CHAPTEE V 



FRENCH LEADERS IN REFORM AND IN 

 INVENTION 



Governor 

 LaPoUette 



Wisconsin 

 Boy of 

 Kentucky 

 Huguenot 

 Stock 



HOW the Huguenot blood has diffused itself 

 through the couutry is illustrated in the case of 

 Robert Marion LaFollette of Wisconsin, one of 

 the political reformers, who conceived it to be his mis- 

 sion to break up a great political machine, and as a result 

 met and defeated an imposing array of hostile forces in 

 his party. It is not our purpose here to enter into his 

 campaigns or decide as to merit in disputed cases. But 

 it is in point that we find in this champion of the people 

 against monopoly a descendant of the same refugee stock 

 that in almost every instance was on the side of liberty 

 and right. 



Governor LaFollette was born on a farm in Dane 

 County, Wisconsin, June 14, 1855. His father was a 

 Kentucky bred French Huguenot ; his mother Scotch- 

 Irish. Again and again we have met that strong combi- 

 nation, the same that shone out in Alexander Hamilton. 

 The family moved to the West, where the son was to find 

 his opportunity and make his mark in public life. The 

 death of the father occurred when Robert was less than a 

 year old, but the resolute mother kept her little family of 

 four children together, and at fourteen "Little Bob," as 

 his followers call him, became the working head. He 

 remained on the farm till he was nineteen, then sold it 

 and moved to Madison, where the State University at- 

 tracted him. The French blood in him ''stirred to 

 sentiment and the boy thrilled for glory." He had a 

 decided gift of oratory, and won the college contests and 



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