Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1901-10-19
"Non-partlsan" Democracy.

The populist leaders in this circuit
have placed In nomination for the
Office of circuit judge, Levi McGee, OF
Rapid City, have christened him
democratic candidate" and say there
is no politics, in it. 1t is persistently
urged by the supporters OF Judge Nc,
Gee that there is no politics in this elec-
ton. 1t is possibly true that the judi
ciary should be removed as far as posi-
BILE from partisan politics. and it may
likewise be truthfully said that we shall
probably never reach that point when
this Office will be entirely removed from
the realm OF politics. However this may
be, the so-called democratic" nominee
is scarcely in position to raise q non
partisan cry. During his term of Office
he has been most active partisan, has
been in fact the bone and sinue OF the
populist party in this county, has attend
ed all populist conventions and caucuses,
has made partisan populist speeches,
stands high in the councils OF the pop
ulist party, and in fact, has done
everything In his power to defeat the
republican party, both in county, state
and national elections. He never
scratches his ticket, and never advises
it except to those belonging to the re-
publican party. When the republicans
in this county succeeded in spite of his
most arduous and strenuous efforts, in
overthrowing populsm last fall, and
gave the republican ticket handsome
majority, both county, state and national,
Judge McGee charged the republicans
with having purchased enough votes to
carry it for Mckinley and the republi.
can ticket. He said that we should
never have another presidential election,
but that we had established an empire,
and later he spoke of the Inauguration
of the late lamented President Mckinley
las the coronation Of William l." But
We need not 60 back 80 far In the poll
tical history of this circuit to ascertain
the political character of Judge McGee
In his speech at Hot Springs, accepting
the nomination for circuit judge for this
circuit he said:
bryan was right in 1896 and 1900 and
is still right. If conditions were proper
ly adjusted it would be possible for all to
have money and none to owe. The
trusts water their stock and pay divi
dends upon enormously inflated valua-
tions. They filch these dividends from
the people, and while the trusts are pill.
ing up their profits. the people are not
accumulating for old age. All republi.
can papers are busy nowadays apologix-
ing for the trusts or giving an excuse for
them or seeking to justify them The
greatest financial institutions to day are
supporters of the republican party"
He Ia one of the bitterest partisans
in the state except when he wants re-
publican votes. He is professional
politician, "a dyed in the wool" populist,
and it is hardly in keeping with the
eternal fitness of things" that he should
be elected to an Office, which his follow
ers say is not political one, or that the
republican or democrat should be expect
cd to vote for him. The populists real
ize that it will greatly strengthen their
party to have a populist circuit Judge.
and in this they have an eye for the
election to be held year from this fall,
when our county officers, state officers,
members of the state legislature and
members of congress are to be elected,
and doubtless have in mind the fact that
the legislature to be elected at that time
will be called upon to choose a United
States senator. Ifthis election is an i'm
portant one from a populfst standpoint,
1t is certainly of equal pical imporolit-
tance to the republicans Of this circuit.
We won in 1900 and we cannot afford to
lose in l90l.-Rapid City Journal.