Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1910-08-04
MUST We COME TO THIs9


The Pierre Oak otan gives its readers
the following bit of valuable infosma
tion:
Prior to the late primary delega
| ton OF inSurgent leaders of this state,
| among whom was Thomas Thorson oil
Canton, called upon Ex-senator Petit
grew and urged him TO become the
inSurgent republican candidate for
United States senator against Gamble,
promising him the support of the insur-
gent wing Of the party. After listening
to their proposal MIR Pettigre W replied:
II do not want 10 build up the repub.
llcan party; my mission on earth is TO
destroy it. You insurgent republicans
are wasting your time and your money
in trying TO bring about reforms through
the republican party. Every issue you
stand for today Bryan or ginated and
advocates; they are democratic princi-
pies and you fellows have stolen them
Ii you inSurgent republicans, LaEol-
lette, Cummings, Bristow. Crawford and
their following in the United States
will come over and support Bryan, we
could elect him president aud clean this
government up. 1t will be cleaned up
in no her way, and You republicans
who believe in Bryanism might just as
Well give up any idea Of Bryanizing the
republican party. The only way to deal
with the republican party is to kill it,"
The tender being refused the invitation
was Withdrawn and the conference ended.
Mr.. Pettigrew's analysis of the situation,
will, however, attract some attention.
The above article shows that the in
surgent leaders or at least some of them,
realize the worth of Frank Pettigrew as
man and his value just at this time as
political force In South Dakota. The
inSurgent movement in South Dakota
is sadly in need of leaders, real leaders
who are men of political integrity and
who actually believe in The principles
of reform. The old set is sadly dis
credited Crawford, who faxed his way
into notice by brazen pretentionS and
forged his way into the senate by play
ing upon the passions and preiudices OF
men, is at last coming to be known for
what he is-a brazen political faker
with no fixed principles of his own and
no gratitude for the men who placed
him in power. Gamble has been neg
i've quantity from the start and he is
already slated for retirement. Elliott
has been disqualified by becoming gen.
eral attorney for the Milwaukee. Dick
Ricf ards has eaten his own words so Of
ten that he is in the humorist class.
ThorSon fails to fire The Imagination OF
the rank and file. Vesscy has no will
OF his own. In plain English the insur-
gents are in need of Moses TO lead them
out of the wilderness. In this sore
straight they turned 10 Frank Pettigrew,
an avowed democrat, and asked him to
take the job 1t was a very hattering
proposition. 1t was like asking a pri-
vate soldier TO desert his army on the
eve of battle and proposing % make
him commander in chief if he would
change flags. Men have wavered and
fallen under less temptation than this.
But Pettigrew refused-nobly refused
placed him where he could not be free
70 fight the corruption of the republi-
can party. We see nothing diShonor.
able or discreditable to either party in
the transaction. If The men who went
TO Pettigrew believed in him they were
right in offering him their support. II
he believed that the alignment would
destroy his power TO serve his people,
he was right in refusing the offer.
AS it appears to us the main lesson
taught by the incident is this: The pro.
gressive republicans admit that there is
man in The democratic party in South
Dakota worthy of their confidence and
reprt sentative of their beliefs. If This
be trne why not have Frank Pettigrew
go o the senate? The progressive re.
publicaus believe in him and so do the
democrats. These two elements are in
coulrol of the situation. 1t may be said
that II he ran as a republican the demo.
Gratis would not vote for him, and if he
ran as a democrat republicans would
not vote for him. If this is the only
trouble it seems TO US that the solution
is extremely simple. Let him run as a
citizen OF the state of South Dakota,
just plain citizen Frank Pettlgrew and
let US all vote for him.-Aberdeen Dem.
ocrat.
THE 1910 CENSUS
Rhode Island, the smallest in area oi