Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1910-03-25
ThorsOn, The Man For The Tin

Sioux City Tribune: Incidental
the endorsement Of Hon. Thorn
Thorson, of Canton, as candida
for congress, interest attaches to IL
relation which he has maintained
the government OF South Dakota f
the past decade, four years as seer
tary of state and the balance Of IL
time serving as private in the par
ranks until he was made nation
committeeman in the Taft campaip
| Within six weeks of the expiration +
his second term as secretary of sta,
there was no man in the state hayiI
more evident opportunity for furth,
preferment in public life than M
Thorson, who, in conjunction wit
his party, faced crisis in the weel
between the general election of 18!
and the beginning of the year 1S9
when Andrew E. Lee became COVE
| nor.
Following the election and the d
feat of Gamble and Crawford for col
gress, by about 300 votes, on the fae
or the returns, cry of fraud WI
raised, running principally to the
legation that colonizing of.voters ha
been resorted to in various parts
the state by the organization 1.
"silver" republicans and democrats
opposition to the republican party vi
der the leadership of A. B. Kittreda
as national committeeman. Withou
waiting to establish the truth of til
accusation, it was proposed to issu
certificates Of election to Gamble an
Crawford-to put them on the roll d
the House and the pay roll and max
their democratic opponents Contest
for seats to which prima facie, the
were entitled.
10 accomplish such purpose the sec
retary of state must become a part
to the transaction and issue the cert
ticates The scheme proceeded so IA
that Mr.. Thorson was sounded as
his willingness for the "good of tn
party" to issue the certificates q
Gamble and Crawford, though /;
must not be inferred that these mel
had given sanction to the scheme
Mr.. Thorsen promptly refused to evels
consider the plan, his contention a
the time being that in the absence q
positive evidence of fraud or fraudu
lent intent, the returns on their fac
should decide to whom the certificate
of election belonged. -.
Ills followers VINO prOclalmeu HAA
crank and radical of the severes
type. 1t cannot be said that MI
Thorson has needed vindicatiOlS
among honest men. He has no
sought it, nor has he sought otf1ce 9
any kind. He was not acandidate ic
the nomination to congress at the r
cent progressive conference. He o.
clined the endorsement when 1t cam
unanimously from his faction OF u
party; he sought to escape the stral.
of the campaign and of public III
Finally he was persuaded, or dralH
rather, to enter the campaign.
The honor of such a command fro
his party is surely pleasing to him a
in the light Of past history he IS e
titled to the satisfaction 1T brings. /
MIR. Thorson has been well conte
to wait for the realization OF .
ambition which he may have en-
ished. He is not self seeker, moi
man to clamor for personal advantaa
He has the unquestioned ability
render to his state and people serv
of the highest order. He Is unco
promising for principle. he Y
courage to stand alone. The peo
are looking for such servants.
Political conditions have so chani
since he sacrificed himself TO oi
partisan fury as expressed thro'
the iron-handed boss of the time, =
s"Tom" Thorson would find hlmsel
real hero at Washington.
South Dakota needs such cna
ter in the capital.