The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1902-10-31
SOME UNJUST STATEMENTS
The Opposition IndugtrionsIy Circu
latiHg Statements Against Re-
publican Candidates.

publican Candidates.
NJ &. Belts. Of Mt. Vernon. is be-
ing made the object Of a special fight
In his candidacy for the house for
representatives OF the republican
ticket.
AS n Of the measures to defeat
Dir. Belts the opposition is circulat-
ing the statement that should be be
elected be will introduce a bill in the
legislature which will have for its
object TO prevent the people from
buying goods from any Of the cata-
logue houses in the east. 1t is held
Out that Mr. Belts IS a member Of
the South Dakota Retail Merchants
Association and also being engaged
in the mercantile business that he
will use every effort TO prevent the
catalogue house from selling goods
To South Dakota people. In the first
place Mr.. Belts has no such intcn-
ton. and it. would be an inpossibiiity
to put such a law into effect, if it could
secure a passage in the legislature.
Any such AT act as that would be in
direct conflict with the Interstate
commerce Law and would have no
standing in court were it brought to
a test. 1t is Il very lame proposition
to spring ton Mr.. Belts, for the same
wonld be applicable 10 his opposing
rpyyHilasE TIhs4 ('rI-fr NJ (FIE,;L
is engaged extensively in the agrj-
cultural implement business and is
also a member and president Of the
agriculture! retail dealers Of the
state: and we are confident that he
would be as active from a persona!
standpoint to prevent the catalogue
houses from cutting in on his bust
ness as would Mr.. Belts, for the
catalogue houses make as much Of a
practice Of selling in the implement
line as anything else, and Mr. COlyin
could as heartily support a measure
looking to his own. benefit as Mr..
Belts. What is being circulated
against Mr.. Belts N this or any
direction can we'll be passed up as a
vote getter for the opposition.
W. Another Of the statements that is
going around is that ar arrangement
has been effected with the republicans |
and that the democrats and pOpulists
were to support O. l.. BrausOn for |
senator and the republicans were to
support John ColVin for representa-
tive. on the ground that in the lcgis-
lature the former could look after
the republican strength and the
latter could take care Of the pOpulist !
element on capital removal matters.
There IS absolutely 10 understanding
between the parties. and there is no
need for any such arrangement. In
the legislature two years ago there
were JIG republicans and Il fusion
members, The indications are that
the democratic or populistic number
viii be no greater this year. The
services Of two republicans in the
legislature with such an ovcrwhelm-
ing majority Of the party would be
OF vastly more benefit than to divide
the strength. The small representa-
tlOn that the opposition win have in
n legislature viii hardly be 50 I'M
Wlcldy that a portion Of the members
cannot sbe utilized for MltchclPs
benefit. 1t is a very clever rusc in
deed that the opposition is using to
secure votes for its representative.
but no reliance Should be placed in
any sucll statement that is being
made. Mr.. Belts is entitled to every
republican vote in the county and
any division that Is made on the
assertions made by the opposition will
be thrown away. The republican
party is not rcsOrting to any such
measures to Eel votes and we
regret that the opposition is taking
such means to increase its strcnyth.
Messrs. BransOn and Belts are
gentlemen in whom confidence can
be placed that they will do their
utmost for Mitchell and Dawson
county, and with the capital in
Jercsts at stake it would be folly to
send members to the legislature who
Will be SO greatly in the minority.