ROBERT M. LaFOLLETTE 293 gates had been pledged to the new cause, the machine was able to win a purchased victory. Finally, however, the old line leaders were vanquished. LaFoUette was made the candidate for governor, elected by an unprecedented majority, and on January 7, 1901, took the oath of office. Space forbids a detailed account of the fight for reform waged by LaFoUette and his supporters. American political history records no finer exhibition of inspiring moral courage combined with practical achievement. Traitors within the camp as well as enemies from without conspired against the administration. Wisconsin became a national battleground. Every forward step was taken only after a long siege main- tained in the face of organized, nation-wide opposition. The press from coast to coast denounced LaFoUette as a danger- ous demagogue ; wealth and influence sought to embarrass him in every possible way and even the power of Federal patron- age was used to divide the reform forces and to soUdify the opposition. Through it aU LaFoUette remained the calm, confident leader, sure of the final triumph of his cause. ^ ' No compromise" was the keynote of his administration of the Wisconsin government. Every platform pledge was written into the organic law of the state. This era records the enactment of constructive legislation which established representative government in Wisconsin. VitaUzing this body of legislation was an intelligent pubUc conscience which had been awakened during the long period of agitation. During this era railroad rates were regulated so that discriminations and rebates were prohibited; an efficient railway commission was organized, and the services of aU pub- Uc utiUties were greatly improved. Reforms in taxation were inaugurated, and corporations, that under the old order had shifted their just burdens upon the people, were now com- peUed to pay seventy per cent of the entire taxes of the state. An inheritance tax was estabUshed and a state income tax adopted, both of which have proved thoroughly practicable. To safeguard these reforms and to insure their permanency the direct primary was adopted. Secret lobbying was pro- hibited and provision made that all arguments either in favor
