Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1912-05-03
THORSON AND HALLIDAY.

The progressive republicans of South
Dakota intend to re-elect Thomas
Thorson as national committeeman
from that state. The standpatters
would like to depose him from that
office. To that end they have Sc
publisher of the Iroquoise Chief.
Halliday is generally acknowledged to
be a good fellow, but the selection of
party committeeman involves some
thing vastly more important than
mere good fellowship.
No better evidence of the impor-
tance of eecting the right kind of a
man to this position is needed, than
was presented in the attitude OF the
national committee toward the issues
of the present campaign. Had the
committee been composed Of progress
sives, the republicans of all the
states would have had an opportunity
to express a direct choice for presi-
dent. Iowa would have been In the
progressive column along with at
least three-fourths of the states. The
true trend Of the party would have
been so strongly put in evidence that
that the reactionaries would have
been forcen to get into line. A strong |
front would have thus been put up
against the common enemy and the
election of a republican president to
succeed Taft would have been assur-
ed. There would have been none of |
the bitter atrife resulting in contest
ing delegations from many districts |
and states, for the primary does not
lend itself to such disrupting contest.
Among the uncompromising member
ship OF the national committee Tom
Thorson was bright and shining |
light, a lonesome advocate of the
square deal, defender OF the people.
He was one OF a very small minority |
who made courageous butunsuccess-
full plea for party presidential per-
ference primaries in every state.
Failing in this he rendered grand |
service for South Dakota in saving
that state thousands of dollars and |
the trouble and annoyance OF a |
special primary election
The South Dakota primary election
in which delegates to the national |
convention are selected comes on
June 4. Between that date and the
date of the national convention, there |
is not the space of time required by |
tne national committees rule. Mr..
Thorson secured an order from the |
committee making an exception in |!
the case Of South Dakota. Had this
not been done II would have been |
necessary to hold a special primary
election earlier, to select the delegat-
es. Here was yeoman service for this |
state a real and tangible benefit a |
saving of hard dollars as we'll as pre-
venting an unnecessary complication |
of the primary machinery.
But Thorson's greatest service to |
the people Of his state and to the
whole country was in his bold stand |
for the right Of the people to rule
The protest Of the small minority at |
the meeting of the committee against |
the Taft steam roller program, served |
more than anything else to place the
standpatters on record. 1t classified |
them where they actually stand as
enemies of popular government. 1t
showed SO plainly the position of
Taft in alliance with this stand OF
the party bosses that he cannot
possibly make good his claim to begin
progressive.
In a similar crisis where would |
Dick Halliday stand? There is but
one answear. Halliday is stand
patter Of the standpatter and has a
consistent record of favoring all OF
the old machine methods by which |
classes instead of the masses have
controlled party nominations. His
good fellowship would be of no bene-
fit to the state in a test such as was
forced by Thorson at the national
committee meeting.
The people OF South Dakota must
look forward to the next campaign
while fighting in the present. The
primary principal must trium ph if
the party lives. sThorson is commit
ed by word and deed to the primary |
principle. Halliday is just as cer-
tainly committed against it. The i'm
portance of selecting the right man
for national committeeman should |
not be overlooked. South Dakota |
republicans will be wise to hold fast |
to Tom Thorson. He is sound to the |
core on all basic principles. Sioux
City Tribune.