The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1904-08-19
INTO PERSONALITIES
John Longstaff Lays Himself open
to What He Charges Others
With.

Under the caption, "Bra2en Bras
and BTanson," Il recent issue of the
Huronite gave ven to its spleen, its
jealousy and bitter disappointment t
over the capital outcome i'm the fol-
lowing:
The attempt ON the part of Mitch
ell to make it appear that the CITY
hall of that town will be given TO
the state for capital purposes, to be
used indefinitely. is all attempt to
mislead the voters. Just as soon as
the capital contest is over, if hy any
mishap justice should miscarry and
the contest should be decided in
Mitchell's favor. Harry Bras, Sem
ator Branson and the philanthropists
who a1e conducting Mitchell's cam
paien, would Immediately :sbegin a
campaign for an appropriation for a
million dollars for the erection of a
capitol building. or this there is
no more doubt than that the election
day will come in November. Bras and
Branson are brazen fellows. who
have started out to buncoe the peo-
pie as they tlncoed the legislature. |
"Rrazen Bras is hot stuff. coming
from one who holds the Huron post
office against the wishes of nine
tenths OF its patrons and only
through the graces Of Charley Burke,
of Pierre. But since Mr.. LongstatI
forfeited whatever respect and stand
ing he and his newspaper eve held
in the community and state he has
become careless of what he writes a S
we'll as calloused to public opinion.
While his obligations to MI. Burke
and the Northwestern may in a
measure stultify whatever honor he
ever possessed. so far as concerns
Mitchell, common sense would
prompt him to steer clear of MIR.
Bras and MIR. Branson. with whom he
was hand and glove in Hbuncoing"
the legislature.
The Republican has no personal
fight with Mr.. Longstatf in this cam
paign. but inasmuch as he has in
dulged in some personal reflections
on Messrs. Bras and Branson we take
the liberty Of giving to the public a
letter that was written by Mr..
Longstatf to MIR. Bras about a week
before the legislature convened in
January, 1903. This letter will full
ly Illustrate just how much ''bunco-
ing'' was done by Mitchell's support
ers and just how much MIR. LongStatf
was interested in the same buncoe
business. The letter is as follows:
Huron, S. d.. Dec. 81. 1902.
ii. L. Bras, Mitchell, S. d.
My Dear Friend: / have your fa-
vor of the Goth. and with some hui
mility I plead guilty to your indict-
ment. assure you the line was
thouehtlessly written and you will
not have cause to call my attention
to anything of this character again,
and / ASSURE YOU THAT NO
MAN IN THE LEGISLATURE
WILL BE MORE EARNESTLY
FOR MITCHELL THAN MYSELF
IF YOU SUCCEED IN CARRYING
THE CA JCUS AND THE SAME
MAY BE SAID OF THE ENTIRE
DE FROM THIS
COUNTY. AM PERFECTLY
AWARE THAT OUR FIGHT
DOES NOT END WHEN THE
CA UCUS Is OVER AND WANT
ITO STRENGTHEN In EVERY
WAY POSSIBLE THE HANDS OF
THOSE WHO PARTICIPATE IN
THE ca UCUS. Mitchell. Huron or
Redtield must WIN this fight. We
have run up against some surprises
lately, but | hope they may be over
come and THAT Pierre can be defeat
ed. Yours very truly
John Longstatf.
John forgot to add "burn this let
err" lie is badly in need of an old
lawyers advice to this writer:
Never write a letter and keep all
you get" From the text of the
letter it would seem that Mr.. Long
staff is something Of a bnnco steerer
himself. at anyrate, it is generally
acknowledged that he pulled pretty
steady in the traces to get the re-
moval resolution through-until he
found that Huron's cake was dough-
then he baked. But he should not
hold his conferees devoid Of honor
because to him principle IS an un-
known quantity. Messrs. Bras and
Branson made the good light and
they will keep the faith, leaving
trickery, %skuldugRery and uishonor
exclusively the Huronite editors
Town.