Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1912-03-22
LAFOLLETTE FOR REVENGE.
Declines Aid or Assistance From
Roosevelt Followers and Wants
to Split Progressive Forces.

No one denys Senator La F'oilett's
ability as a constructive statesman
but the LEADER has never consider
ed him in the winning list against
President Taft. We have figured
that, without Roosevelt in the field,
he might have carried the states of
WISCONSIN,, Minnesota. the Dakotas,
and possibly California, and even one
or two states more, hut not enough to
even jar the office holding horde that
are shouting for Taft and pap.
We do not believe that any sincere
friend Of Senator LaFollette ever
figured that he had a show to beat
Taft in the convention. and the pro-
grossly We leaders Of the nation realized
this early in the contest. Then be-
gan the pressure to bring Colonel
Roosevelt out OF retirement and
force him into leadership. The peo-
pie demanded Il leader in whom they
have faith, IA leader that could be
elected il Nominated, a mar whom the
nation trusts to give all a square deal,
and under this tremendous pressure
the Colonel finally consented to be a
candidate.
The progressive republicans Of this
state with a desire for harmony and a
desire to send a delegation to the
national convention that wOuld favor
La Palette or Roosevelt if LaFOllette
had no chance TO win. This was the
aim of the original friends of both
men. and this program was perfectly
satisfactory TO the friends Of the
former president and LaFOlletle until
last week.
Now comes Senator LaFollette
with ademaEd that his name be taken
from the ticket and the endorse ment
of progressives is not wanted and thai
he will stand alone as a candidate in
this state. This demand OF La
Toilette betrays a man strong in
selfish ambition, a man who seems to
regard his own interests paramount
to the interests Of the people, and
rather than swim with The aid OF a
life preserver he is going to swim
alone il he browns.
Under the circumstances there is
only one thing his former friends can
do. and that is to withdraw the
LaEollette-Roosevelt ticket already
fled at Pierre and raise the ROose-
Welt standard with a whoop. 1T will
be done, and the people will rally to
the standard Of the first president
who fought the combined interests
that thu people might have a square
deal, and the LEADER believes that
Col. Roosevelt will carry this state In
spite of the combination between
Gamble, Richards, LaFollette and
Taft forces.
The LEADER had always believed
that La Follette was a patriot fighting
the battles he fought for the good OF
the people but his recen speeches in
North Dakota and his refusal to have
his name linked with Colonel ltoose-
Welt betrays a selfish nature that puts
his pre- yious work in a different light
and may draw upon him h charge
of insincerity. He knows that every
LaFollette mar in the west today
was formerly a Roosevelt adherent,
and if he thinks he dictate to h
progressives he is missing the mark a
mile. With him its LaFollette or
nothing, and it is the opinion OF the
LEADER that nothing will represent
his ambition when the National Con-
vention adjourns.
The best posted politicians in the
country, many of them warm friends
of the Wisconsin man, never could
figure out where he had a ghost OF q
chance to beat Taft, and he as we'll as
his friends know that the people
turned to Roosevelt az a last resort
to lead the progressives to victory.
Mr.. LaFollette will have his de-
mand complied with. His name Will
come downsaud Roosevelt's will stand
alone in the contest for supremacy.
Nowlet the Roosevelt men get busy.
Organize for victory and a square
deal.