The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1912-09-05
Entire Regularity Of
State Convention
Is Defended
HE WANTS PEACE
Asks Taft Men 10 Cooperate
in Getting An Expression
From the Voters

Watertown, S. D.-Declining to
use his influence in an effort to have
the presidential elector nominees,
now on the South Dakota republican
ticket, resign, that men, favoring
Taft might be appointed to take their
places, in accordance with demand
made in an open letter signed by the
Taft committee of ten recently named
at Huron, Carl G.. Sherwood, chair
man of the state committee, today
gave out from headquarters in this
city, his fsply.
Mr.. Sherwood's letter is addressed
to r. ID. Wicks of Scotland, G. NJ.
Day OF Sioux Falls, j. f. Halladay OF
lroquois. T. b. Roberts of Pierre, T.
b. Townsley of Gettysberg, II. Il.
Mease of Madison, III. l.. Loucks OF
Watertown, w. S. Bowen of Huron
and j. w. Peckham of Parkston.
1t saws:
"N4s .5ear sirs:
II have 'eturned from three
weeks vacation and find your favor
|of August II with some two hund-
red fifty other letters ON my table.
and as my stenographer was also on
her vacation and did not return un-
It'll more than week after / did,
l have been unable to reach your let
ter at an earlier date.
You say that at meeting OF re-
publicans at Huron, you, gentlemen
Iabove named, were appointed q COM
mittee with authority to procure the
removal OF the electors nominated
July 2.
'At the primary which-elected del
egates to the convention held July
2, more than 10000 republican votes
We're cast and more; than 400 dele
gates voted for these electors in the
state convention.
May i asis Bw many Il &c 6 gStsse
at the so-calleds republican meeting
| in Huron on the / A of August when
you obtained authority to withdraw
these electors, and for wrom do you
assume to act, and under what call
was your convention assembled? If
you will kindly enlighten on these
points, it will be of great assistance.
81 note by your letter that You adj
nit being the only real republicans
! in the state and claim to be in har-
mony with republican principles.
You charge me, the republican state
central committee, most of the re-
publican candidates on the state
ticket, and in fact a large majority
of the republican party in this state,
with being out of harmony with re-
publican principles, pirates, men
who hold 'pelf above principle and
men who have arrayed ourselves in
the livery of Heaven to promote the
work of the devil, and kindly
Il ,s<,1,
\ these and other charges.
'.After the first reading of this let
ter. it occurred to me that had at
last found the ten original vestal
virgins of republicanism,- persons
divinely appointed to keep the fires
of republication forever burning on
the altar-ten, who from youth up,
had shuddered at the thought of
party regularity and who would rath-
Ter perish, than vote anything by the
|complete republican ticket.
Republicanism Questioned
/ "a more careful reading disclosed
that one of those names affixed to
this letter had been for years. q lead
er of the populist party-and an
other was a Bryan democrat in 80
another was for years the editor
of viru1ent democratic paper. At
tleast four are editing papers openly
advising republicans to vote the
democratic ticket. If l am not mis-
taken, all but one of the ten have:
, fought in the primary, every repub-
lican party of this state what is wants
ten years, and have furnished argu-
ment and alleged facts which We're
the slogan of the democratic party,
lin each of these campaigns.
"Under these facts do you not
think it is at least bad taste for you
to make faces at lifelong republicans
: and call them bad names?
"As to your alleged statement OF
: facts, respectfully take issue with
YOUR statements that the republic
, can presidential electors have pub
, Ilicly stated they will not vote for Mr..
, Taft if elected, that they intend
to use their power to elect a presidS
ent who is openly seeking to destroy
/ the republican party - th q t 1t
| was known that they would not vote
i for Mr.. Taft by the Huron convene
| Ition when they were elected.
Would Ask Voters
.When you wrote those statements
r YOU must have known that on July
J 31st the republican state central
, 1committee at Huron by unanin1OuH
. vote offered to submit the question
Z for whom these electors should vote
Ito the republican voters of the state
and asked the electors to pledge
= themselves to abide by the result.
1.-TWO were present and assented to
Continued on page 5
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