Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1906-09-06
THE COLONEL,s LETTER.
Col. Fred III. RUSSELL Answers a
Few Questions on the Politi-
cal Situation.
Editor Reporter and Farmer.

1
custom of some good, honest old
farmers in the past to a.k me whom
| am going to vote for, and the
meaning of this or thatY
At present writing, the question,
what is the meening of the two
streamers across Main street, one
Republican Headquarters, Room
s." the other Headquarters Craw-
ford Republican League" Answer.
The one at Tegtmeier's store is
headquarters for the republicans
that voted for Lincoln and then
shouldered the gun and fought four
years to defend him; the same old
party that passed the homestead bill
that gave you a quarter section OF
land free, and every foreign born
citizen in Day county can boast of
from one quarter to half section of
free laud given him by this same
republican party that has voted for
every republican president down to
the present Roosevelt.
Question. Why do they call the
Frank Anderson office the head
quarters of the Crawford republi.
cans? Answer. The same as
Rattlesnake Hill was named; because
there never was seen rattlesnake
upon it. And there is not a repub-
lican in the league, so they call it
republican on account of their
scarcity.
Question. Then why do they
want to butt into the republican
party like that? Answer. For the
same reason the "Shitepoke" wants
to succeed the American eagle, as
the bird of freedom, aud they stand
exactly in the same relation one to
the other as the "Shitepoke" stands
to the eagle.
Question. Then if this bunch are
new converts to the republican party
why are they not satisfied by simply
voting the ticket, instead of appoint
ing themselves committeeman and
getting into the front ranks at one
jump? Answer. And because they
attended the circus last June and
they noticed the front end of the
elephant got all the peanuts and
candy, and that is what the bunch
is out for?
Question. Why do they call
themselves republicans? Why don't
they have party of their own?
Answer. Because they are like the
cuckoo; no nest of their own, but
trying to besmirch some other birds
nest.
Question. Do you think the
bunch would make honorable officers
Answer. Certainly not. You must
have an honorable citizen first. You
can't make man honest just by
voting for him.
Question. Then you don't seem
to think the bunch very honorable?
Answer. Not |. If you put an
honorable mans coat on any of them
they would rattle like pea in a
dish pan.
Question. What are the old line
republicans going to do with them ?
Answer. Just the same as we would
do with the summer complaint; let
it run its course.
Question. what do you think OF
Waddel for states Attorney Answer.
Most ridiculous. Could take a jack
knife and a turnip and cut out
better one.
Question. What do you think Of
Phillip Gross for sheriff. Answer.
Phillip Gross is the best saeriff
Day county ever had. He has col
lected some $4,000 back taxes
thereby reducing your tax and mine;
80 l say he is the best sheriff we
ever had, and we have had some
good ones.
Question. What do you think OF
the primary law? Answer. Well,
when Coe /. Crawford drew il up it
was very much like the farmers
garden fence. There was a hole
where the hogs got in.
Question. Well, Fred, which
way are you going to voter Answer.
The same way I shot in the army.
will not vote for any man whose