Autobiography; a personal narrative of political experiences

Front matter

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Contents

Introduction ix

I. Political Beginnings .... 3 II. In the House of Representatives . 49

III. The Reed Congress and the New

Introduction

IN THE preparation of this narrative I have no literary intent whatsoever. I am not writing for the sake of writing, nor for the mere purpose of relating the events of my political life. I have not yet reached the secluded age when a man writes his life story for the enjoyment the exercise gives him.

Every line of this autobiography is written for the express purpose of exhibiting the struggle ior a more representative government which is going forward in this country, and to cheer on the fighters for that cause. Most of these chapters were written at Washington between the close of one important Congressional struggle and the opening of another. The final chapters were written after the National Convention and before the presidential election of 1912. Thus the entire narrative may be said to have been written from the field.

iz

X INTRODUCTION

We have long rested comfortably in this country upon the assumption that because our form of government was democratic, it was therefore automatically producing democratic results. Now, there is nothing mysteriously potent about the forms and names of democratic institutions that should make them selfoperative. Tyranny and oppression are just as possible under democratic fo!rms as under any other. We are slow to realize that democracy is a life; and involves continual struggle. It is only as those of every generation who love democracy resist with all their might the encroachments of its enemies that the ideals of representative government can eveli be nearly approximated.

The essence of the Progressive movement, as I see it, lies in its purpose to uphold the fundamental principles of representative government. It expresses the hopes and desires of millions of common men and women who are willing to fight for their ideals, to take defeat if necessary, and still go on fighting.

Fortunes of birth, temperament and political

INTRODUCTION xi

environment have thrown me into this struggle, and have made me in some degree a pioneer in the Progressive movement. I am therefore writing my own story in these pages because I believe this to be the best means of mapping out the whole field of conflict and exposing the real character of the enemy.

I shall give as faithful an account as I know how of political events in which I have participated and I shall characterize the strong men whom I have known, and especially I shall endeavor to present those underlying motives and forces which are of ten undiscemed in American politics.

I believe that most thoughtful readers, perplexed by the conditions which confront the country, will find that they have been meeting in various guises the same problems that I have had to meet, and that their minds have consequently been traveUng along much the same lines as mine, and toward much the same conclusions. I trust this book may be the means of causing many men to think as one — and to fight as one.

xii INTRODUCTION

It is a pleasure to express my grateful appreciation of the valuable assistance which Mr. Ray Stannard Baker has given me in the revision of the manuscript for this work and of the helpful suggestions of Professor John R. Commons and his verification of the statistical and economic data.

Robert M. La Follette.

Washington^ D. C, October 1, 1912.

A PERSONAL NARRATIVE OF POLITICAL EXPERIENCES