The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1912-07-11

new era seems to have been IN
augurated in our political proceed
ure. Heretofore political parties
have been maintained in order that
certain principles might prevail
and the success of the candidate
was subordinate to the principles
proclaimed. In the proceedings
at the Huron convention not a
word of criticism was heard of the
national platform, but the whole
complaint was over an alleged ir-
regularity which had resulted in
defeating favorite candidate by
the Chicago convention. When a
political party degenerates to this
state, and becomes simply an or
ganization to secure the Offices and
the patronage that goes with them
its mission is ended, and there is
no further excuse for its existence.
If this is true of national politics
it is even more true of state and
county politics. It may be true
that irregularity was practised in
the national primaries, but if so it,
was the fault of the system and it,
was practised by all candidates.
We know that irregularities were
practiced in our primaries on June
4th. We know that democrats
freely participated in republican
primaries, in some cases in suf-
fcient numbers to change the re-
suit on certain candidates, but the
republicans who regard the prin-
ciples as of more Importance than
the success of the candidates are
disposed to charge it up to de-
fective system, and for the sake of
maintaining the principle, accept
the result. If the national princi
Piles are worth preserving this is
what every true republican should
have done regarding the national
ticket. The Huron convention has
seen fit to subordinate the princi-
Piles to the candidates. 1t has
destroyed the tree, and why should
the roots be nourished?
The convention took the incon-
sistent stand of renouncing all al
legiance to the national platform
or the national candid ates, but
asked for party allegiance to the
state and county tickets. In pass
ing these resolutions the candi-
dates for state AMI congressional
Offices, and the committeeman as
we'll as the members of the con
vention had a vote. The candi
dates who stood squarely for re-
publican principles, state and ma
tional were Congressman Martin
and Burke, MIR. Abel, candidate
for lieutenant governor, Glasner
for secretary of state and Anderson
for state auditor. Those who re
pudiated all allegiance to the ma
tional party were Sterling for sena
tor, Dillon for congress, Johnton
for attorney general, Brinker for
public lands, Ewert for treasurer,
| Murphy for railroad commissioner.
Byrne for governor was not present
and Thorson, national committee
man, left the room to avoid vote
On what grounds any candidate
can ask party loyalty for himself
when be repudiates the platform
and portion of the ticket it will
be hard for the average voter to
understand. Especially is this
true of candidates for congress,
who are supposed to be simply
agents of the people pledged to
carry out the principles of the ma
tional platform. 10 repudiate this
then is to slip the halter, obliterate
the brand, and ask to be sent to
congress as political mavericks.
If elected they will be under alb
solutely no restraint except the
authority of the "big stick" WELD
ed by the Basford- Sutherland com
bination, and to which they have
thus far been very subservient
No republican is under any obliga
tion to support any candidate whe
repudiates his party principles ant