Gilbert E. Roe

Gilbert Ernstein Roe was born on February 7, 1865, in Oregon, Dane County, Wisconsin, United States. He was the son of John and Jane (McKeeby) Roe, of English and Scotch descent. Roe was educated at the University of Wisconsin and graduated from the law school in 1890. He entered the law firm of Robert M. La Follette, with whom he was associated for thirty-five years. Roe was a trusted political and legal adviser to La Follette and played a significant role in the development of direct primary and railroad and insurance legislation. He was also a member of the commission appointed by Governor William Sulzer to draft a direct primary law and was active in behalf of workmen''s compensation legislation. After establishing a law practice in New York City, Roe became prominent in the movement to apply the major ideas of the Wisconsin plan in New York state.