History Vault

includes letters pertaining to the November 1902 election and La Follette's run for Governor of Wisconsin

the sub-headline for this speech is "political organization and its disadvantages"

In this speech, after beginning by describing some of the great achievements of the United States, La Follette noted: "But with all this wonderful material development and marvelous acquisition of wealth and, indeed, in part induced by it, we are confronted today by problems fraught with as great dangers to the welfare of this nation and the integrity of its government as any which have taxed the genius and courage of the American people in years that have passed." La Follette continued: "The basic principle of this government is the will of the people. A system was devised by its founders which seemed to insure the means of ascertaining that will and of enacting it into law. … Have we such a government today? Or is this country dominated by forces that thwart the will of the people and threaten the very principles of representative government?"

In the opening lines of this speech, La Follette stated: "Good government, then, can only be secured through good nominations. The nomination of weak, or unscrupulous men results in a weak or dishonest public service. The best means of insuring the nomination of the best men becomes therefore the most important question of representative government."

La Follette noted in the opening paragraph of the speech: "Deeply impressed with the honor, I accept this nomination, with gratitude for the great confidence it implies and with a profound sense of the high obligations it imposes. To the platform adopted here, I promise loyal support and devotion. For years I have with others advocated these principles and rejoice with you to see the republican party pledged to give them the force of law."

In his September 1900 speech that refers to the Philippine insurrection, La Follette stated, in part: The Philippine question is not one of abstract speculation and theorizing. It is a question of what was and is. Certain events transpired that placed upon this nation unsought responsibilities. How have we met them? Have we been cowardly, have we ignored precedent, violated law, our obligations, or the principles of our institutions? The democratic platform says that we have. Remember that this charge is against a republican administration; that hostility to all forms of oppression and despotism has ever been the fundamental idea of the republican party; that its immortal leaders, Lincoln and Grant and Garfield and Sherman and Conklin and Blaine and Harrison, in civil and military life, dedicated their services to building up and maintaining the republican party in the cause of human liberty and to preserve and perpetuate this republic. … I ask you to remember that President McKinley was not in haste to begin the war. He did not manifest ambition for military glory, or a greatly increased army. Sustained by a republican Congress, with rare dignity and patience he endured the abuse and taunts of the opposition aided by a few sensational republicans statesmen, because he would not at once plunge this country into a war without precedent and without preparation, the complicated results of which no human wisdom could forecast.

Midway through this speech, La Follette stated: "I do say that the student should never be permitted to forget while here, that he is primarily training for the duties of citizenship, and that when he goes out, whatever may be his occupation or profession, it should be as one who has enlisted for life in the service of the state."

La Follette began this speech as follows: "I cannot tell you how deeply I am impressed with the significance of the fact that this is the Sixth Annual Conference of the League of Wisconsin Municipalities. An organization which stands for ‘good city government' bears directly on the life of the state itself, and has correspondingly strong claims for state recognition, approval, and support. I count it a special privilege to be with you on this occasion and to express on behalf of the state the interest its citizens feel in the work you are doing."

In the speech, La Follette stated, in part: "For fifty years the political battles have been waged in this commonwealth as in every other. Political parties have triumphed and failed; political leaders have come and gone; but the lamp of learning has never been trimmed or turned down or put out by political bias or influence in the State University of Wisconsin. Personal disagreements may have arisen between regents and presidents here, as in the course of human events differences have arisen between trustees and presidents in universities privately endowed. But at this University, whether in pursuit of scientific or ethical or economic truth, there is no forbidden ground. In this institution maintained by the state, there are no interests to be consulted or compromised with. No investigator wears blinders, no teacher is admonished to tread softly."

In this message, some of the topics La Follette covered are: the condition of state finances, taxation issues including railway taxation, state control of railway services and railway rates, civil service, municipal government, education, charitable and penal institutions, Geological Survey, public lands, forestry, Dairy and Food Commission, new banking law, Wisconsin National Guard, protection of fish and game and the new capitol.

Topics covered in the message include the Capitol Building, railroad rate commission law, railroad taxes, nominations by direct vote, county aid in building or repairing bridges, grain and warehouse commission, and investigation of public service corporations and insurance companies.