Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1912-02-02
CANDLES TREACHERY FORETOLO
The Editor of the Aberdeen Daily
News Knew Gamble Better
Than The Men He Be
trayed the Last
Time.

Time.
While Public Opinion has not always
been in position to agree with the
Aberdeen News upon questions of
politics, it at all times has had very
high regard for the Shrewdness and
Sagacity Of that paper. 1t is pleased
TO find that this opinion has not been
misguided, and further pleased to find
that the News entertainS view very
Senator Robert J. Cam BILE as a repre-
sentative of the people OF South Da-
kota in the United States senate.
In January 1907, Immediately fol-
lowing the election OF Gamble by the
South Dakota legislature, the News,
commenting upon the election, with
what has proven to be remarkable
foresight, presented its views OF
what Gam bic would do in the senate.
| t said:
"The reelection OF Robert J. Gam
bic to the senate of the United States
is calamity. He will hold the po-
SitiOn for six years. and during every
day Of that term he will be a diScred
tied man, both at home and at the
national capitol, shorn of power to
properly represent his constituents
and his state
In an older community in fact,
from purely material standpoint, it
might not be so important. but to a
new state like South Dakota that is
constantly in need of special repre-
sentation before the departments and
in the way of legislation, the loss
must fall heavily. And this condi-
tion will be accentuated by the fact
that the states two veteran congress-
men are to be replaced March by
representatives who for some time
will be unfamiliar with the require
ments Of their office.
The news has felt and stated from
the outset that no other outcome than
the election Of Mr.. Gamble was pos
sible under the existing alignment.
That such a condition should exist
that political combination should
be so blind to every sense of public
obligation as co stand able for the
election OF d tainted man to the high
est Office IN the gift OF the state is a
sad reflection upon the shibboieth of
reform. -
MI Gamble returns to Washington,
with his certificate of election, but
with nothing else. Two thirds of the
legislators who voted for him did so
under mental protest, knowing that
their action could not be justified on
any moral ground; that the only, JUS
titication for their vote lay in the en-
dorsement of the state convention.
Every charge laid at Mr. Gamble s
door was admitted by him to be true,
his only excuse being that the petty
grating to which he confessed was
quite generally practiced by others
that the l,SOO or so that was paid to
his son for nothing was lying around
loose and that he thought he might
as we'll annex it,. Had the amount
disclosed been $4,000 or ten times
that sum, Justification for swiping it
would no doubt have been made on
the same ground, A man who would
stoOp to take little might be suspic
ioned Of a desire to take more, should
opportunity offer.
No amount of denunciation of the
machine" can change the facts In
the case. The published charges are
admitted, and at that they do not by
any means constitute the entire case.
Henceforth, during his public ca
reer, Mr.. Gam BILE will be man apart
and his usefulness to the state will be
small indeed -
History has borne out the News.
1t has brought to pass everything it
forecasted, and a few other things,
more especially the Lorimer disgrace.
CANDLES usefulness has been small
indeed, and in many places it has
amounted to positive detriment. Ger
tainly the News can have little heart
for six years more of a useless senator,
a man Of whom it prophesized, every
day OF that term he will be discred
tied man, and which prophecy it has
lived to see worked out to the very
letter Watertown Daily Public Opin
ion, January IS, 1912.