Left- Fighting Bob LaFollette
Mt. Horeb Area Progressive Politicians
Two well known politicians had their roots in the Mt. Vernon area. John Donald from Springdale township, and Robert La Follette from Primrose township would both go on to become influential in state and national politics. Both belonged to the Republican party and each held the other in high esteem. John Donald was a champion of agricultural issues and was the Father of the "Good Road Movement" in Wisconsin. Robert La Follette was the head of the "progressive" wing of the Republican party in Wisconsin.
Robert M. La Follette was born in 1855 and raised on a farm near Mt. Vernon in the town of Primrose, where he lived until 1873. He was elected as a Dane County District Attorney, and later elected by the state of Wisconsin to the U. S. House of Representatives from 1885 to 1891. He held the office of Governor of Wisconsin from 1900 to 1904, and was elected to the U. S. Senate in 1905 to 1925. In 1924, he ran as an independent Progressive candidate for U. S. President. He garnered nearly six million votes.
La Follette was head of the "Progressive" faction in the Republican Party and throughout his political career he fought the big "Party Bosses" and remained a vital force among Republicans. He had ties with the Mt. Vernon area and was remembered even as a school boy as being an influential speaker, and an energetic youth. When he was in his teenage years, a spirited horse race was run between young Bob La Follette and Ike Brader through the town of Mt. Vernon. Bob pitted his favorite mare against Brader's prize-stepper in a race. Although La Follette lost the race, the event was a thrilling spectacle for the crowd that witnessed it.
On July 5, 1880, Bob La Follette made Mt. Vernon history when he was the orator during the Independence Day celebration. He was preparing to become a candidate for District Attorney, his first political race. The event took place in Way's Grove on top of Mt. Vernon's Mill Hill on the Springdale-Primrose Town Line. The speaker platform was located on the Springdale side of the road. When La Follette heard of the location he insisted that the platform be extended across the road so that he could speak from his native Primrose Township. Robert La Follette showed evidence early in his political career of his flair for dramatics. His speech was said to have won the hearts of the big crowd that witnessed the event. It was remembered that La Follette walked around the platform a great deal while speaking and often referred to the "revolution". La Follette probably spoke of "the home as the foundation of the state," as he often spoke of this during his early career. His unique style of oratory would earn him the nicknames of "Fighting Bob," and "Battling Bob" La Follette. Robert La Follette died in 1925, while serving in the office of U. S. Senator.
Left- John Donald1870-1934
John Sweet Donald was born in a log cabin near Mt. Vernon, in the township of Springdale, near what is now Highway 92. He was born to John Strong Donald and Ellen Sweet Donald. His father died before he was born, and he was raised by his mother and step-father, John Jones, Jr. on a forty acre parcel his grandfather, the Rev. James Donald had acquired from the State. In 1893, at the age of 23, John served as assessor for the town of Springdale, and from 1899-1902, he served as the Springdale Town Chairman. In 1902, Donald ran for, and was elected to, the State Assembly on the Republican ticket, a seat he would hold for 4 years. After his two terms in the assembly, Donald ran successfully for two terms in the State Senate, from 1908 until 1912. Donald then served two terms as the Secretary of State of Wisconsin, from 1912 until 1920.
During his long and distinguished political career, Donald championed many causes for the good of his constituents. He supported the Railroad Compensation Bill, Workman's Compensation Bill, Grain Inspection Bill, the Primary Election Bill, as well as many other progressive acts of legislation. He introduced a bill prohibiting large telephone companies from monopolizing and unfairly cutting their rates, thus, possibly forcing small independent companies, such as the Mount Vernon Telephone Company, out of business. In the area of consumer protection he was chair of the committee that drafted the Pure Food Laws, protecting public health as well as Weights and Measures laws protecting consumers against fraud. He chaired the Education Committee and served on the Public Welfare committee. Although all of these progressive bills would earn Donald the respect and admiration of his constituents, as well as his peers, it was another bill that Donald would best be remembered for.
John Donald is often called the "Father of Good Road Laws" for the work he accomplished on Wisconsin's "Good Roads Bill." Before the introduction of this bill, Wisconsin's roads were cared for by a patchwork of farmers maintaining their own roadways. Good roads were a necessity to get goods to market. This bill gave state aid to highways and created a highway commission to secure funds to build and maintain the State Highway System. This legislation was referred to as the Donald Bill.
John Donald was also an active voice in the advancement of agriculture. Donald's farms in Springdale were models of success due in great part to John Donald's innovations in new farming practices. He worked to pioneer the keeping of farm records, writing two sets of farm records books. His slogan, "A farm without records is like a clock without hands," would be the motto of many a successful farmer. His involvement in agriculture would reach as far as serving as President of the State Livestock Breeders, President of Friends of our Native Landscape, and Secretary of Dane County's Agricultural Society.