The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1912-07-18
VIEWS ON
A THIRD PARTY
LEADING CITIZENS OF BROOK,
lNGS DISCUSS NEW "BULL
MOOSE" PARTY.
OPINIONS VARY As TO ITS NEED
Majority Seem to Favor Staying by the
Old Ship and Fighting the Cues.
tion Out in OId-Fashioned Way.

At the present time the question OF
the ACCESSIBILITY Of a third party is a
momentous one Republicans, progress,
sive and stalwart, seem to agree that
the old party need changes, but the
question of whether to remain by the
old ship or organize a third party to
effect these reforms is one that causes
a wide difference of opinion. Below
the Register presents some opinions
by leading men Of Brookings on the
question:
Mayor w. II. Leighty-lt does not
seem to me that there is need Of a
third party at the present time. If a
certain element of the party have q
grievance | believe that they should
stay with the good old republican
ship and fight it out. Possibly Roose-
welt did not get a square deal at Chi
cago, but he should remain with the
party and carry his cause to the peo-
pie again and if he is right they will
vindicate him. | do not believe that
We will ever see another such conven-
ton as the recent n at Chicago.
Within four years presidential pri-
maries will have been established in
every state and the people themselves
will select the party platforms and
nominees.
+. w. Cuckow-Under present con
ditions | do not believe that a third
party is necessary or advisable. | be-
lieve that the two present parties
meet all requirements. There is room
for Improvement and progress in both,
but | don't believe that a third party
would be the best instrument to ac.
complish the desired reforms. We
are all progressive, the only differ
ence is the method of accomplishing
progress. The progressives claim
that they are in the majority in the
republican party, why then should
they not remain in the party and
secure control?
Geo. f. Thayer-I don't pay much
attention to politics, but it is my judg-
ment that a nationwide, non-sectional
party is a necessity. | dislike the idea
of turning the great republican party,
with its magnificent traditions and
record, owe to a reactionary minority,
but what are We going to do? The re-
dictionaries are in control, as | believe
they are in the democratic party, and
the solution Of the situation seems to
be for the progressives in both parties
to form a new party. We will never
have real self-government until we do.
1t is pretty hard for a nan who has
voted one party ticket all his life to
break away, but yet hadn't we ought
to think more of political decency and
the peoples rights than Of party regu-
larity? A man has to be a pretty
h~ard-shelled republican to stomach
the deal pulled off at the Chicago con-
vention.
r. F. Kerr see no immediate
necessity for the organization Of a
third party this year for the reason
that the two larger parties, already
in the field with their presidential
candidates fairly represent differ
ences Of opinion in most political mat
ters. The voter is at liberty to choose
between the two unless he has some
very pronounced individual convic-
tons in regard to party principles.
1t is difficult to flock alone. Most Of
us believe in progress but We differ
as to speed schedule. Some want a
racing schedule and others are salts
fed with a safe and sane pace.
There is better chance to improve a
party by staying in it than in getting
out Of and trying to form a new party.
F. E. Youngberg--The progressive
republicans it seems to me are practi-
cally forced to either support the third
party movement or aid in the election
of a democratic president. In this
state, as / view it, the progressive
movement is in good shape, needing
no third party organization, and If
Roosevelt is a candidate he will get
the electoral votes Of South Dakota.
DR.. A. w. Hyde-You ask my opin-
ion as to the political situation and
the necessity and a~dvisability Of a
new party. The political situation is
chaotic. Honest citizenship desires
honest politics. We must recognize
J that every organization OF all ele-