ch.17 sct.1 C.T.#3

Illinois, Wisconsin, and Oregon can be considered trailblazers in progressive reform.
States such as Oregon made legislative and electoral reforms that gave the people more of a voice in matters, such as "initiative," "referendum," and "recall" (p.518). These reforms (initiative, ect.) were the results of the work of William S. U'ren, who also prompted his state of Oregon to adopt the secret ballot, which would help less scandals take place with threats, bribery, ect.
Robert La Follette also led in political reforms. He was governor for 3 terms and then went into the U.S. senate. He worked to drive big bussinesses "out of poitics, and then to treat them exactly the same as other people are treated," and focused on railroad companies (p.516).
In Illinois, Florence Kelley worked to improve the lives of women and children, and was appointed chief inspector of Illinois factories. Prior to that, she had helped to win passage of the Illinois Factory Act in 1893, which prohibited child labor and limited women's working hours. This soon became a model for other states.
Illinois helped trailblaze the progressive path of improving personal rights, and Oregon led in electoral and legislative reforms. These states caused many others to follow their examples, and could be considered trailblazers in progressive reform.