Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1908-10-22

compared with him, are only partially
interested, should be able and willing to-
The ticket, as made up, is composed of
good representative DakotanS. Every
republican newspaper in the state, So
far as my knowledge goes has hoisted it
at the head OF its editorial columns; now
let the voters get together and let S
maintain the republican party in power.
The question of harmony in the repub-
lican party was some what disrupted by
an editorial which partly went the
rounds of the stalwart republican press
to the effect that there was "a definite
plan agreed upon by the progressive re
publicans before the June primaries that
in case Senator kittredge was nominated
in lieu of Governor Crawford. the latter
and she entire progressive wing OF the
party, were to unite with the democrats,
In order 10 clarity the political atmo-
sphere, on September IS addressed to
Governor Crawford the following letter:
"lh case Senator Kittredge had won
in the June primaries, what would have
been your attitude toward the republican
ticket? Judging from intimate relations
and your association with the insurgent,
or progressive, faction of the party, what
would have been its attitude, ia case the
senator had been renominated ,"
nder date Of September -, Governor
Crawford replied as follows
go. w. Coursey Mitchell, $. ID.
My dear sir: Replying to your ia
vor Of the 10th inst, | have TO say that
| cannot understand how anyone who
kept track of the public declarations
which made during the campaign pre-
ceding the primary election could have
any doubt as to what my intention was
in case | had been defeated.
in the announcement Of my can
didacy which was published and scat
tered over the state during the fall and
winter, made the following statement:
''' shall appea, direct to the voters
and accept their decision under the new
primary election law held next June.
1t the majority of the votes cast at the
republican primaries throughout The
sta0e under that law, favors the re-elec-
tlon of Senator kittredge that will end
the matter SO far as am concerned
In the opening campaign speech
which | made at Eureka on December
:, 1907. which speech was printed in
pamphlet form and scattered over the
state, | made the following statement:
. shall be Il candidate for United
States senator at the primary election
on the second Tuesday in June as a re-
publican. Hon. A. b. Kttredge is a re-
publican and he will also be Il candidate
for United States senator The republi-
can voters will at the party primary
election in June, vote for their choice
between Mr.. Kittredge and myself. Ii
he receives the highest number of the
votes cast by the republicans in their
primaries in the whole state, ] will
drop out, and he will be the republican
candidate from that time on until after
the general election in November and
the election of a United States senator
by the next legislature of South Dakota.
If. on the other hand, receive the high
est number of votes cast BY the repub-
licaiis at their primaries in the whole
state, then il will be his duty To drop
out and he will no longer be the candi-
date OF the republican party for the
position but | will be the candidate for
that office This vote at the republican
primaries in June will be between re-
publicanS TO decide what candidates
shall be selected and put upon their
ticket TO make the fight against the
democrats at the general November
election following After this primary
election is over and we thus decide who
our candidates against the democrats
shall be, we should. OF course, remain
good republicans and support our own
ticket
''ln the midst of the campaign, and
when it was al its highest pitch, | was
asked in a meeting at Miller specifically
whether or not | would support Senator
kittredge, should he receive the majority
of the votes at the primary election, |
stated that | certainly would do SO: that
while | was opposed to him. in this con
test, | would accept the wisdom of the
| majority expressed by their votes at the
primary as superior to my own and
would waive my individual objection
and individual judgment to the decision
of the majority. This fact can easily be
proven by the most honorable and re
liable citizens of Hand county who We're
present and heard it.
"From my knowledge of the men who
were associated with me iE the fght be-
| fore the primaries, | do not hesitate to
| say that the overwhelming sentiment Of
all was to the effect that the primary
election should absolutely settle the mat
| ter and that whoever received the ma
jority they should have the support of
! licans. Yours very truly,
-"Coe l. Crawford y
! Governor Crawford's straight-for-
ward. manly stand in this matter leaves
| the editorial referred to without any
real foundation. By his public declare
| tions he bound his following tc support
the victors at the primary. and he is Ger
tainly strong enough with them to dc
| a trnn1S I Of hap nrff
have q united party,
| The state at large has already suffered
enough at the hands of a congressional
delegation divided against itself;now let's
get together and be self-respecting
enough not to send xailing democrat
| to Washington to represent our progress
sive young state tor six years in the
most dgntied and influential legislative
| body beneath the sun,
%. w. CoURsEY
4 Mitchell. S. d., Oct. II. 1908.