The Miller sun. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 190?-19??, 1904-11-02

4&VVA ~ DtO3I Noho1oR ao1Ibs - y 80 40N~
natural FOR both Of the great political
parties TO make a maximum effort to in
fuefIce the first vote of the young men
OF the country. The young man is now
one Of the most important and most
sought individuals I'm the Republic. II is
not beyond the range Of probability that
these FIRST voters may hold the balance
OF power and actually decide the com
eng election.
1t is not always easy to reckon the
strength OF this vote accurately, hence
1t offers a fertile field fer speculation.
The United States census of 1900 gives
the total male population Of the United
States in 1900 between the ages Of IT
and 20, inclusive. as 2,059,s01. In other
words, in round numbers. three million
voters. These young men being at that
age at that time, are all now eligible to
cast their first vote for President. In
addition, many thousand young men as
emigrants rave become citizens OF the
United States since that time. OF course
q number have also died. 1t may not be
very far wrong to conclude that there are
safely between three and three and a
half million first voters now in the Unit
ed States.
or course, there Is no accurate way OF
knowing just how these votes are pro-
rated to the different States. 1t is 6oubt-
less true that the safely Democratic
States and the safely Republican States
have something OF a similar quota, and
20 that extent, of course, the votes in
the electoral college would not be iniu-
encea either way, but how about the
effect of the first voters In the doubtful
States? Past experience shows that in
these States an increased suffrage in IA
yor Of one party or the other from j
80 4 per cent. may change the results
and mark defeat or victory for either
party.
1t Is this first vote in doubtful States
that is Of supreme importance. o will
Il be cast? For Democracy, negation-
a policy destructive Of all that is good
and obstructive Of all that is progressive,
or shall it be for Roosevelt and Fair
banks, who represent the great construc-
tive business league In America known
as the Republican party2
Situation and Young Mans Dutr.
Ii it should SO happen that two fam
tiies OF distinction should seem to lay
equal claim to any young man, and II it
should be left to him to decide as TO
which one ne might cast his lot with, he
would naturally loek into the history OF
both families in~telligently, diligently and
thoroughly. His pride and self7interest
would compel him to cast his lot with
the n that showed the highest self
respect, the greatest personal and ma
tional pride, the best ability for doing
things that ought to be done, calculated
Co benefit mankind; aud above all. the
one that looked to the future with hope
and aspiration, with a view Of meeting
ell new conditions aobly and complete
iy as they might arise.
1t is the duty OF every young Ameri.
can to perform THE duty thoroughly in
connection with the two great political
parties that are asking has first vote on
the issues Of the present campaign He
wiz fna the work mt only instructive,
but &c he investigates the records thor
oughiy. there cannot .e n shadow OF q
deubt In his mind, after he has finished
the Investigation, as to which way his
duty may lie. He should divest himself
OF hereditary HAS and in~clinations, he
should attempt 70 lift himself out of his
immediate or present surroundings and.
divorce hinself, for the nonce, from all
social or family ties and investigate the
ching fer himself.
Parting Of the Ways.
This duty 10 enc Of the ~weightiest
that the generations Of progress and the
blood Of his ancestors nave made in
cuushent upon him. II he enters upon it
wrongly. he net only stuitihes his OWE
usefulness and injects q germ of partial
fai,nre Into his own life, but he fails most
uiserably to measure up to n Of the
highest opportunities ever vouchsafed to
mankind. IL Is now tee late in this pro-
g~csssive age to allow personal preference
Or any f~nclinatioa Of eur ancestors or
tnzsszsxe fsrefa4hers to influence ~ In
q work which win aHect b destinies
of uEam1dnd- Il n q aacred privilege and
IN oct which Affects nearly q hundred
miIEsa people. Is there lot cause fer
pauss7
Then az Americans, as the ipheritcrs
Of al that II glorious and grand In tho
hastsry sf che greatest Republic "a earth.
wh&k can q ySpag man find In he Demo
cratic parfyss record that would appeal
70 ~ pride. his patriotism, his sense of
duty er his idea 81 intelligent citizenship?
An en5 sane and conservatively-mindsd
ysung man has - Do Is to simply com-
paro the records Of the two parties for
ths iast half century. What does he
ln1l He Gn6s that at every turn one
6ag been progressive, constructive, patri-
e6cs wording for the general interests
an6 welfare Of humanity. The ether
~ been q party Of ~negation, predicting
ca1auf<y. CRYING despair and p~rophesying