The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1911-09-21

Their ability to change their opsn-
IONS and conclusions in a hurry.
That is NOT 10 the discredit of the
lsta.e Sc much as 20 its credit. Pope
4le:s asu laid down the rule:
Be not the first by whom the new
is tried.
Nor yet the last TO lay the old
aside"
other things being equal, that
commonwealth which is not bound
fast to Traditions and which is free
from lethargy. is sure to exercise a
lively interest in the problem OF es-
tablishing a government that deals
justly with all. Such a community is
South Dakota.
Thus it is not surprising that this
state is counted among those that
are expected to challenge the pre-
cedent that promises Taft a renomi-
nation. 1t would be simply lack OF
candor to pretent that Taft is popu-
lar in South Dakota. He has com
.paratively little positive strength
with the voter. To the progressives
~ y, - ~1snNoyn4 Nv hyc hraol.
with the "insursent" leaders, have
been added the conservative repub-
.licans who are displeased and Of
Tended by his attitude on reciprocity.
The La Toilette meeting at Huron
was a gathering OF extremists. The
most radical supporters of the Wis
%consin Senator were certain to at
tend that gathering. Perhaps it was
natural that some of the speakers
went too far in their d~enunciation OF
Taft. After all, it was a republican
gathering and, while that was no
reason why there should have been
any compromise with truth in re-
ferring to the president, it should
have given pause enough to prevent
exaggeration leading outside the
realm OF truth. To say that Tat
lis in alliance with the railroad kings
and the exploiters of the, public ii
nothing less than gratuitous. TAFT
is a conservative by training and be,
lief and, thoroughly honest in it. He
IS simply not a progressive leader
and that is quite another matter from
forming an alliance With greed.
On the other hand, those who have
criticized the Huron meeting as a
treasonous affair, are just as unrea-
sonable and unfair as some OF thos:
who attacked Taft. Those who ava
supporting Taft are inclined, to tase
the view that it is something of 4
political crime to give encourage
ment or aid to any other candidate.
There is a disposition to refer to all
such as allies of the idemocrats-as
1if in this day of. independent voting
lthat would constitute ANY indict-
ment. Does the Office belong to
Taft, or does Taft belong to the Of
fee? 1t there any reason in the as
sumption that because a man has
been president four years, he must
be president another four years, re-
gardless of his record? Is there dis
erection in the practice of limiting
the professions of a great political
party to the accomplishments or be-
iliefs of the individual member of it
who has been president?
Rather let us all say that the
whole question of nominations should
tbe referred to the people. without
prejudice or passion. Surely the Sc.
Election OF a president is Of most con-
Germ to those whom he is supposed
to serve. Is it not effrontery of the
worst sort for any politicians to at
tempt to say to the people. who
should sit in that place?
Happily the people Of South Da-
kota will have an opportunity to in
dictate their choice for the republic
can nomination for president. 1t is
eminently proper that the primary
election should be extended to cover
presidential nominations, as has
been done in this state. Too many
presidents have been selected by a
few because the people were given