Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1899-04-19
A GUBERNATO2IAL CHUMP.

Gov. Lee Of South Dakota, like the
governor OF Nebraska, is n populistic
freak who secured his Office by the
skin OF his teeth, and il is fortunate
for the country that there are but
few OF their kind. Gov. Lee has
written President Mckinley demand
ing the return OF the South Dakota
volunteers from the Philippines and
INDUCES in the usual clap-trap char
acteristic of the ''small Americans"
He declares that 1.-THE South Dakota
volunteers have fulfilled every obi
CATION which they owe their country
and flag" and that they should be
allowed To return home.
Now, did the governor of South
Dakota suppose he was imparting
any information to the president, or
was he indulging in a little political
buncomh tn show his friendship for
the soldiers. There is nodnubt, since
all Of the iormalities Of the peace
treaty have been complied with. that
the volunteers will return home just
as fast ms they can be relieved 10y
other troops and transports pro-
vi1ed for them. A Washington dis
patch Of April llth reads:
Under the clause OF the army law
allowing the rr-cnliStmrut ui vOlun-
teers for six months who ara serving
in the Philippines there viii be no
reorganization OF any kind as n
result Of the exchange of ratification
ri peace today. Those who desire
to remain and those who wish to
come home may DO SO. 1t is expected
that quite IA large number will return
on the transport Sheridan.
OF course, this last lingering speci-
men Of n crank party took the occa-
sion To let the people of the United
States know that there was "A man
by his name governor OF South Da-
kota. 1t is not presumed for "A mo-
ment that the volunteers Of that
state endorse the cowardly and I'M
patriotic course of their governor.
Not mt Of those soldiers would quit
the field in face of the foe, or if there
were urgent need of their services.
Troops are now on the way to re-
lieve the volunteers who will return
on the transports. A great many OF
the volunteers will undoubtedly re-
tenlist, showing that they are not so
anxious to return to civil life as some
imagine.
In marked contrast Is the attitude
Of the governor OF Oregon az regards
the demand Of Governor Lee for the
return OF the volunteers. He says;
"Our people take no stock in the
declaration that the conflict in the
Philippines is 'waged in opposition
to liberty and i'm The interest OF CAPT.
talism.' The very men who make
this charge now are the ones who
little more than a year ago were
loudly accusing President Mckinley
OF 'cowardice,' and of delaying the
war with Spain in the interest OF
capitalism az represented by Span.
ish bOndholders. The seizing Of the
Philippines was an incident OF that
war wholly unforeseen by anybody,
applauded by every patriotic citizen
at that time and they could not be
relinquished without a faint on our
national honor and confession oi
national weakness
While the governor OF South Da'
kota will take his place among the
galaxy Of chumps for writing that
epistlc he will not hasten by n day
the return OF volunteers. All over
South Dakota the people are express
ing their humiliation and disapprov
al of the action OF their governor.