[ad_1]
Madison, Wisconsin — For decades, the statue inside the state capitol of one of Wisconsin’s most famous politicians didn’t have a story behind it, at least if you didn’t know it yourself.
Today, distant relatives of Robert “Fighting Bob” La Follette keep his legacy alive.
Douglas LaFollette, who was elected to a 12th term as Wisconsin’s secretary of state in November, said “Fighting Bob” after walking by the bust of his first cousin, which has been removed twice since nearly 30 years ago. said he noticed there was no plaque explaining who the
Best known for founding the Progressive Party and championing the so-called “Wisconsin Idea,” anyone passing by the “Fighting Bob” statue will know it’s more than just a bust.
Members of the ‘Raging Grannies’ performed at a ceremony on Monday to unveil a new plate of ‘Fighting Bob’ La Follette. (Spectrum News 1/Anthony DaBruzzi)
“He contributed greatly to the history of Wisconsin and the United States,” Douglas Lafollette explained at the unveiling ceremony at the Rotunda on Monday. “Open primaries in elections, fair taxes.”
“Fighting Bob” served in the House of Representatives for six years, then as Governor of Wisconsin in the early 1900s, and then in the Senate for almost 20 years. He ran for president as the Progressive Party candidate until his death in 1925.
“He fought for workers to organize trade unions, protect the environment, regulate lobbyists and end patronage politics,” said the publisher of Progressive, a magazine founded by Robert and Belle La. said Norman Stockwell. Follett.
A bust of “Fighting Bob” has been around the Capitol for decades, but until Monday it bore only Robert LaFollette’s name and no mention of his legacy.
A new plaque, unveiled Monday, lists the government-held position of “Fighting Bob.” (Spectrum News 1/Anthony DaBruzzi)
Doug La Follette had to raise $2,700 to pay for the plaque after two years of demanding it and getting approval from the commission that regulates the Capitol building. He falls short, raising only about $1,300 so far. This is the difference La Follette said it covers out of pocket.
“Where is this man when we need him right now? Oh, it would be a dream if he were in the U.S. Senate now representing us,” Doug Lafollette said after the ceremony ended Monday. Sometimes said
The Robert La Follette bust update isn’t the only project on the Capitol grounds slated for 2023. A new statue of Belle Phillips, the first black and first woman to serve as Wisconsin’s secretary of state, is set to be dedicated later this year. year or early next year if the project is behind schedule.
[ad_2]
Source link
