Wisconsin
Wisconsin’s La Follette helps fund plaque honoring ancestor
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin Secretary of State Doug La Follette helps to pay for a brand new plaque to be put in Friday within the state Capitol honoring considered one of Wisconsin’s most well-known politicians who can also be a distant relative of the longtime officeholder.
The bust of Robert “Combating Bob” La Follette has a distinguished place on the primary ground of the Capitol Rotunda, however it bears solely his title and no rationalization of who he was. Doug La Follette, who was reelected in November to his eleventh consecutive time period as secretary of state, stated he walked by it for 30 years with out realizing there was no plaque.
Lastly, La Follette stated the omission dawned on him and he determined to do one thing about it.
La Follette, 82, received approval for the concept from a committee that oversees the Capitol, on the situation that he increase the $2,700 to pay for it. La Follette stated Friday he raised $1,200 however he intends to cowl the remainder of the associated fee.
“If the state authorities cannot afford a pair thousand {dollars} for a very powerful political determine in our historical past, no matter,” La Follette stated in an interview. “That is water below the bridge. … I am fairly prepared to make up the distinction.”
La Follette stated he’s a primary cousin twice eliminated of the previous governor and 1924 Progressive Get together presidential candidate — a celebration he based. “Combating Bob” La Follette was governor from 1901 to 1906, served six years within the U.S. Home and simply over 19 years within the U.S. Senate. He died in workplace in 1925.
A state Capitol employee put in the plaque Friday, however it is going to be stored below wraps till the Monday unveiling. A mockup of the plaque that La Follette revealed final 12 months described “Combating Bob” as “a founding father of the progressive motion and champion of the ‘Wisconsin Concept.’”
“Any longer, all people visiting the Capitol will know who the person was,” La Follette stated.