Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1908-01-23
THE COURIER
by CHAS r. BRUCE
Published on Every. Thursday.
EnteredIat the Post once at Elk Point Is mall
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Official County and City Paper
PLAYING INTO THE HANDS OF THE
ENEMY

There is noticeable in the editorial
columns OF the press OF Minnesota ana
the DAkotas good deal OF more or less
enthusiastic comment on La Toilette
his candidacy. The Pioneer Press Is
not inclined to quarrel with any one
for having presidential preferences or
for expressing them. 1t may even be
tLat these expressions reflect the
dominant sentiment OF the communities
In which they appear--thongh we are
inclined to doubt it. There is, how
ever. reason to doubt the political
wisdom of fostering La Toilette
sentiment at this juucture and under
existing circumstances. For the
purpose of such comment as has
appeared is not. as rule, merely TO
express admiration for the man or belief
IN his policies but so to influence pub
lie opiLion as to secure delegates for
him in the national conventions. but
even if that object were attained In
any district or throughout the state II
would be labor lost, and worse than
lost. IL would m an votes thrown
away. The candidacy Of La Fo l5tte,
thought seriously. For La Toilette
has not. and is not likely to have, the
ghost OF show for the nomination
HIS cand dacy is making no headway
and it will be surprising II he goes
toto the convention with a single
delegation outside of Wisconsin. For
there is no general demand for La
Toilette and no need Of his services.
He is not the only progressive can
didate in the field. All that he could
accomplish will be more easily ac-
complishsd by William HI. Taft and
will receive hundreds of thousands OF
votes which would not be CASTER La
Toilette because of the whether
warranted or not--that he is moi only a
radical but dangerous radical.
The pre-convention contest is not,
and the contest in the conventions, II
there shall be a contest, will not be,
between the policies of La Toilette and
those of Taft, but between progressism
and reaction more or less skilfully
concealed NJ district in this state or
elsewhere will make more clea: its
belief in progressive principles or lis
desire for certain policies by wasting
delegates on La Toilette than by usirg
them to make more certain the nomi-
alton Of Taft. To elect La Toilette
delegates wOnld, by diverting strength
from Taft, simply be to play into the
hands of the reactionaries who hope
to be able to beat Taft on the first
ballot. to makeit appear that he is
weak and to push forward candidate
upon whom they can depend to abandon
the Roosevelt policies. Consequently
to boom La Fallette when he has not
the 81 ghtest opportunity to be success
full is simply to draw strength from the
Taft movement. And this w6 do not
believe is the desire of La FollatLe
supporters under the circumstances;
for there is not, beside Taft, single
candidate who Is not in popular
estimation more or less tarred with
the reac,ionary.-S Paul Pioneer
Press.