191 23 The Insurgent Movement 



success that they frothed at the mouth whenever they 

 spoke of "that man." Our guest evidently enjoyed 

 my characterization, remarking that he "would like 

 to have it engraved on his tombstone. " 



During the same year certain Republican Con- Progres- 

 gressmen, mostly from the West, rose in revolt -^'^^ '''"^°'' 

 against the arbitrary domination of the Speaker of 

 the House, Joseph G. Cannon,^ and of the "stand- 

 patters" who backed him up. Like-minded Senators 

 supported the movement, as did also numerous in- 

 fluential journalists East and West. These "in- 

 surgents" determined to pit a candidate of their own 

 against Taft, whom they described as a "political 

 island entirely surrounded by men who knew just 

 what they wanted." The "Progressive" group was 

 accordingly organized, and, as a result of many 

 conferences and consultations, it chose Robert M. 

 La Follette, Senator from Wisconsin, for standard 

 bearer. This decision was made with the endorse- 

 ment and encouragement of Roosevelt, who, how- 

 ever, ''carefully refrained from written commitment." 

 And the insurgents somehow felt certain that " always 

 in the back of his head there rested the belief that 

 none other than he should be chosen leader of the 

 liberal movement, and no other was as well fitted for 

 the presidential office. " 



La Follette, a fearless and hard-headed political la Follette 

 leader, had a long record of efficient and aggressive 

 public service. But he was scornful of the press and 

 skillful in making enemies as well as friends. His 

 liking for "lone-hand leadership" also offered difficul- 

 ties from a party standpoint. Of Roosevelt's attitude 

 and animus he was from the first suspicious, and all 



^ Familiarly "Uncle Joe." 



1 419 : 



