The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1896-03-06

DlZeS lle idCG IIldt oeUhJOT feGGlSToW IL
right in his fight against cliques, and
corporations who engage in politics, and
1t also recognizes the fact that the sen
ator is q strong friend and ally Of the
material interests Of this section.
We quote the above because it is the
expression Of the oldest, most conserva-
tive and one of the most ably edited re-
publican papers in the state and
furnishes us a text also for what We wish
to say on this subject.
In this contest for free and untram-
meled action of the people in politics and
legislation, freedom from dictation by
party bosses or legislative lobbies, the
conflict in Minnehaha county or the
fight between Mr.. Pettigrew and bis op-
ponents personally, does not come into
the count as regards the rest of the state
and the action Of republican voters. Ii
Mr.. Pettigrew is in the right on the great
que s,ions of transportation and corpor-
ate domination, then the people for their
own good must necessarily endorse his
position, whether they endorse him per
8 ,nally or not, whether they send his
supporters to The legislature, or him 10
the st. Louis convention, or not. The
question for the people of this state is
how to accomplish most for the side
they espouse. II they can utilize Mr..
Pettigrew to further heir own ends to a
greater extent by reason Of his more ex-
allied position and influence, han they
can any body else, then they ought to
use him, i%nstructing him what to do. Ii
they cannot do that, then drop him and
take up somebody else. The Mime
haha county contest is only a side show,
which shows where these people stand,
80 far as the rest of the state ia con-
CO rned. There is no question that Mr..
Pettigrew's views on the railroad issue
and the manipulation Of state politics at
views of a vast majority of the people OF
this state and We doubt not with
a majority Of the voters In the
republican party. There 10 no de-
sire on the part Of the people to treat the
railroads unjustly though the former be
lleve that the latter ought to have less
influence in our state politics and give
the people more equitable and Just tariffs
III transportation. Railroads in Iowa
have ~prospered under proper Legislative
restrictions and the people IN that state
b.va haap rraatly hanatltal at tha Sama
time. Why should the same restrictions
sought in this state last winter have
been 80 ruthlessly crushed out by mon
opolistic influence! And why should
this same Influence seek to extend itself
to every department Of our kolitical life
To this judicial district the strife IL
Mlnnehaha county Is in a sense serious
e for, by the outcome there, the selection o
a "a delegate to the St. Louis convention
$ will be determined, anu thus the lntu
h ence OF this entire district be said to b.
n for or against railroad domination as tn
case may be. No one except those di
rectly interested in corporations coul'
: n wish the success of the railroa
lobbyists. There are only 81 votes
ct the state convention from this distric
=, a. Of which Minnehaha county has y
Or Should the railroad influences carry tn
day there they would only have to &c
5 10 votes from the rest Of this district I
8 dictate the delegate from this district
. the national convention. Under thef
circumstances no republican, whether
3 likes Mr.. P~ettigrew personally or no
2 can afford to turn the district over
corporate domination.