The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1906-01-18

excepting Of course such brains as
were taken out Of the party by Senator
Pettgrew when he left us?
Does the writer mean to tell the peo-
pie that men like Crawford, Gamble,
Elliott and Hall are not as capable of
making party, formulating princi-
pies and conducting a campaign as
men like Kittredge and thosea with
him?
If that is what is intended it sounds
very much like what Mr.. Pettigrew
said OF the republicans who did not go
with him out of the party in 1896.
The article further states: "Mr.
Crawford stands in the same position
to the party that Pettigrew does"
Will the writer of that article tell us
in what way? Is it not true that for
nearly ten years Mr.. Crawford has
been one of the leading campaign
orators for the republican, party, while
MIR. Pettigrew has been one OF the
leading campaign orators Z: for the
dem ocratic party? Is it not true that
Mr.. Crawford has given of his time
and of his money for ten years to elect
each republican ticket, while Mr..
Pettigrew has given OF his Ltime! and
money to defeat eacha republican
ticket? Is it not true that when Craw-
ford was defeated by Elrod in 1904, for
the nomination, he took the,platform
and pledged his hearty support to Mr..
Elrod, and offered to campaign for
him? In what respect then is Craw-
ford's position toward the republican
party and Pettigrew's position toward
the same party alike?
While it is not said that Mr.. Craw-
ford and his friends are not in char
mony with the republican party, it is
plainly intended to be inferred. Will
the writer of that article tell me in
what respect Mr.. Crawford is not in
perfect accord with our party, to the
same extent that Mr.. Kittredge is in
harmony with it?
If | have read the papers correctly,
Mr.. Crawford and his friends stand
First-Squarely with Presid mt
Roosevelt for power to the Interstate
Commerce Commission to reduce any
railroad rate found on a fair hearing
to be unjust, and have their order to
| take effect imme5iately
Is not this republican doctrine?'
Second-they stand for the abolition
by law of all railroadpasses to officials.
Is not this republican doctrine?
Third-They stand for the duty of
Legislature to submit to a vote of the
people under initiative provision of the
constitution and statutes of our state
any question where the requisite num-
ber of voters have signed a petition
for that purpose,
Is not this a republican doctrine?
1t is true that Crawford and his fol-
lowers stand for the primary election
law. May not a man believe in that
and still be in harmony with the re-
publican party?
If the struggle now on in this state
is really struggle over great political
principles, rather than a question of
who shall hold the Offices, we of the
rank and file OF the party are entitled
to know it. Even il it is true that
Senator Pettigrew would like to see
Senator Kittredge defeated, and is
willing to that end to work with the
Crawford forces, it would not make
Mr.. Crawford and his friends demo-
Gratis, any more than the fact that the
democrats in the United States senate
have rallied to the support of Presi-
dent Roosevelt upon the question
almost unitedly would make President
Roosevelt democrat.
1t is known to every we'll informed
republican that Senator Pettigrew is
not and does not claim to be any kind
of republican, either machine" or
''insurgent;" that he has no more use
for the one than the other. He might
like to vent personal spite on Sen
ator Kittredge. 1t would be very hu-
man if he would like to see the man
defeated who defeated him. That he
has been a political Jonah to every
party or faction that has taken him up
is just as well known to Mr.. Crawford
and his friends as it is to Mr.. Kilt
redge and his friends, and the effort
to fasten him upon either faction is
simply the placing Of scarecrow in
the political corn field to draw atten-
ton from the facts of real importance.
II am not correct in these views OF
the situation i would like to be en-
lightened by those who are better in
formed than have been. In asking
these questions and making this state
ment / make no claim to any right
that does not belong to any other pri-
yate in the ranks of the republican