Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 37, Number 9, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 February 1905 — NEW SENATOR WILL FIGHT. [ARTICLE]

NEW SENATOR WILL FIGHT.

La Follette Says He Plans to Keep Up Railroad Crusade. Gov. Robert M. La Follette’s election as United States Senator was ratified by both houses of the Wisconsin Legislature Wednesday before a great throng of people. Unless the Legislature enacts into laws the reforms advocated in the State Republican platform Gov. La Follette will decline the election to the Senate and remain in Wisconsin to continue the battle for regulation of railroads. The Governor's speech was the most sensational ever delivered in the West. It was the first time in the history of the country that a man conditionally accepted an election to the United States Senate. Gov. La Follette said: “If at the beginning of the session, before any legislation has been enacted, I accept without qualification or explanation the honor you have given me, I fear it may lead to a misunderstanding by the people of the State; that it may undermine their Confidence in the final fulfillment of the issues made by them. “I cannot believe that we can even partly fail in performance of our duty. I cannot at present see what I could do as Governor for these issues, for their fulfillment either in whole or in part, which I could not do equally well, and perhaps more effectively, as United States Senator, in co-operation with the people of the commonwealth. “But, recognizipg, as I must, the present obligations which rest upon me, I am compelled to be in readiness to meet any unforsoen issue which may develop. For this reason I say, in accepting your high commission, that if there should appear any conflicting obligation which should be impossible for me to meet as United States Senator, although elected to that position, I shall ask you to recede the honor from me and place it upon another man of your choice.” “Your call invites me to participate in the work which is to deal immediately with the problems which President Roosevelt courageously has pressed upon Congress for solution. “I appreciate that you have the same sense of obligation to the people of Wisconsin which I have. I realize that if you had not believed that I could better serve the people's interests as United States Senator than as Governor you would not have taken tliis action to-day.” Gov. La Follette was born in Primrose, Wis., June 14, 1855, and was graduated from the University of Wisconsin in 1879. The next year lie was admitted to the bar, and from then until 1884 was district attorney of Dane county. Elected to Congress in 1887 he remained a member until 1891, nnd as a member of the ways and means committee took a prominent part in framing the McKinley tariff bill. In 1901 be was elected Governor of his State on the Republican ticket and re-elected last year after a fight against the machine. Gov. La Follette is leader of the reform forces.