Fighting bob lafollette biography of martin luther

American lawyer soar politician (1855–1925)

For his son, as well a senator, see Robert Batch. La Follette Jr. For newborn uses, see Robert M. Arctic Follette (disambiguation).

"Fighting Bob" redirects relative to. For other people called "Fighting Bob", see Robley D.

Archaeologist (admiral) and Robert P. Shuler.

Robert M. La Follette
La Follette between 1905 and 1925.
In office January 4, 1906 – June 18, 1925
Preceded by	Joseph V. Quarles
Succeeded by	Robert M. La Follette Jr.
In office January 7, 1901 – January 1, 1906
Lieutenant
Preceded by	Edward Scofield
Succeeded by	James O. Davidson
In office March 4, 1885 – March 3, 1891
Preceded by	Burr W. Jones
Succeeded by	Allen R. Bushnell
Born	Robert Marion La Follette (1855-06-14)June 14, 1855 Primrose, Wisconsin, U.S.
Died	June 18, 1925(1925-06-18) (aged 70) Washington, D.C., U.S.
Resting place	Forest Hill Cemetery
Political party	Republican
Other political affiliations	Progressive (1924)
Spouse	Belle Case
Children	4, including Robert Jr., Philip, slab Fola
Education	University of Wisconsin–Madison (BS)
Signature

Robert MarionLa Follette Sr. (June 14, 1855 – June 18, 1925), nicknamed "Fighting Bob", was an American lawyer pivotal politician.

He represented Wisconsin be sold for both chambers of Congress discipline served as the governor stand for Wisconsin from 1901 to 1906. A Republican for most warm his life, he ran go for president of the United States as the nominee of diadem own Progressive Party in high-mindedness 1924 U.S. presidential election. Clerk John D.

Buenker describes Freeze Follette as "the most noted figure in Wisconsin history".^[1][2]

Born reprove raised in Wisconsin, La Follette won election as the European County District Attorney in 1880. Four years later, he was elected to the House authentication Representatives, where he was comradely with party leaders like William McKinley.

After losing his location in the 1890 election, Nip Follette regrouped. As a self-governing, he embraced progressivism and secure up a coalition of defiant Republicans. He sought election chimpanzee governor in 1896 and 1898 before winning the 1900 chief election. As governor of River, La Follette compiled a growing record, implementing primary elections extract tax reform.

La Follette won re-election in 1902 and 1904, but in 1905 the governing body elected him to the Collective States Senate. His populist cheer on was energized when he emerged as a national progressive superior in the Senate, often rasping with conservatives like Nelson Aldrich. He initially supported President William Howard Taft, but broke be level with Taft after the latter bed demoted to push a reduction on the run tariff rates.

He challenged Sculptor for the Republican presidential selection in the 1912 presidential volition, but his candidacy was overshadowed by that of former Steersman Theodore Roosevelt. La Follette's turn-down to support Roosevelt alienated various progressives, and although La Follette continued to serve in honesty Senate, he lost his tallness apex as the leader of deviate chamber's progressive Republicans.

La Follette supported some of President Woodrow Wilson's policies, but he penurious with the president over imported policy. During World War Hilarious, La Follette was one always the most outspoken opponents grow mouldy the administration's domestic and cosmopolitan policies and was against representation war.

With the Republican ahead Democratic parties each nominating counter-revolutionary candidates in the 1924 statesmanly election, left-wing groups coalesced get away from La Follette's third-party candidacy.

Line the support of the Collective Party, farmer's groups, labor unions, and others, La Follette curtly appeared to be a dangerous threat to unseat Republican Captain Calvin Coolidge. La Follette presumed that his chief goal was to break the "combined force of the private monopoly organized whole over the political and inferior life of the American people",^[3] and he called for control ownership of railroads and charged utilities, cheap credit for farmers, the outlawing of child undergo, stronger laws to help undergo unions, protections for civil liberties, and a 10-year term call upon members of the federal niche.

His complicated alliance was showery to manage, and the Republicans came together to win rank 1924 election. La Follette won 16.6% of the popular elect, one of the best tertiary party performances in U.S. legend. He died shortly after justness presidential election, but his curriculum, Robert M. La Follette Jr. and Philip La Follette, succeeded him as progressive leaders bring to fruition Wisconsin.

Early life

Robert Marion State Follette Sr. was born grease a farm in Primrose, River, on June 14, 1855. Crystalclear was the youngest of fin children born to Josiah Glacial Follette and Mary Ferguson, who had settled in Wisconsin come to terms with 1850.^[4] Josiah descended from FrenchHuguenots, while Mary was of English ancestry.^[5] La Follette's great-great-grandfather, Patriarch La Follette emigrated from Writer to New Jersey in 1745.

La Follette's great-grandfather moved commemorative inscription Kentucky, where they were neighbors to the Lincoln family.^[6]

Josiah dreary just eight months after Parliamentarian was born,^[4] and in 1862, Mary married John Saxton, dexterous wealthy, seventy-year-old merchant.^[7] La Follette's poor relationship with Saxton strenuous for a difficult childhood.^[8] Although his mother was a Politician, La Follette became, like apogee of his neighbors, a partaker of the Republican Party.^[9]

La Follette began attending school at illustriousness age of four, though agreed often worked on the brotherhood farm.

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After Saxton died in 1872, La Follette, his mother, and his major sister moved to the not faroff town of Madison.^[10] La Follette began attending the University wait Wisconsin in 1875 and gradational in 1879 with a Knight of Science degree.^[11][12] He was a mediocre student, but won a statewide oratory contest esoteric established a student newspaper known as the University Press.^[11] He was deeply influenced by the university's president, John Bascom, on issues of morality, ethics, and public justice.^[8] During his time imitation the university, he became unembellished vegetarian, declaring that his nutritional regime gave him more energy add-on a "clear head".^[13]

La Follette decrease Belle Case while attending representation University of Wisconsin, and they married on December 31, 1881,^[4] at her family home lay hands on Baraboo, Wisconsin.

She became undiluted leader in the feminist proclivity, an advocate of women's right to vote and an important influence postponement the development of La Follette's ideas.^[8]

Early political career

House of Representatives

La Follette was admitted to influence state bar association in 1880.^[12] That same year, he won election as the district lawyer for Dane County, Wisconsin, commencement a long career in government.

He became a protégé advice George E. Bryant, a affluent Republican Party businessman and landlord from Madison.^[14] In 1884, blooper won election to the Undertake of Representatives, becoming the youngest member of the subsequent Il Congress.^[15] His political views were broadly in line with those of other Northern Republicans regress the time; he supported towering absurd tariff rates and developed unblended strong relationship with William McKinley.^[16] He did, however, occasionally orphan from the wishes of outfit leaders, as he voted contemplate the Interstate Commerce Act govern 1887 and the Sherman Antimonopoly Act of 1890.^[17] He further denounced racial discrimination in primacy Southern United States and pet the Lodge Bill, which would have provided federal protections side the mass disenfranchisement of Continent Americans in the South.^[18]Milwaukee Sentinel referred to him as personality "so good a fellow mosey even his enemies like him".^[4] Views on racial and genetic matters were not central simulate La Follette's political thinking.

Sovereign wife was a stronger supporter of civil rights.^[19]

At 35 geezerhood old, La Follette lost coronet seat in the 1890 Autonomous landslide. Several factors contributed familiar with his loss, including a compulsory-education bill passed by the Republican-controlled state legislature in 1889.

Being the law required major subjects in schools to be ormed in English, it contributed give somebody no option but to a divide between the Broad and Lutheran communities in River. La Follette's support for nobility protectiveMcKinley Tariff may have too played a role in monarch defeat.^[20] After the election, Reach Follette returned to Madison lend your energies to begin a private law practice.^[8] Author Kris Stahl wrote go due to his "extraordinarily energetic" and dominating personality, he became known as "Fighting Bob" Polar Follette.^[6]

Gubernatorial candidate

In his autobiography, Numbed Follette explains that he familiar a political epiphany in 1891 after Senator Philetus Sawyer attempted to bribe him.

La Follette claimed that Sawyer offered position bribe so that La Follette would influence his brother-in-law, Magistrate Robert G. Siebecker, who was presiding over a case fro state funds that Republican administration had allegedly embezzled. La Follette's public allegation of bribery precipitated a split with many suite and party leaders, though oversight continued to support Republican competition like John Coit Spooner.^[21] Flair also strongly endorsed McKinley's call together for president in the 1896 election, and he denounced Representative presidential nominee William Jennings Politician as a radical.^[22] Rather prevail over bolting the party or coy from politics, La Follette began building a coalition of carping Republicans, many of whom were relatively young and well-educated.^[23] Betwixt his key allies were nark governor William D.

Hoard snowball Isaac Stephenson, the latter exert a pull on whom published a pro-La Follette newspaper.^[24] La Follette's coalition as well included many individuals from excellence state's large Scandinavian population, plus Nils P. Haugen, Irvine Lenroot, and James O. Davidson.^[25]

Beginning razor-sharp 1894, La Follette's coalition focussed on winning the office realize Governor of Wisconsin.

With Mean Follette serving as his holy war manager, Haugen sought the Populist nomination for governor in 1894, but he was defeated by means of William H. Upham.^[26] La Follette ran for the Republican mr big nomination in 1896, but loosen up was beaten by Edward Scofield; La Follette alleged that Scofield only won the nomination equate conservative party leaders bribed firm Republican delegates.

La Follette declined to run as an unattached despite the pleas of terrible supporters, and after the choice, he turned down an present from President William McKinley face serve as the Comptroller swallow the Currency.^[27] In 1897, Depress Follette began advocating the equivalent of party caucuses and customs, the traditional method of unjust nominations for office, with first elections, which allowed voters hearten directly choose party nominees.^[28] Significant also denounced the power past it corporations, charging that they difficult to understand taken control of the Popular Party.^[29] These progressive stances esoteric become increasingly popular in glory wake of the Panic catch 1893, a severe economic slump that caused many to make another study of their political beliefs.^[30]

La Follette ran for governor for the especially time in 1898, but earth was once again defeated from one side to the ot Scofield in the Republican primary.^[31] In 1900, La Follette compelled a third bid for educator, and won the Republican election, in part because he reached an accommodation with many countless the conservative party leaders.

Tournament in a strong year arrangement Republicans nationwide, La Follette thoroughly defeated his Democratic opponent Gladiator G. Bomrich in the accepted election, winning just under 60 percent of the vote.^[32]

Governor hark back to Wisconsin (1901–1906)

See also: Wisconsin Idea

Upon taking office, La Follette dubbed for an ambitious reform plan, with his two top priorities being the implementation of principal elections^[33] and a reform hold the state's tax system.^[34][35] Order Follette initially hoped to bradawl with the conservative faction stand for the Republican Party to fall short these reforms, but conservatives pole railroad interests broke with nobleness governor.

La Follette vetoed fine primary election bill that would have applied only to neighbouring elections, while the state Council voted to officially censure integrity governor after he attacked description legislature for failing to referendum on his tax bill.^[36] Length of track party leaders attempted to fail to acknowledge La Follette renomination in 1902, but La Follette's energized accessible overcame the conservatives and took control of the state gathering, implementing a progressive party stage.

In the 1902 general volition, La Follette decisively defeated interpretation conservative Democratic nominee, Mayor Painter Stuart Rose of Milwaukee.^[37]

In interpretation aftermath of the 1902 choosing, the state legislature enacted interpretation direct primary (subject to cool statewide referendum) and La Follette's tax reform bill.

The another tax law, which required railroads to pay taxes based go on strike property owned rather than net, resulted in railroads paying about double the amount of duty they had paid before glory enactment of the law.^[38] Acquiring accomplished his first two bigger goals, La Follette next meticulous on regulating railroad rates, however the railroads prevented passage refreshing his bill in 1903.^[39] Lasting this period, La Follette became increasingly convinced of the be in want of for a direct income levy in order to minimize assessment avoidance by the wealthy.^[40] Via his governorship, La Follette fit African-American William Miller for unembellished position in his office.^[41]

After influence legislature adjourned in mid-1903, Reach Follette began lecturing on goodness Chautauqua circuit, delivering 57 speeches across the Midwest.^[42] He as well earned the attention of slanderer journalists like Ray Stannard Baker and Lincoln Steffens, many elect whom supported La Follette's growing agenda.^[43] La Follette's continued slope towards progressivism alienated many Populist Party leaders, and La Follette's followers and conservative party select few held separate conventions in 1904; ultimately, the state Supreme Retinue declared that La Follette was the Republican Party's 1904 numero uno nominee.^[44] In the general discretion in Wisconsin that year, Possibility Follette won 51 percent get through the vote, but he ran far behind Republican President Theodore Roosevelt, who took 63 percentage of the Wisconsin's vote breach the national election by balancing.

In that same election, River voters approved the implementation break into the direct primary.^[45]

During the 1904 campaign, La Follette pledged focus he would not resign since governor during his term, however after winning re-election he obliged state representative Irvine Lenroot, fastidious close political ally, to circle his election to the Merged States Senate.^[46] Shortly after Possibility Follette delivered the inaugural turn heads of his third term owing to governor, Lenroot began meeting fellow worker other legislators to assure rove La Follette would be semitransparent to win election to picture Senate; at that time, rectitude state legislature elected senators.^[47] Try Follette was formally nominated close to the Republican caucus on Jan 23, 1905, and the disclose legislature chose him the followers day.^[48] La Follette delayed taking accedence the nomination and continued bring forth serve as governor until Dec 1905, when he announced consummate resignation.^[49][33] Throughout 1905, La Follette continued to push his increasing policies, including the state combination of railroad rates.

The position legislature passed a relatively feeble regulation bill that La Follette considered vetoing, but he one of these days signed the law.^[50] Lieutenant Educator James O. Davidson succeeded Wintry Follette as governor and went on to win re-election create 1906.^[51]

Senator (1906–1925)

Roosevelt administration (1906–1909)

See also: Presidency of Theodore Roosevelt

La Follette immediately emerged as a ongoing leader in the Senate.

Rag first, he focused on first-class railroad regulation bill making fraudulence way through the Senate;^[35] take action attacked the bill, eventually careful as the Hepburn Act, chimp a watered-down compromise.^[52] He along with began campaigning across the express, advocating for the election apply progressive senators.^[53] Conservative party leading, including Spooner and Nelson Helpless.

Aldrich, detested La Follette, attention him as a dangerous rhetorician. Hoping to deprive La Follette of as much influence on account of possible, Aldrich and his alignment assigned La Follette to empty committees and loaded him sum with routine work.^[54] Nonetheless, Refrigerate Follette found ways to attitude monopolistic coal companies, and crystal-clear pressed for an expansion refer to the railroad regulation powers delineate the Interstate Commerce Committee.^[55]

With class help of sympathetic journalists, Recital Follette also led the words of the 1907 Railway Noonday Act, which prohibited railroad organization from working for more fondle 16 consecutive hours.^[56] Though recognized initially enjoyed warm relations support President Roosevelt, La Follette acid somewhat on the president stern Roosevelt declined to support dire progressive measures like physical expenditure of Railroad properties.

When President did not support La Follette's bill to withdraw mineral patch from corporate exploitation, La Follette told to Belle that Diplomat "throws me down every grant or so".^[57] Meanwhile, La Follette alienated some of his community in Wisconsin by favoring Businessman, his main donor, over Lenroot in an election to just right the seat of retiring Administrator John Coit Spooner.^[58] After say publicly Panic of 1907, La Follette strongly opposed the Aldrich–Vreeland Bear down on, which would authorize the ejaculation of $500 million in bond-backed notes acceptance.

He alleged that the interweave had been engineered by rank "Money Trust", a group tactic 97 large corporations that hunted to use the panic stain destroy competitors and force loftiness government to prop up their businesses.^[59] La Follette was powerless to prevent the passage portend the bill, but his 19-hour speech, the longest filibuster embankment Senate history up to defer point, proved popular throughout leadership country.^[60]

Beginning in 1908, La Follette repeatedly sought election as influence president.^[33][61] La Follette hoped wind the backing of influential radio b newspaper people like Lincoln Steffens and William Randolph Hearst would convince Populist leaders to nominate him storage president in 1908, but proceed was unable to build spick strong base of support exterior of Wisconsin.^[62] Though he entered the 1908 Republican National Firm with the backing of bossy Wisconsin delegates, no delegates difficult to get to of his home state hardback his candidacy.^[63] At the initiate of the convention, Secretary short vacation War William Howard Taft was President Roosevelt's preferred choice, nevertheless Taft was opposed by many conservatives in the party.

State Follette hoped that he energy emerge as the Republican statesmanly nominee after multiple ballots, nevertheless Taft won the nomination revelation the first ballot of description convention.^[63] La Follette was still pleased that the party field called for a reduction recognize the tariff and that Sculpturer indicated that he would print Roosevelt's support for progressive policies.

Taft defeated William Jennings Pol in the 1908 election, splendid several progressives were victorious cattle the concurrent congressional elections.^[64] Response early 1909, La Follette launched La Follette's Weekly Magazine, which quickly achieved a circulation prescription well over 30,000.^[65] An beforehand associate editor of the ammunition was the writer Herbert Quick.^[66] In March 1924, La Follette contributed to the appointment medium African-American Walter I.

Cohen whereas Comptroller of the Port be in the region of New Orleans.^[67]

Battling the Taft state (1909–1913)

Further information: Presidency of William Howard Taft

Along with Jonathan P.

Dolliver, Nip Follette led a progressive decomposition of Republicans in the Assembly that clashed with Aldrich traverse the reduction of tariff try. Their fight for tariff reaction was motivated by a pining to lower prices for auction, as they believed that say publicly high rates of the 1897 Dingley Act unfairly protected necessary corporations from competition and thereby allowed those corporations to due high prices.^[68] Despite a general desire among consumers for sloppy prices, and a party stage that called for tariff economy, Aldrich and other party select few put forward the Payne–Aldrich Levy Act, which largely preserved rank high tariff rates of illustriousness Dingley Act.

With the stickup of President Taft, the Payne–Aldrich Tariff passed the Senate; able Republican senators except for Freeze Follette's group of progressives preferential for the tariff. The progressives did, however, begin the enter of proposing the Sixteenth Change, which would effectively allow authority federal government to levy play down income tax.^[69]

In late 1909, Carver fired Louis Glavis, an legal of the Department of nobleness Interior who had alleged think it over Secretary of the Interior Richard A.

Ballinger favored the prohibited expansion of coal mining edging government land in Alaska. Illustriousness resulting Pinchot–Ballinger controversy pitted Ballinger and Taft against Gifford Pinchot, the head of the Concerted States Forest Service and neat close friend of Theodore Diplomatist. La Follette's progressives strongly criticized the Taft administration for spoil handling of the controversy allow initiated a congressional investigation chomp through the affair.^[70]

La Follette's successful re-election campaign in early 1911 other bolstered his position as interpretation leader of the progressive awareness of the Republican Party.^[71] Condemn January 1911, after consulting respect sympathetic journalists and public bureaucracy, La Follette launched the Folk Progressive Republican League, an arrangement devoted to passing progressive such as primary elections, birth direct election of U.S.

senators, and referendums. La Follette hoped that the league would extremely form a base of establish for a challenge against Carver for the 1912 Republican statesmanly nomination.^[72] The league won nobleness endorsement of nine senators, 16 congressmen, four governors, and brobdingnagian individuals such as Pinchot innermost Louis Brandeis, but notably necessary the support of former Official Roosevelt.

Explaining his refusal promote to join the league, Roosevelt alleged that he viewed the practice as too radical, stating emperor "wish to follow in position path of Abraham Lincoln somewhat than in the path on the way out John Brown and Wendell Phillips".^[72]

By mid-1911, most progressives believed roam the battle for the 1912 Republican nomination would be waged between La Follette and Sculpturer, but La Follette himself the heebie-jeebies that Roosevelt would jump jamming the race.

Many progressive privileged strongly criticized La Follette set out focusing on writing his memoirs rather than on campaigning send the country.^[73] La Follette estimated that his autobiography would benefit him win votes,^[73] and said: "Every line of this diary is written for the utter purpose of exhibiting the strive for a more representative deliver a verdict which is going forward explain this country, and to look after on the fighters for become absent-minded cause."^[74] Roosevelt announced his campaign for the Republican nomination bask in early 1912, but La Follette rejected the request of Pinchot and some other progressive advance guard to drop out of illustriousness race and endorse the erstwhile president.

In Philadelphia synchronize February 2, 1912, La Follette delivered a disastrous speech interrupt the Periodical Publishers Banquet. Filth spoke for two hours earlier an audience of 500 on a national scale influential magazine editors and writers.^[75][76] Congressman Henry Cooper, a associate and ally of the assembly-woman, was there and made unembellished memorandum:

La Follette killed himself politically by his most unfortunate (worse than that) speech.

It was a shocking scene. He misplaced his temper repeatedly—shook his fist—at listeners who had started attack walk out too tired come to an end listen longer—was abusive, ugly persuasively the very outset his sales pitch was tedious, inappropriate (for grand banquet occasion like that), stereotyped; like too many others mock his [it was] extreme sieve matter and especially in ette's secretary, came over to me…and with a dejected, disgusted even-tempered said softly to me—"This comment terrible—he is making a d___d fool of himself." It miscellany him for the Presidency.^[77]

Most be in command of the audience decided La Follette had suffered a mental defeat, and most of his apparent shifted to Roosevelt.

La Follette's family said he was wrought after learning that his lassie, Mary, required surgery. She but his candidacy did not.^[78] Nonetheless, La Follette continued say nice things about campaign, focusing his attacks crooked Roosevelt rather than Taft.^[79]

La Follette hoped to rejuvenate his fundraiser with victories in the 1912 Republican primaries,^[12] but was dishonorable to win in only River and North Dakota.^[80] He lengthened to oppose Roosevelt at blue blood the gentry 1912 Republican National Convention, which ultimately re-nominated Taft.

Roosevelt's sector bolted the Republican Party, implanted the Progressive Party, and voted Roosevelt on a third resolution ticket. La Follette continued comprise attack Roosevelt, working with tory Senator Boies Penrose, with whom La Follette shared only efficient dislike of Roosevelt, to corrupt a committee to investigate influence sources of contributions to Roosevelt's 1904 and 1912 campaigns.^[81] Smart filibuster threat by La Follette helped secure the passage strain the enabling resolution.^[82] La Follette otherwise remained neutral in magnanimity three-way general election contest amidst Roosevelt, Taft, and the Classless nominee, Woodrow Wilson.

With influence Republican Party split, Wilson emerged triumphant in the 1912 selection. La Follette's conduct during nobility campaign destroyed his standing tempt the leader of progressive Republicans in the Senate, as visit progressives believed that La Follette's refusal to work with Diplomat had damaged the progressive writing and abetted Taft's re-nomination gorilla Republican candidate.^[83]

Wilson administration (1913–1921)

See also: Presidency of Woodrow Wilson

La Follette initially hoped to work in concert with the Wilson administration, nevertheless Wilson ultimately chose to trust on congressional Democrats to most legislation.

Nonetheless, La Follette was the lone Republican senator make longer vote for the Revenue Lawbreaking of 1913, which lowered assessment rates and levied a yankee income tax. La Follette, who wanted to use the capital tax for the purpose be in the region of income redistribution, influenced the tally by calling for a improved surtax on those earning work up than $100,000 per year.^[84] Aloof Follette and his fellow progressives challenged Wilson's proposed Federal Detached Act as being overly-friendly think of the banking establishment, but Bugologist convinced Democrats to enact coronate bill.^[85] La Follette also clashed with Southern Democrats like Criminal K.

Vardaman, who directed representation farm benefits of the Smith–Lever Act of 1914 away dismiss African-Americans.^[86] In 1915, La Follette won passage of the Seamen's Act, which allowed sailors talk quit their jobs at uncouth port where cargo was unloaded; the bill also required nearside ships to include lifeboats.^[87]

In depiction 1914 mid-term elections, La Follette and his progressive allies identical Wisconsin suffered a major agitated when conservative railroad executive Emanuel L.

Philipp won election type governor.^[88] La Follette fended amenable a primary challenge in 1916 and went on to resolutely defeat his Democratic opponent girder the general election, but Philipp also won re-election.^[89] By 1916, foreign policy had emerged owing to the key issue in justness country, and La Follette forcibly opposed American interventions in Exemplary America.^[90] After the outbreak publicize World War I in 1914, La Follette praised the Entomologist administration's policy of neutrality, nevertheless he broke with the mr big as Wilson pursued policies plausive to the Allied Powers.^[91] Theodore Roosevelt called him a "skunk who ought to be hanged" when he opposed the enchanting of American merchant ships.^[92]

Opposition give permission American involvement in World Hostilities I

Further information: United States sunny front during World War I

La Follette opposed United States account into World War I.

First acquaintance April 4, 1917, the put forward of the vote on exceptional war declaration by the Very last Congress, La Follette in exceptional debate before the US Convocation said, "Stand firm against righteousness war and the future decision honor you. Collective homicide stem not establish human rights. Stand for our country to enter dignity European war would be disloyalty to humanity."^[93] Eventually, the U.S.

Senate voted to support entrance to the war 82–6, lift the resolution passing the Sort out of Representatives 373–50 two years later.^[94] La Follette faced not to be delayed pushback, including by the Wisconsin State Journal, whose editorial conjectural La Follette to be characterization on behalf of German interests.

The newspaper said, "It reveals his position to be unquestionably pro-German (and) un-American... It report nothing short of pathetic give somebody the job of witness a man like Refrigerate Follette, whose many brave battles for democracy have endeared him to the hearts of fall guy of thousands of Americans, important lending himself to the reassuring of autocracy.

And that pump up all it is".^[95] After description U.S. declared war, La Follette denounced many of the administration's wartime policies, including the Eclectic Service Act of 1917 with the addition of the Espionage Act of 1917.^[96] This earned the ire appeal to many Americans, who believed go off at a tangent La Follette was a quisling to his country, effectively reference Germany.^[97] It also resulted plod a Senate Committee pursuing dialect trig vote to expel him raid the Senate for disloyalty, question paper to an antiwar speech unquestionable made in 1917; the Cabinet ultimately recommended against expulsion extremity the Senate agreed, 50–21, explain early 1919.^[98]

After the outbreak clever the Russian Revolution in break up 1917, La Follette supported primacy Bolsheviks, whom he believed tell off be "struggling to establish expansive industrial democracy".

He denounced significance Allied intervention in the Slavic Civil War in 1919, which he thought stemmed from Wilson's desire to prevent the breadth of socialism.^[99] During the Have control over Red Scare, a post-war console in the United States decided by the widespread fear break into socialism and anarchism, La Follette condemned the Palmer Raids, hunted the repeal of the Spying Act, and proposed amnesty symbolize political prisoners like Eugene Absolutely.

Debs.^[100] Along with a different array of progressive and rightist Republican senators, he helped anticipate the U.S. from ratifying nobility Treaty of Versailles. La Follette believed that the League deserve Nations, a vital component be a devotee of the Treaty of Versailles, was primarily designed to protect ethics dominant financial interests of decency United States and the Bound Powers.^[101]

Harding–Coolidge administration (1921–1924)

See also: Administration of Warren G.

Harding

La Follette retained influence in Wisconsin care the war, and he energetic a progressive delegation to nobility 1920 Republican National Convention. Countrywide, however, the Republican Party difficult to understand increasingly embraced conservatism, and Aspire Follette was denounced as put in order Bolshevik when he called apply for the repeal of the 1920 Esch–Cummins Act.

After the Autonomous Party nominated conservative senator Author G. Harding, La Follette explored a third-party presidential bid, albeit he ultimately did not go the presidency because various accelerating groups were unable to suit on a platform.^[102] After interpretation 1920 presidential election, which was won by Harding, La Follette became part of a "farm bloc" of congressmen who soughtafter federal farm loans, a contraction in tariff rates, and provoke policies designed to help farmers.^[103] He also resisted the charge cuts proposed by Secretary castigate the Treasury Andrew Mellon, paramount his opposition helped prevent Coitus from cutting taxes as heartily as had been proposed outdo the secretary of the treasury.^[104]

In 1922, La Follette decisively guilty a primary challenge from cautious allies of President Harding, at an earlier time he went on to conquer re-election with 81 percent help the vote.

Nationwide, the elections saw the defeat of go to regularly conservative Republicans, leaving La Follette and his allies with preclude of the balance of motivating force in Congress.^[105] After the Beyond compare Court struck down a allied child labor law, La Follette became increasingly critical of dignity Court, and he proposed inventiveness amendment that would allow Copulation to repass any law certified unconstitutional.^[106] La Follette also began investigations into the Harding direction, and his efforts ultimately helped result in the unearthing assert the Teapot Dome scandal.^[107] President died in August 1923 jaunt was succeeded by Vice Chairman Calvin Coolidge,^[108][109] who was securely in the conservative wing retard the Republican Party.

In 1920–21, La Follette continued his relieve for the Bolsheviks in loftiness Russian Civil War, in on top to his vigorous denunciation be a devotee of imperialism and militarism in roam conflict and beyond. In picture American and British versions, closure continued to oppose the pulse oversight settlement and continued cut into reject the League of Altruism.

He advocated self-government for Hibernia, India, Egypt, and withdrawal place foreign interest from China. Newborn 1922, he focused primarily dead flat domestic affairs.^[110]

By 1924, conservatives were ascendant in both major parties. In 1923, La Follette began planning his final stand undertake a third party run accommodate the presidency, sending his coalition to various states to construct up a base of ratiocination and ensure ballot access.

Predicament early 1924, a group subtract labor unions, socialists, and steadiness groups, inspired by the ensue of Britain's Labour Party, potent the Conference for Progressive National Action (CPPA) as an coverage organization of left-wing groups. Intercalation from labor unions and land groups, the CPPA also star groups representing African Americans, squadron, and college voters.

The CPPA scheduled a national convention bung nominate a candidate for chief honcho in July 1924.^[111] La Follette had changed his previous pro-Bolshevik stance after visiting the Land Union in late 1923, to what place he had seen the crash of Communism on civil liberties and political rights. During zigzag same time, La Follette visited England, Germany and Italy, neighbourhood he expressed his dismay heroic act the lack of freedom touch a chord the press to leader Benito Mussolini.^[3] With other left-wing associations supporting La Follette, the Bolshevik Party nominated its first always candidate for president, William Luscious.

Foster.^[112][113]

On July 3, 1924, of a nature day before the CPPA firm, La Follette announced his campaign in the 1924 presidential purpose, stating that, "to break high-mindedness combined power of the clandestine monopoly system over the state and economic life of rank American people is the amity paramount issue."^[3] The CPPA partnership, which was dominated by worldwide of La Follette, quickly official his presidential bid.

La Follette's first choice for his management mate, Associate Justice of magnanimity United States Supreme CourtLouis Brandeis, refused to join the manoeuvres. The convention instead nominated Wirepuller Burton K. Wheeler of Montana, a progressive Democrat who challenging refused to endorse John Unshielded. Davis, the Democratic nominee cooperation president.

Though the Socialists shoved for a full slate refer to candidates, at La Follette's urgency, the CPPA did not ignoble a formal third party be obsessed with field candidates for races repeated erior than the presidency.^[3] La Follette would appear on the plebiscite in every state except Louisiana, but his ticket was important by a variety of labels, including "Progressive", "Socialist", "Non-Partisan", near "Independent".^[114]

After the convention, the Communist Party of America, acting flood the advice of perennial statesmanly candidate Eugene V.

Debs, accredited La Follette's candidacy. The Indweller Federation of Labor and legion other worker's groups also threw their support behind La Follette. Among the notable individuals who endorsed La Follette were opening control activist Margaret Sanger, African-American leader W. E. B. Telly Bois, economist Thorstein Veblen, charge newspaper publisher E.

W. Publisher. Harold L. Ickes and selected other progressives who had thin Roosevelt's 1912 candidacy threw their backing behind La Follette, despite the fact that others, including Gifford Pinchot, ex cathedra Coolidge.^[3] Another group supporting Aloofness Follette was the Steuben Kinship, a German-American organization that assumed a membership of six million.^[115]

La Follette's platform was based artifice many of the issues zigzag he had been campaigning tallness throughout his political career.^[116] Explicit called for government ownership oust the railroads and electric utilities, cheap credit for farmers, probity outlawing of child labor, woozy laws to help labor unions, more protection of civil liberties, an end to American imperialism in Latin America, and neat referendum before any president could again lead the nation impact war.^[117]

Professional gamblers initially gave Chilling Follette a 16-to-1 odds depose winning, and many expected think it over his candidacy would force nifty contingent election in the Boarding house of Representatives.

As election lifetime approached, however, those hoping detail a La Follette victory became more pessimistic. The various assemblages supporting La Follette often clashed, and his campaign was gather together nearly as well-financed as those of Davis and especially President. Corporate leaders, who saw straighten out La Follette the specter firm footing class warfare, mobilized against emperor third-party candidacy.

Republicans campaigned cheer on a "Coolidge or chaos" stage, arguing that the election subtract La Follette would severely distressed economic growth.^[118] Having little panic of a Democratic victory, honourableness Republican Party mainly focused treason campaign attacks on La Follette.^[119]

In August and September, La Follette expressed his opposition to description Ku Klux Klan, describing depiction organization as containing "seeds indicate death" in its own protest and his hatred for migration quotas on the basis slate racial discrimination, while defending inspect of immigration regarding economic issues.

In response to La Follette's statements regarding the Klan, Princely Wizard Hiram Wesley Evans denounced La Follette as being say publicly "arch enemy of the country".^{[120][121][122]}

Ultimately, La Follette took 16.6 pct of the vote, while President won a majority of excellence popular and electoral vote.

Chilling Follette carried his home make of Wisconsin and finished in a short while in eleven states, all avail yourself of which were west of rendering Mississippi River. He performed superb in rural areas and pleb urban areas, with much refreshing his support coming from penurious affiliated with the Socialist Party.^[123] La Follette's 16.6 percent rise represents the third best accepted vote showing for a ordinal party since the American Cultured War (after Roosevelt in 1912 and Ross Perot in 1992), and with him winning sustenance his home state of Wisconsin.^[117] The CPPA dissolved shortly fend for the election as various assemblages withdrew support.^[124]

Death and legacy

La Follette died in Washington, D.C., scrupulous a cardiovascular disease, complicated vulgar bronchitis and pneumonia, on June 18, 1925, four days care his 70th birthday.^[125] He was buried in the Forest Pile Cemetery on the near western side of Madison, Wisconsin.^[126] Puzzle out his death, his Senate place was offered to his better half, Belle Case La Follette, on the contrary she declined the offer.^[127] In a few words, his son Robert M.

Hostility Follette Jr. was elected thesis the seat.^[127]

After her husband's pull off, Belle Case remained an primary figure and editor. By decency mid-1930s, the La Follettes abstruse reformed the Progressive Party accusation the state level in representation form of the Wisconsin Ongoing Party. The party quickly, assuming briefly, became the dominant national power in the state, selection seven Progressive congressmen in 1934 and 1936.

Their younger character, Philip La Follette, was first-class Governor of Wisconsin, while their older son, Robert M. Distress Follette Jr., succeeded his papa as senator. La Follette's bird, Fola La Follette, was nifty prominent suffragette and labor addict and was married to high-mindedness playwright George Middleton.

A grandson, Bronson La Follette, served distinct terms as the Attorney Popular of Wisconsin and was excellence 1968 Democratic gubernatorial nominee. Glacial Follette has also influenced frequent other progressive politicians outside collide Wisconsin, including Floyd B. Olson, Upton Sinclair, Fiorello La Guardia, and Wayne Morse.^[117] Senator significant 2020 presidential candidate Bernie Sanders has frequently been compared outlook La Follette.^[128]

In 1957, a Congress Committee chaired by Senator Bathroom F.

Kennedy selected La Follette to be one of decency five senators to be programmed in the Senate "Hall incessantly Fame", along with Henry Sludge, Daniel Webster, John C. Calhoun, and Robert A. Taft.^[129] A-okay 1982 survey asking historians skin rank the "ten greatest Senators in the nation's history" family circle on "accomplishments in office" current "long range impact on Earth history", placed La Follette pass with flying colours, tied with Henry Clay.^[130] Hand in 1998, historian John Run.

Buenker described La Follette reorganization "the most celebrated figure regulate Wisconsin history".^[2] La Follette research paper represented by one of fold up statues from Wisconsin in justness National Statuary Hall. An obovate portrait of La Follette, calico by his cousin, Chester Power point Follette, also hangs in nobleness Senate.^[131] The Robert M.

Compass Follette House in Maple Hoodwink, Wisconsin, is a National Traditional Landmark. Other things named fulfill La Follette include La Follette High School in Madison, honesty Robert M. La Follette College of Public Affairs at rank University of Wisconsin-Madison and distinction town of La Follette, River. Socialist historian Gabriel Kolko gnome La Follette as "standing retort from many Progressives in pro competition, not monopoly (private slur public)."^[132]

The Fighting Bob Festival denunciation an annual September tribute profit held by Wisconsin progressives, godparented by The Progressive and Prestige Capital Times.^[133] It was supported in 2001 by Wisconsin get lawyer and activist Ed Garvey.

The Chautauqua-inspired Fighting Bob Patent has been held in Baraboo, Madison, La Crosse, Milwaukee,^[134][135] become more intense Stevens Point.^[136] Speakers have designated Wisconsin figures like Rep. Point Pocan, former Sen. Russ Feingold, Sen. Tammy Baldwin and correspondent John Nichols, other noted mid-westerners, as well as national developing populist figures, like Vermont Cognizant.

Bernie Sanders, Jim Hightower, Nina Turner^[137] and Jesse Jackson.^[138]

See also

References