Now 40,
Warns New Deal to
Watch Its Step.
BY THOMAS L. STOKES
Times Special Writer


WASHINGTON, April 5.-A third
party sits in the Senate in the
dininutive figure Of Robert Marion
La Toilette of Wisconsin, who at 40
looks out of place with the elders
even after 10 years among them.
Young Bob" has a new role in
this Senate, as head Of fedgling
third party. No longer Is he listed
in the rebel fringe Of the Repub-
lican party. as he was for years
and as his father, the late Senator
Robert Marion La Toilette Sr. was
until he, too, broke away.
Denied the support Of the RooSe-
Welt Administration in Wisconsin
because of the pressure on Postmas-
ter General James A. Farley from
a reyivified Democratic party there,
Young La Toilette struck out on his
own. as did his father, formed his
own party and overcame both regu-
lar Democrats and Republicans. HIS
partv has seven members IN the
House. all from Wisconsin, who
were swept into Congress on his
ticket and who look to him 1or
orders.
A Warning to Roosevelt
On the White House steps, the
day after last November's triumph
the Senator issued statement IN
timating that unless the New Deal
goes far enough he will head an in
dependent movement for the presi-
dency in 1886 with his Progressive
uartv. The statement followed
talk with President Roosevelt, with
whom the Senator thus far has CO.
operated.
Tradition has decreed that the
La Follettes be party outlaws ana
that they go places and do things.
IT was so with the Senator's father,
who sought to make Wisconsin a
model state founded on justice to
the under-privileged; who proved
his courage in the Senate by re-
fusing to Join the hullabaloo which
put the United States into the
World War; who left a heritage OF
social legislation, and who polleo
FIVE million votes when he ran for
President in the heyday OF indus
trial prosperity in 1924.
The La Toilette sons, Bob and
Phil. the latter now Governor of
Wisconsin for a second time, carry
on the tradition.
Bolted G. o. r. in 30
For wears the elder La Toilette,
immaculate and belligerent, stood
before Republican national conven-
tions and offered a platform of his
, own. Always it was voted down.
In time the party picked up the
La Toilette planks and. whitewash-
ing them, nailed them into its
patchwork platforms.
His father dead. the son went
before the 1928 convention which
nominated Herbert Hoover to re-
peat the performance. His boyish
seriousness, his electric manner,
won the heart of the convention,
but not its mind. It's most spon-
taneous ovation was accorded him.
Four years later he stayed away
from the convention which re-
nominated Mr.. Hoover. and cast his
fortunes with the New Deal.
The program of the younger La
Toilette today differs little from
that Of his father in fundamental
conception. The framework may
be found in the outlines of the New
Deal, but he would build higher. He
would erect. within the limit of the
Constitution, a new sort of social
lied democracy.
For Higher Taxes
He is for redistribution of wealth
by heavy income and inheritance
taxes to improve the lot of the
masses. Where the Administration
would provide four billion dollars
for work relief, Mr.. La Toilette
would provide much more. He
would enlarge the Presidents I'M
employment and old-age pension
program.
Where the Administration would
build a few government power
projects as yardStickS to force rate
cuts, the Senator would have the
government own and operate all the
nations power resources. He wants
government control of banking and
credit through a central bank.
I'm 40-getting old" the Sena-
tor remarked. He is an old man in
politics and farther along the road
than was his father at his age.
The elder La Toilette came to the
House of Representatives when he
was 80 1t was at that age, though
without the previous experience of
the governorship and House men,
bership, that the son entered the
Senate. The father did not reach
the Senate until he was so.
Like Father. Like Son
The stamp of the father is in
delibly on the son. The passion
for social justice was inherited. SO
also was the fathers seriousness.
There is little humor in the son.
n