Fighting bob lafollette biography of michael

He contended they were twin evils that would have fighting bob lafollette biography of michael consequences for the United States and its citizens in the twentieth century and beyond. He is completing an intellectual biography of William Appleman Williams. As useful as Drake's book is for historians, it might most profitably be read by America's political thinkers, political leaders and policy makers.

Governor La Follette and the Wisconsin Idea. Senator La Follette. The Burdens of a Great Man. Unger is assistant professor of history at Santa Clara University. Dull Tools. Wisconsin governors stood for reelection every two years. He handily won the Republican nomination as well as a second term. Emboldened by his successful reelection and the enactment of his tax plan, he took on the powerful railroads.

Railroad executives were already furious at the governor because the new tax plan required companies to pay taxes on the property they owned, not the profits they earned. As a result, railroad companies paid almost twice as much in taxes as they had paid the previous year. When La Follette pushed a plan to regulate railroad rates, the opposition successfully blocked the measure.

Despite the short-term loss, the governor eventually established a state railroad commission, which his successors expanded into a full-fledged public service commission. No longer would railroad companies operate in Wisconsin without state government oversight. Despite the schism, La Follette won reelection with 51 percent of the vote.

He was gratified when voters also agreed in a state referendum that Wisconsin would hold direct primary elections. Always looking to the future, La Follette mulled over the possibility of securing a U. Senate seat. At the time, state legislators still selected United States senators. Although La Follette preferred direct election of senators, he knew that he could not wait for a constitutional amendment to alter the status quo.

He arranged for a close political ally and confidant in the state legislature, Irvine L. Lenroot, to promote his candidacy. Lenroot successfully convinced his colleagues to elect La Follette. Because the governor had pledged during the campaign that he would not resign his office to become a senator, he stayed on in Madison until the end of the year.

As the incumbent governor with a Senate seat waiting, La Follette stood at the apex of his political career. He resigned as governor in Decemberand took his seat in the U. Senate the following month. La Follette served until his death almost two decades later. During his tenure, he continued to advance a progressive agenda. Along with two presidents—Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson—he became a recognized leader of American progressivism.

He also repeatedly campaigned for president. Arriving in Washington, D. Inhe backed the Railway Hours Act, which prohibited railroads from requiring workers to labor for more than sixteen consecutive hours. The following year, he opposed the Aldrich-Vreeland Act, a reaction to the Panic of The statute established the National Monetary Commission, which eventually recommended enactment of the Federal Reserve Act ofbut La Follette feared the law would only help bankers at the expense of the individual depositor.

The senator filibustered for more than 18 hours—a record at the time—against the act, which nonetheless passed the Senate. Beginning inLa Follette set his eyes and his heart on capturing the presidency, but it is difficult to assess how serious he was. August 3, Retrieved July 23, The Victoria Advocate. La Follette". United States Senate. Retrieved October 7, Collier's New Encyclopedia.

Encyclopedia Americana. New International Encyclopedia. Further reading [ edit ]. Primary sources [ edit ]. External links [ edit ]. Wikiquote has quotations related to Robert M. La Follette Sr. Wikimedia Commons has media related to Robert M. Party political offices Preceded by Edward Scofield. James O. Eugene V. Norman Thomas. Burr W. Allen R.

Edward Scofield. Joseph V. Chester Long. William E. William J. Atlee Pomerene. Hugh S. Albert B. Historical left-wing third-party U. This group includes only pre parties that fielded a candidate that won greater 0. Cary James B. West Cunningham James B. Watson Kirkpatrick Eugene V. Maurer Wheeler Henry A. Taylor Governors of Wisconsin.

Dodge Doty Tallmadge Dodge Catlin acting. Privy Seal of Wisconsin. La Follette Schmedeman P. United States senators from Wisconsin. McCarthy Proxmire Kohl Baldwin. Philander C. Knox Charles W. Fairbanks Robert M. La Follette Joseph B. Foraker L. George Gray John Albert Johnson. Third-party and independent candidates. Nominee: Eugene V.

Debs VP nominee: Ben Hanford. Nominee: Eugene W. Chafin VP nominee: Aaron S. Nominee: Thomas L. Nominee: Thomas E. Watson VP nominee: Samuel Williams.

Fighting bob lafollette biography of michael

Other elections: House Senate. Marshall Eugene Foss. Sherman incumbent; nominated but died before election Nicholas Murray Butler. Theodore Roosevelt Robert M. La Follette. President: Eugene V. Debs Vice President: Emil Seidel. Nominee: Arthur E. Reimer VP nominee: August Gillhaus. Other elections : House Senate. President: Warren G. Harding Vice President: Calvin Coolidge.

La Follette Jeter C. President: James M. Cox Vice President: Franklin D. William Gibbs McAdoo A. Davis Edward I. Edwards Woodrow Wilson incumbent Robert L. Third party and independent candidates. Debs VP nominee: Seymour Stedman. Nominee: Parley P. Christensen VP nominee: Max S. Nominee: Aaron S. Watkins VP nominee: D. Leigh Colvin. Nominee: James E.

Ferguson VP nominee: William J. Hiram Johnson Robert M. President: John W. Davis Vice President: Charles W. President: Robert M. Other Third-party and independent candidates. Nominee: William Z. Foster VP nominee: Benjamin Gitlow. Nominee: Herman P. Faris VP nominee: Marie C. Spooner R. Price R. Smith Lab. McCord R. Nelson R. Stephenson R.

Morse R. Lenroot R.