Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 184, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 August 1917 — Lafollette Asked to Head New Political Party. [ARTICLE]

Lafollette Asked to Head New Political Party.

Constituents of United States Senator Robert M. Lafollette, who is proposed by the “Party of Discontent” as its presidential candidate, were flooded with letters outlining the policies of the party. “We live in a democracy, but democracy is on trial not only in foreign countries, but also in our own country,” the letters said. “At this time, when truth is suppressed and falsehood promulgated, there is the greatest need that the avenues of honest criticism aqd of free discussion should be kept open, that the truth should be told and that freedom of speech and of the press should be maintained.” Senator Lafollette believes war for us might have been avoided if a wise, consistent policy had been adopted by our government from the beginning, and that war might now be ended if the United States had used its great power and resources in cooperation with other neutral nations to bring about a just settlement on terms of lasting peace.