The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1910-06-30
CONVENTION SHOULD RESPECT
ITSELF.

No doubt 1t would crafty Burk'
and Martin and Crawford and Gam
hle to receive uncondittoned indorse
ment Of their course in Washington
by the republican state convention
But why should It be necessary Il
healize q party candidate in order
to support him for Office. The Re
publican expects to speak for the re
election Of Burke and Martin and
would do 30 for Gamble or Crawford
under similar circumstance; but The
Republican does not understand why
such preferment OF Burke and Mart.
IN Owe their opponents in the gen.
eral election obligates this paper to
defend everything they have done
ana maintain that they have left alb
aDlutely nothing undone that they
should have done.
Political %self-respect demands
that party conventions become more
discriminating. and we believe they
I doing 80. The Minnesota repub-
lican convention, for example, did
not deem It necessary to declare that
the Payne law IS . perfect fulfllment
Of the party's promise to revise the
tariff. With reference to the tariff,
the Minnesota republicans preserved
wise and m~asterful silence. A con-
vention pf that sort leaves some
character tor the party. Surely It is
not necessary to become q mocking-
bird insorder to be 1. good party man.
II the state convention Of South
Dakota republicans wishes to ex-
press Its opinion on Burke and
Martin. It should not stultify itself
~ Endorsing their record In an entire
81; for none know better than the
delegates to- that convention that
Burke ran directly counter to senti-
ment n South Dakota when he vot-
ed with Cannon in his tight with the
''i~lnlsurgents' oyer the rules. They
know. further. that Martin, while
voting against Cannon on the vital
questions last winter. did not oppose
his reelection and attempted last
winter to compromise the fight over
Cannon when 1t was not subject to
compromise. AS for their record on
the tarif, Burke did nothing to dis
tinguish himself; while Martin con-
fined his attacks to the cotton goods
schedule. The convention cannot,
however, consistently applaud Mar
tins attack on the cotton goods duties
and at the same time his support Of
the duties on wooden goods, duties
which Taft himself admits are OUT
rageons. Yet the convention cannot
ALLEVIATE the numerous producers of
wool III South Dakota. It's only dig
nifed course is to ignore the tariff, as
did the Minnesota republicans.
tits possible to find that in the rec
ords Of Burke and Martin which is
entitled to cpmmendation without
humiliating ones self. Burke him
self. In his letter issued to the vot-
ers In the primary campaign, passed
over his Cannon record and ignored
the tariff. He referred to his support
Of progressive republican measures
under Roosevelt and under Taft. And
those who worked for Burke in the
primary campaign based their appeal
for votes on the very anne statement.
Further. Burke has been a conscien-
tiouS workerSsas chairman Of the In.
dian affairs committee and we have
seen no criticism Of his disposition OF
tho responsibilities of that place.
Martin has been more friendly t.
progressive legislation than has
Burke and ought to be commended
for It. He has urged antitrust leg.
fslation eyer since hissreturn TO con
grsss. He has supported the admin
lstration bills In the present congress,
14dIi9 some casess has voted with the
. VI ) Tor Improvement Of
those bills.
z z Taft = 70 be indorsed-7aas h
slasldpldl sber7-tqs certain recommends
stiens lhlssmads insfavor Of Roosevelt
spolicies. congressselso should be com,
msnded TOR making vast improve
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