Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1912-11-01
An Open Letter.
Oct. l7th, l9l:

Oct. 18th, 1912
Mr. James Coffee, Chairman of the
Democratic State Central Committee
of South Dakota,
Dear sir: L am In receipt of
your favor OF the l7th inst in which
you ask me to write you how l feel. /
did not intend to take any public part
In this campaign. In reading your let
ter was surprised to note that you
took the liberty to advise republicans
how to vote at the coming presiden
tial election and your assumption In
advising the republicans Of this state
and injecting yourself into our family
jar reminds me OF the old adaKe that
outsiders should keep we'll clear OF
family fights and allow the members
of the family TO settle their dit1icult-
les in their own way and further that
you will be fortunate II all republicans
don't turn on you and "wallup" you
we'll. But as you have taken special
interest to parade our internal trou-
bles and differences presumably for
the purpose OF getting votes will
ask you a few questions which the
republicans In this country and this
state are thinking about.
For over fifty years republicans and
democrats in this country have stood
diametrically opposite to each other
and fought out the terrific battle Of
policies each four years, and every
time the republicans won except the
Cleveland administrations and it
makes republicans shudder when he
recalls the condition OF the country
during that administration.
Every thing that has lifted
this country up and developed it to
its present magnificent condition was
brought about under republican poll
cies. During all these years republi-
cans have fought you democrats not
because they did not like you as men
but because they had no faith in your
policies. Do you offer anything new
In this campaign SO far as policies are
concerned which would warrant re-
publicans in laying down their arms
and entering your ranks and intrust-
ing to you the government OF this
country? Your platform Is substan-
italy the same and the dominant ele-
ment In your party Is the same Wis a
solid South backed bya solid Tamany.
You still offer republicans free trade
they never believed In it and do not
now believe in it, you point to no
plank in the republican platform Of
this state which is not good republi-
canism. You do not state that re.
publicans have any faith In your party
and republicans have no faith that
your party will bring prosperity to
this country then what do you offer
a republican for his vote: as | see 1t
nothing but venegence. You say
vote with us and we will destroy The
progressive party. In destroying that
party you also will destroy the re-
publican party In other words you
swallow both and in your inwards a
republican will not have the most
pleasant time. You tell republicans
that the progressive party stole the
electrical ticket IN this state. For the
purpose of argument granted that to
be true does it help republicans to al
low YOU to swallow them?
The delegates to the Huron Con-
vention was elected at the republican
primaries and held the convention re-
quired to be held by the primary law.
No fault has ever been found with
any act Of that convention.
The only thing you point to is that
convention nominated men for cleo
tors that were not Taft men. At that
time that convention was held the
convention that nominated Roosevelt
had, not been held and OF course it
could not anticipate that Roosevelt
would be nominated and the conven-
tion nominated good republicans for
electors. You accuse the convention
of thievary. / should like to ask you
what they stole? They certainly did
not steal any democrats, then why
should democrats complain?
1t is true that motion was made
to indorse the Chicago nominees the
men whom the republicans OF this
state elected to attend that cOnven-
tion informed the republican state