La Follette 's successful re-election campaign in early 1911 further bolstered his position as the leader of the progressive faction of the Republican Party . In consultation with sympathetic journalists and public officials , in January 1911 La Follette launched the National Progressive Republican League , an organization devoted to passing progressive laws such as primary elections , the direct election of U.S. senators , and referendums . La Follette hoped that the league would also form a base of support for a challenge against Taft for the 1912 Republican presidential nomination . The league won the endorsement of nine senators , sixteen congressmen , four governors , and well-known individuals like Pinchot and Louis Brandeis , but notably lacked the support of former President Roosevelt . Explaining his refusal to join the league , Roosevelt asserted that he viewed the organization as too radical , stating his " wish to follow in the path of Abraham Lincoln rather than in the path of John Brown and Wendell Phillips . " By mid-1911 , most progressives believed that the battle for the 1912 Republican nomination would be waged between La Follette and Taft , but La Follette himself feared that Roosevelt would jump into the race . Though his candidacy was bolstered by the popular appeal of his autobiography , many progressive leaders strongly criticized La Follette for focusing on the writing of the autobiography rather than on campaigning across the country . Roosevelt announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination in early 1912 , but La Follette rejected the request of Pinchot and some other progressives leaders to drop out of the race and endorse the former president . In February 1912 , La Follette delivered a disastrous speech shortly after learning that his daughter , Mary , would undergo surgery . Some of his opponents accused La Follette of having suffered a mental breakdown , and many progressive leaders shifted their support to Roosevelt . Nonetheless , La Follette continued to campaign , focusing his attacks on Roosevelt rather than Taft . La Follette hoped to rejuvenate his campaign with victories in the 1912 Republican primaries but was able to win in only Wisconsin and North Dakota . He continued to oppose Roosevelt at the 1912 Republican National Convention , which ultimately re-nominated Taft . Roosevelt 's supporters bolted the Republican Party , established the Progressive Party , and nominated Roosevelt on a third party ticket , but La Follette continued to attack Roosevelt as a traitor to the progressive cause . He remained neutral in the three-way general election contest between Roosevelt , Taft , and the Democratic nominee , Woodrow Wilson . With the Republican Party split , Wilson emerged triumphant in the 1912 election . La Follette 's conduct during the campaign destroyed his standing as the leader of progressive Republicans in the Senate , as many progressives believed that La Follette 's refusal to work with Roosevelt had damaged the progressive cause and abetted Taft 's re-nomination
1912 Republican National Convention
1912 Republican National Convention
Robert M. La Follette