Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1908-03-05
IREACHERY
SUSPECTED
Reasons Given Why TAFT People sus-
pect Treachsry On Part Of South
Dakota Insurgents
They Fought Taft Until After Mitchell
Rally and Quit Only when They
We're Beaten
Called TAFT "The Imitation Candl-
daie,' and Said That Il Nominated
He Would be Defeated by Bryan

date" and Said That II Nominated
he Would be Defeated by Bryan
the field in the presidential fight, and
If the anti Roosevelt people can defeat
Taft they will do 1t. The big secretary
Of war has the fight of his life on his
hands. 1t is well enough to say that
he is sure winner but enthusi-
asm should not carry the people into
the realm Of fancy. The fact Is that
Secretary Taft is facing q grim and
determined fight and that it behooves
all OF his real friends to send to Chi
caso men who are steadfast and de-
voted supporters Of Taft, and who will
not desert him the moment the first
ballot is cast.
That the real friends Of Taft In
South Dakota are the stalwarts ought
now to be clear to everybody, and that
the delegation to Chicago should con-
sist Of eight tried and true stalwart
friends Of Taft to avoid any possible
treachery should be equally clear. Let
no one deceive you about this matter
when 1t comes to selecting delegates
to the Huron convention.
1t was on March 20, 1907, that Sem
ator Kittredge in the ante room of
the white house, after a prolonged
conference with President Roosevelt,
declared himself for Taft, and said
that Taft would secure the delegation
from South Dakota.
This announcement was enough to
arouse the hostility Of the Crawford
people to Taft, and that hostility
lasted until the rising wave of Taft
sentiment drove it away. Now, the
very men who few months ago were
doing everything they could to defeat
Taft are declaring that they were the
original Taft men, and that the stall
warts are not In good faith! Let us
see about this.
AS soon as it was known that Sem
ator Kittredge and the stalwarts were
for Taft. the insurgents opened up
their fight upon him. They called him
IAN imitation candidate" They said
he was 're-actionary." They said
the Taft boomers were simply trying
to kill off Roosevelt. When 1t became
known that Roosevelt would not ac-
cept the nomination, they tried to
create LaFollette boom, and failing
In this, they began to demand IAN
uninstructed delegtion." Being whip
ped all along the line, and showed off
the sidewalk, at the eleventh hour,
they meekly came into the Taft camp,
after the great rally at Mitchell, and
then brazenly put up the claim that
they were the only genuine and SIM
on-pure Taft men to be found in the
world!
In his paper, the Canton Leader,
Col. Linn said: There is no real Taft
sentiment in this state" The Sioux
Falls Press said: ''The progressive
faction now demanding the renomina-
ton Of Mr.. Roosevelt could easily turn
from its favorite to the Wisconsin
senator" The Flandreau Herald
said: The Herald did not pretend to
be giving away any political secrets
when it stated that the progressive
republicans everywhere would support
La Toilette" The White Lake Wave
said: IF 1t ever comes to a show
down 1t will be found that Senator
LaFollette is the choice for president
of more people in the northwest,
South Dakota included, than any 9TH
err man, with the possible exception of
Mr.. Roosevelt" On Octiber 18th. last,
Judge John Nicholson, county Judge
leader. suggested the organization of
Roosevelt-LaFollette clubs. Il, for
one. believe" he said, that Senator
La Toilette on square issue at the
polls can get two votes to the sec
retary's one, Notwithstanding Mr.. Mar
tins wishes to the contrary. On Oct.
23d, last, the Sioux Falls Press said:
THE progressives are not at all GER
tain that Taft COULD BE ELECTED
TT-V n A IN
q paper which now claims to be the
original Taft boomer. In the same
article, the Press quoted DR.. E. Ben
jamin Andrews as predicting that Bry-
an would defeat Taft, If the two were
candidates. 1t declared that Taft was
of unknown and doubtful quantity"
This being the case" said the Press,
six months after Kittredge had de-
clared for Taft, the progressive re-
publicans of the state are not in a
frame OF mind to enthuse over the
fore the insurgents Hoped to Taft,
the Aberdeen American, the paper
which the Crawford machine is send
ing out free to anybody who wants
it, declared that Taft could not be
nominated, and evidently hoped he
would not be, for on November 18th,
the same paper had said that There
Is mourning IN MS (TafIS) makeup
that will arouse enthusiasm, nothing
that will make men respond" The
same paper said: Every day the
chances Of Taft appear duller and
duller." Be It remembered that this
paper is sufficiently recognized as q
spokesman for the insurgent cause
that 1t Is being distributed free by
che thousands OF copies.
The evidence could be extended
without limit. but this is enough to
prove the case.
Now these same people who fought
Taft as hard az they could until they
saw that South Dakota was for Taft,
them. The people fear duplicity and
treachery and they have q right TO
fear It. A man who Is converted with
q club Is not q good convert. The in
surgent heart Is still antt-Taft. Let
q delegaftOn OF the real friends of
- Oov4t - fyhixsrs