Robert M. La Follette: U.S. Senator from Wisconsin

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ROBERT M. LA FOLLETTE
U. S. SENATOR FROM WISCONSIN

EXCLUSIVE MANAGEMENT
SLAYTON LYCEUM BUREAU
STEINWAY HALL, CHICAGO




Senator Robert M. La Follette

LECTURE TITLES

Representative Government
The World's Greatest Tragedy
Purer Politics




New York Sun
His (La Follette's) was probably the most remarkable speech on the republican side of the House.  It excited universal comment.  He began amidst confusion, but succeeded in gaining the attention of the House, and finally completely magnetized it.


La Crosse (Wis.) News
Mr. La Follette is a man rather small in stature, but erect and square shouldered, with a brow that would do credit to a man twice his size, at once discernible as the possessor of intellect, logic and force of character.  It is impossible to reproduce his magnificent delivery or his oratorical force.


New York Tribune In the House of Representatives
Mr. La Follette challenged Speaker Carlisle in debate, and in the general estimation overthrew him.


Milwaukee (Wis.) Sentinel Washington Correspondent
The recent speech of Congressman La Follette has attracted much attention here.  A prominent republican said to your correspondent today: I had the pleasure of listening from the gallery to La Follette's speech last Saturday.  That young man gets the attention of the house when he talks.  Usually, you know, when a set speech is in progress a majority of the members read the newspapers or write letters.  Mr. La Follette served on Ways and Means.  He is a keen lawyer and good representative.  Mr. McKinley said the other day that La Follette had written more of the new tariff bill than any other man on the committee, which is doubtless the case, for the ceaseless toil of the little Wisconsin member night and day is a proverbial fact around the House.


New York Sun
Among those who left Washington regretful and regretted was R. M. LaFollette, of Wisconsin.  He was the Duroc of McKinley's Napoleon.


Unity, Chicago
To the intelligent student of civic reform and political purity, Robert La Follette, the governor of Wisconsin, is today the most conspicuous man in the public life of the United States.


Yankton (S. D.) Herald
The Y. M. C. A. which succeeded in bringing such a man to the city is to be congratulated.  It is the live man, the aggressive and persistent man, and more than all else, the man who is laboring in their interests who gets next to the heart of the American people to-day, and La Follette is such an one.


Catholic Union and Times Buffalo, N. Y.
He spoke at Chautauqua, N. Y., with a fearless eloquence worthy of the thrilling days of Patrick Henry.  The most urgent need of the present in this nation is more strenuous pronouncements from public men, like this Governor of Wisconsin.



Racine (Wis.) Journal
Robert M. La Follette, the gifted and eloquent young Madisonian, was accorded a reception last evening the like of which has no parallel in the annals of the Belle City.  The Lakeside auditorium has seen many large gatherings, but never before in a political campaign nor on any other occasion, has a similar reception been accorded to a speaker.


Milwaukee (Wis.) Sentinel “The Menace of the Machine.” Delivered before the Faculty and Students, University of Chicago
A large audience assembled at Kent theater this afternoon to listen to the address of the Hon. Robert M. La Follette.  The annual address upon the 22d of February has become one of the features of the Chicago University.  The orator of the occasion two years ago was President-elect McKinley and a year ago Theodore Roosevelt, of New York.  The audience composed the scholarly element of Chicago, showed itself a critical one by its marked manifestations of approval as Mr. La Follette proceeded.  By frequent and prolonged applause it showed how deep was its interest in the subject and how thoroughly it appreciated Mr. La Follette's masterful presentation of it.


Seattle (Wash.) Press
One of the lightest weights physically in the House is R. M. La Follette, of Wisconsin.  His intellectuals, as with these other notable men, vary, however, inversely as his stature and weight.  He is a member of the Ways and Means committee, and he is the youngest man ever appointed to that committee with the single exception of the Ohio Napoleon, Mr. McKinley, who was a few months younger than La Follette when he first served on Ways and Means.  La Follette was born in a log house in Wisconsin in 1855 and has risen to his eminence by faithful work.  He is a keen lawyer and good representative.  Mr. McKinley said the other day that La Follette had written more of the new tariff bill than any other man on the committee, which is doubtless the case, for the ceaseless toil of the little Wisconsin member night and day is a proverbial fact around the House.


The Sunday Telegraph (Wis.)
Mr. La Follette is not only an honor to that district, but to the state and Nation; and he is growing more rapidly today than at any time during his public service.  He is brainy; his brain is well disciplined; his heart is in the right place; no one questions his honesty; he is a tireless worker; he is loyal to his district his state and the nation, and during the two terms he has been in congress he has not made even the shadow of a mistake.  Webster and Clay had been in public service longer than La Follette has before they stood as high in the esteem of the people as Wisconsin's Third district stands.


The State (Wis.)
He was six years a member of congress, but conspicuous as were his abilities, remarkable though his achievement, it was not pride in him that held the people of his district to him and holds them yet.  It is the conviction that as their representative he served them with intense devotion, with inherent loyalty, which created a mutual confidence and affection that strengthens with time.


St. Louis Globe-Democrat Republican National Convention, St. Louis, 1896
At the conclusion of Mr. La Follette's speech the members of the Southern delegations arose in their seats and cheered enthusiastically.  They were joined in their demonstration by many delegates from the Northern States.



Bloomington (Wis.) Record
Mr. La Follette is a brilliant man of extensive learning and a profound knowledge of law, and understands the needs of the people.  During his short career in congress he became a recognized leader as a member of the Ways and Means committee, he had a large share in the formation of the McKinley bill, and he strongly favored adoption of Mr. Blaine's plan of reciprocity treaties.  As an orator, debater, lawyer and statesman he stood in the very front rank of congressmen.


Harpers Weekly (October 9, 190)
Badger, in its suggestion of never giving up, is well associated with the present Governor of the State of Wisconsin.  Naturalists describe that animal as one which is harmless if not abused, but which resists obstinately till overpowered and after a brief rest is ready for another struggle.  This is certainly descriptive of the Governor, whom the people in their affection delight to call Bob.
One must admire his courage, his integrity, his unimpeachable character and his unfatiguing devotion to his conscious duty.  He is the type of man whom it is satisfying to have coming to the top in politics.



S. H. Clark Dean of Department of Public Speaking, University of Chicago
Governor La Follette is an orator with a mission.  He comes to the lecture platform not to entertain, but to instruct; not to pander, not to give the people what they want, but what they need.  His purpose is to arouse and stimulate the citizens of this country to a sense of their political obligations and of their power.  Governor La Follette has earned the right to speak as few others have earned it, and his utterances have therefore an authoritativeness that cannot exist in the case of the mere theorist.  Besides the subject matter, there is in Governor La Follette's manner and delivery a poise and bearing, a power and magnetism possessed only by those who are born orators.  I have no hesitation in saying that the advent of Governor La Follette on the Lyceum platform is one of the strongest additions that have come to it for a score of years.


Chicago Times-Herald
Since his retirement from Congress Mr. La Follette has rendered the cause of clean and decent politics most effective service.  He has been the uncompromising assailant of modern methods of manipulating caucuses and conventions.  Instead of contenting himself with generalizations and scattering shots, Mr. La Follette points out what he believes to be the true remedies for machine domination.  We believe Mr. La Follette's plan is practicable and the temper of the people at this time is such that any scheme that purposes to place nominations and party organization in the hands of the people is certain to attract public attention and receive careful consideration.


Vernon County (Wis.) Censor
During the three hours and twelve minutes Mr. La Follette spoke he held his auditors completely spellbound.  The Censor will attempt no review of this splendid speech.  It is on all hands conceded that La Follette is a little giant intellectually and as an orator has not been equaled by any man who has ever visited this city.  People were present from almost every section of the county.  If La Follette ever visits Viroqua again it will be necessary to lease a quarter section of land to accommodate the crowd that will greet him.




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