A MALICIOUS LIE
Follette, Robert M. La
A Malicious Lie THE following article appeared as a special Milwaukee dispatch in the "New York Times" and other metropolitan papers throughout the country: LA FOLLETTE BREAKS DOWN Senator Jumps...
...He was to make six addresses in as many different tov/ns tomorrow, but it has been decided that he is in no condition to speak...
...Fifteen actions at law for $50,000 damages each have been instituted by E. L. Philipp, the Republican candidate for Governor, against State newspapers which, following La Follette's example, have called him a lobbyist...
...I republish the article and state the facts concerning the matter solely that the people, in so far as I am able to inform them, may know the truth...
...Nineteen meetings were scheduled, varying from ten minutes to two hours in -duration...
...There were packed halls at the evening meetings, which were by far the largest meetings held in Wisconsin during the campaign, excepting those of Secretary Bryan...
...At Stevens Point Senator La Follette's vehemence caused more comment than he has evoked at any public appearance since he broke down in Philadelphia two years ago...
...I did not fail or give any indication of failing on any occasion...
...The day was spent in conferences, and it was not until very late Wednesday night that an itinerary for the remaining three days of the week was settled upon and telegraph messages filed giving notice to some friend in each town...
...1.—Engagements which Senator Robert M. La Follette had made for campaign speeches tomorrow in support of J. J. Blaine, the Independent-Progressive candidate for Governor, have been canceled...
...I met every requirement of the schedule and though my physical strength was not fully restored, I am confident that I never did better or more effective work on the platform than during the three days of campaigning in Wisconsin...
...On Saturday he was forced to cancel one speech for lack of attendance...
...In another case the Senator stopped speaking after eight minutes on the advice of a physician...
...It is not the first instance of that sort of mendacious representation which I have suffered at the hands of the special interest press of the country...
...It is maliciously false in every syllable and sentence...
...The one above quoted is typical of the others and is reproduced as another piece of evidence of the unreliability of certain interest-serving papers...
...The suits follow the repetition of the charges against Philipp once made in a magazine, for which Philipp obtained damages...
...The Senator leaped from the platform into the crowd and was so excited that his secretary, John J. Hannan, stopped his address...
...His schedule was advertised for weeks...
...Meetings were not had at those three places solely because the telegraphic notices were either not delivered at all or delivered so late as to render it impossible for those receiving word to give public notice and make the necessary arrangements...
...My meetings were one and all as large and enthusiastic and as responsive as were the audiences I have addressed in any of my campaigns in Wisconsin...
...There was absolutely not the slightest foundation in fact for the grossly and wickedly false publication sent out from Milwaukee all over the country...
...Wednesday, October 28, was my first day in the state for nearly a year...
...Mine for but a few hours...
...Several variations of this dispatch were sent broadcast over the country between October 28 and November 1 from Milwaukee...
...I suffered no collapse, no excitement, no breakdown of any kind...
...A Malicious Lie THE following article appeared as a special Milwaukee dispatch in the "New York Times" and other metropolitan papers throughout the country: LA FOLLETTE BREAKS DOWN Senator Jumps Into Crowd and Secretary Stops His Speech Milwaukee, Wis., Nov...
...Senator La Follette planned a three-day whirlwind campaign of the State, to wind up on the day before election, but on the first day he was forced, for lack of crowds, to cancel three of the scheduled speeches...
...I had been ill at my home in Washington for several months and unable for that reason to take part in the Wisconsin campaign...
...The same is true of each of the others...
...Of the nineteen meetings all were held but three—Janesville, Racine and Hudson...
Vol. 6 • December 1914 • No. 46
