ROBERT M. LaFOLLETTE 297 the keynote of his private life and his public career. The political life of this twentieth century statesman has been one of rare consistency. He has offered a new interpretation of the old maxim, ** Honesty is the best policy,*' in its applica- tion to the vital problems of modem life. He rejects the pol- icy that would secure temporary results through makeshift methods ; he prefers to work out completely the problems of legislation without resorting to compromise. ^^In legisla- tion,*' he says, ^^No bread is often better than half a loaf. I believe it is usually better to be beaten and come right back at the next session and make a fight for a thorough-going law than to have written on the books a weak and indefinite statute. ' ' Senator LaFoUette has had a notable career as an orator. He became interested in public speaking during his college days when he successfully represented the University of Wis- consin in the Northern Oratorical League. While a student in the university he was an active member of the debating so- ciety which, to this day, is famous for the research work which it demands of its members who are training for debate. His experience as a student in debating and public speaking famished the foundation principles that in later years were 80 effective in the work of platform agitation and education. To-day he ranks with the masters of American eloquence. He has risen to this position solely by virtue of intellectual force and through unremitting labor. He has been favored by no genius other than the capacity for hard work. His attain- ments disprove the theory that a large physique is necessary for oratorical success. In stature he is below the average but is vigorous and athletic. He is always logical in thought and he always clothes the thought in words chosen with such nice precision that their meaning cannot be misunderstood. In his oratory there is the warmth of imagination and the depth of sympathetic insight which suggest the classic eloquence of James Otis. There is the enthusiasm, the reflection of truth through personality that marked the dramatic rhapsodies of Patrick Henry. Under the influence of his eloquence thous- ands of Americans have been mentally quickened, their moral
