The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1911-09-07
OFFICIAL COUNTY PAPER
BRANsoN's

trict is interested in his candidacy
onl VITO the extent that he would
have the South Dakota tag attached
to him should he be elected to mem
bership in the national bear garden.
Having that much interest in
of the possibilities of the First
district, South Dakotans at large
may want to know something about
where Mr.. Rranson stands in rela-
ton to the factional conflict tina is
raging within his party.
He has just issued his platform
and it asserts that he is a strong be-
lever in the republican party and he
tells why he believes in the repub-
lican party-chiehy on account of
its record and its traditions. He be-
lieyes that a congressman should
stand for those things most benefi-
cial to his constituency, having a
just regard for the national well
fare"
After reading the platform. one
is constrained to believe that Mr..
Branson is not a member of the pro-
gressive clan, is not a La Folletteite,
a Cumminsite, an enemy of the sys-
TEN. He is too p~latitudinous for any
other conclusion. He speaks softly,
under his breath, knowing the ten
denotes of an electorate imbued with
insurgency"
Really for a man so fair as Col.
Bowen ordinarily tries to be, this
is about as unfair a statement as
could be expected. in the way of COM
ment upon Mr.. Branson's interview
in which he declared his candidacy
for congress.
In the first place, Mr.. Branson
has not just issued his platform as
this. paper states. He distinctly
states that the time appropriate for
a more elaborate statement is later
HE+SE4lEE4aMs eve +-+T
on, when the actual campaign be-
gins. Mr.. Branson's interview was
given as a very brief statement, IN
tended, we believe. to show where
he STANDS on fundamental princi-
pies. Col Bowen further m%isrepre-
sents Mr.. Branson in making it APP
pear that he had nothing to say en-
cept to pay a tribute to the record
and traditions of the republican par
ty. The Huron paper utterly ignores
the following paragraph in MIR.
Branson's statement:
Il believe in the republican party
because it is the party of accom-
plishment; because it's record and
traditions have led good men to turn
almost ~instinctively to it in their de-
sire to establish a just and respon-
sive government. | believe the re-
publican party does and must rec
ognize the fundamental principle
that men are not only born equal
but must be guaranteed equality of
opportunity throughout life. l be-
lieve the republican party is and
must be dedicated to the durable
task of distributing the burdens of
taxation according to ability to bear
them ard of protecting the weak and
unfortunate from e~ncroachment by
the strong and greedy"
The Republican, in it's humble
opinion, believed this to be about as
comprehensive a statement of what
the progressive republicans believe
as could easily be made. Perhaps
Col. Bowen could sum up in better
language the purposes of those who
are unselfshly devoted to the cause
of better government. We would be
much interested to see the Huron
ealtor make the attempt.
Mr.. aBranson says he believes in
the republican party as the party OF
accomplishment. Isn't that true?
Hasn't it done all the constructive
work in governmental reform in the
past decade? Isn't it true that it
has attracted the lover of good gov
eminent, Just as Mr.. Branson says?
Haven't LaFollette and Cummins
themselves repeatedly explained
their loyalty to the republican party
An this way?
Mr.. Branson says he believes that
every man must be guaranteed
seqnuality of opportunity throughout
lie. That is Just the slogan of
Roosevelt and of all the others who