The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1900-10-12
Mr.. GREEN REPLIES.
A Genteel Rebuke 10 Those Who Crit
icise Him for voicing His
honest Convictions.

a OcuteGl AeDUke 10 nose MHO Cflte
icise Him for Yoicing His
honest Convictions.
At the opening Of his remarks last
night Hon. Jerry S. Green had the fol-
lowing to say In reply to the cheap
criticism Of the republican press, who
condemned him for taking part in the
campaign after having spoken through
out the Hill in behalf OF the Modern
Woodman order. His reply is charac-
t~eristic Of the man-genteel and pol
ished, but forcible. 1t is as follows:
st was with regret that L today
read in the Rapid City Daily Journal
of this date their editorial headed.
sFor q considerations also an article
copied from the Pioneer-Times of
Dcadwood regarding my being in the
Campaign and following my recent
lecture tour. | consider the Rapid
City Daily Journal a splendid little
paper fora town of this size. 1t shows
much ingenuity on the part of the edit
tor to maintain SO good a paper in q
town of this size. | feel certain that
the writer's of those articles were mis-
informed, and in their zeal to ussist
their party, do much injustice not only
to myself but to many other Woodmep
who are Republicans. There is no con-
n~ection whatever between woodcrart
and any political party. Candidates
are never asked their religious, or po-
litical affiliations and we care not what
they are. This is equally true OF all
legitimate secret organizations.
My trip among the Woodmcn Of
the Black Hills has been one OF the
most PLEASANT trips OF my life ard in
my estimation the Woodmen OF Rapid
City stand second to no other Wood.
me on earth. Many of them are ard
ent Republicans and are as dear to me
as are the democratic members. Not
Of you would question the loyalty
or repabllcanism Of such slendid men
as John Schrader. A. K. Gardner, War
eel Dickover, Geo. y. Bennett and
many others, and l say God bless them
in practicipg what they believe to be
right. | will vouch for their loyalty
to Woodcraft, and If / won't, State Dep,
nty Gallagher will. l ain proud of
these men because thew are proud Of
their politics, believing they are right.
This should measure q mans patriot
ism, his belief that he is right.
No, Woodcraft is not a political Or
ganization. neither republican or demo-
cratic, though by far a majority OF the
states and members are Republicans.
One Of these articles states that J. am
making 'the rapkest kind of Populist
speeches" when the fac1 is I have not
uttered n word in This ca npaiga. I
enter the campaign I mig 1T. II am
wrong in talking politics are the fol-
lowing men right, who are Woodmep
and doing the same thing? l had the
honor OF nominating C.. G. Saunders,
state counsel for Iowa, to which place
he was unanimously elected; also in
placing him in nomination for a mem
Der of the auditing board for the Mod
ern Woodmen, and he is an ardent re-
publican campaigner, q most estimable
gentleman and my friend; the Hon. A.
r. Talbot, a member of the board of
directors Of the Modern Woodmen, Isl
Republican state senator OF Nebraska;
your own state consul for South Dako.
to, Judge Smith of Custer. is a republic
can candidate for prosecuting attorney;
our worthy head consul Of the Modern
Woodmen, W. r. Northcott, who re-
ceives q salary Of $4,000 q yeac and ex-
penses as such officer, IS at the present
time lieutenant governor Of Illinois and
is a candidate for reelection on the Re-
publican ticket, and was u candidate
before the national republican conven-
tlon for Vice President of the United
States, and is making Q vigorous cam
paign at this time.
"Has a Republican paper in this ma
ton SO far forgot itself or trespassed
upon others rights rs to acuse our car
didate for president of violating the
laws Of the order of Woodcraft In his
campaign because he is a Democrat?
Ii these men are right, and they are,
every O of them to thus exercise this
constitutional privilege, am I wrong In
doing the same thing: II am wrong,
are they right?
"Another point in one Of these arti-
cles states that l have, transgressed the
laws Of the order which I had sworn to
uphold. The author states that he is a
Woodman. He is either poorly inform
ed, belongs to no legitimate secret
society in this country, or else handles
the truth most carelessly. From the
fact that there are no oaths taken or
required in any Of these societies, no
judge would call them such or accept
them as such. If it Is an Outrage on.
the order" as this article states, for
me to address a political gathering,
then how does it apply to the highest
officers in order who are republic
cans and doing the same thing:
Another point in mi Of these arti-
clas is found the words, mo self-re-
specting lecturer on Woodcraft woulc.
50 ignore and disregard the good Of the
order, a. to leave it subject to critj-
cism thatit ia a political organization"
Who'll is making these criticisms? Do
you know of a democrat in this nation
who is finding fault with a Woodman