The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1908-10-09

in view of the result of the primary,
which Mr.. McCleary anticipated, they
are now good, and the holders of them
are commissioned as members of the
general republican congressional cam
paign committee. You will note that
the commissions cover the straight re-
publicans ticket, including the president,
the, governor, and the congressman.
Mr.. NcCleary stands with his party.
He is not trying to be on both sides
of the fence.
Permit us to say, by way of con-
trast, that Mr.. Hammond's campaigns
are open to the severe criticism of all
fairminded men. He is conducting a
campaign marked by two special fea-
lures, first, the lodging of the issues,
and second, petty personalities.
His avoiding debates with NlH Me-
Cleary on the issues is but one proof
of his lodging issues. 1t is also plain
proof of his plan to say things about
McCleary behind his back that he dare
not say to his face.
Take the case Mr.. Sucker refers to in
his letter, the article on the Grout bill
that appeared in The Northwestern
Agriculturist some weeks ago. The pub
Usher of that farm paper is P. V. Col
Inns of Minneapolis. During the fight
for the Grout bill Mr.. Collins was one
of it's leading champions. He knew,
therefore. the men in congress who
really did the work of getting that
bill enacted into law. Foremost among
these he places Mr.. McCleary. Knowing
that the oleomargarine forces are plan.
ming toaoverturn the Grout law in the
hrrly burly of the fiscal revision, he
felt it to be his duty to his readers
to help back into congress that stall
wart defender of the dairy interests,
Mr.. sMcCleary. So he prepared an ar
ticle for that purpose. He intended to
use it on the editorial page. But Mr..
Slater, editor of the dairy department
of his paper, was so busy with the
state fair that he did not furnish
"copy" Cor his department that week.
So Mr.. Collins placed the article in the
dairy department, to which it referred.
In doing so, Mr.. Collins was, of course,
strictly within his rights as the own
ner of the paper. Mr.. Hammond must
know the truth about this matter. 1t
has been published in The North
western Agriculturist, on the author
ity of Mr. Collins himself 1t is hon
est or honorable in Mr.. Hammond to
continue to peddle such stuff to his
audiences?
And now, while we are on this sub
ject of honorable methods, is it right
in Mr.. Hammond to try to ride both
the elephant and the donkey? Before
us as we write is a copy of The Ma
della Times Messenger of the 25th ul-
timo. About one-third of the first
page of that issue is taken up with
the advertisement of the meeting held
in your town of Lewisville by Mr..
Hammond on Saturday evening, Sept.
&c. Mr.. Hammond is referred to sim
ply as the Candidate for Congress-"
Nowhere in the entire advertisement
is he spoken of as the democratic
candidate. Why is this studious avoid
ance of the fact of his party affilia-
tions? Isn't it plainly for the purpose
of entrapping republican voters? Do
you think that such tactics are honor
able? In none of the literature gotten
out by Mr.. Hammond or his friends
is the word democrat" used in con-
nection with him. He avoids debating
the issues with Mr.. McCleary. Why
and this evasion. Do you, Mr.. Sucker,
approve of it? You are given in ,the
papers as member of the republican
county committee of Watonwan county.
This seems hardly possible, in view of
your ardent opposition to the republi-
can nominee for congress and your
championship of the democratic can
didate.>