The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1912-05-30
billions RECORD
NEEDS NO DEBATE.
SAYS COMMITTEE
Reply Sent to PROPOSE
ton From Candi-
date for Congress
OFFER DECLINED
B~ranson's Platform Clear and
1t Is Up to Dillon to Find
Flaws In 1t
OFFER DECLINED

opposing the nomination of o. l..
BranSoll as the republican candidate
for congress from the First district
was mailed today by w. +. Upton,
chairman of the Branson Campaign
Committee of this city.
The committee takes the position
that there is nothing to debate as
Branson is under no obligation to
apologies for billions record and his
own platform and record are i'm need
of no defense.
Following is the committees let
ter.
Tent of Letter.
"Mitchell, S. Oak, May "A, ~.
MIR. G. H. Dillon,
"Yankton, S. Oak,
Dear Sir:
The O. L.. Branson Campaign Com
mittee acknowledges receipt of your
communication in which you chal-
lenge Mr.. Branson to Il joint debate
to be held in the city of Sioux Falls.
Mr.. Branson's dates are all TAX
en- for the remainder of the cam
paign, and his committee is not will
ing to make any change in his sched-
ulc. Particularly is this true since it
is we'll known that, whereas you have
spoken to very small audiences
throughout YOUR campaign, Mr.. Bran
son has in nearly every case been re-
ceived by a full house. His COM
mittee does not consider it a reason
able request on your part that he
should obtain an audience for YOU to
address.
so far as MIR. Branson is concern
cd, there is nothing to debate. The
record he has made as a progressive
republican is known to h entire
state, he was one of the very first to
Join that movement and he has served
in that cause ever since. SO recently
as 1910, during the campaign he act
ed as chairman of the Progressive
Campaign Committee for Dawson
county. Throughout this campaign he
has declared himself une%quivocally
for what are known as progressive
principles; he has advocated down
ward revision of the tariff; removal
of the tariff from trust-made articles;
destruction of the trusts by imprison-
ing those who organize or maintain
them, for a period ranging up 10 Il
life term, direct election of United
states Senators; the spread of pop
ular government i'm its broadest
sense; recognition of the spirit OF the
Primary System; opposition to boss
es and secret slate making in cam
paigns, universal peace between all
nations: and has declared himself
ready and willing at any time to sub
init to the recall if he does not serve
the interests of the people at Wash
ington. This is his platform, and IL
you cannot subscribe % it that is
IL matter for you to explain.
What Dillon Hasn't Explained.
This committee has already point
cd out that in the 1904 State Conven'
ton, when the fight was on over The
Primary Election, you voted agains'
it: thai in the 1907 session of thu
State Senate you voted against thu
Observation-Disclosures law which wa
passed for the purpose of preventing
the Grain Trust, the Lumber Trus
and the Oil Trust from selling at diff
ferent prices i'm different localitie
i'm order to destroy farmers elevator
and cooperative stores and other in
dependent concerns; that in 1903 yo'
we're instrumental in bringing abou
the appointment of r. b. Trlpp, TO
twenty years a Milwaukee Railwa
attorney, as Judge of the First Jud
cjaI District; hat in the same sessio
YOU voted for a resolution askln
Congress to maintain and increase tn
duties on wooden goods, indicatin
hat YOU favored increasing the ia
already iUO per cent. upon lhe ciol'
ing worn by the men, women al
children of South Dakota; that in tt
same year, you, being an attorn'
Yourself, voted for a bill increasi1
the attorneys fee for foreclosir
mortgages from $40 to s25.; that
Room 81 of the Cataract Hotel
Sioux Falls, at midnight on Janua
10 last. you entered a secret conspi
acy with a number of others to d
bauch the Primary Election syste
by organizinz a candidates trust
slate, thereby attempting to ave
submitting your case on its merits
the voters of the First District
South Dakota.
This is your record, and We G