Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1912-09-13
The Best Thing to be Done.

The Best Thing to be Done.
The political situation in this state
is very unsatisfactory to many re-
publicans of all factions.
Progressive republicans believe the
nomination at Chicago Of Taft was
fraudulently made, and that Roose-
vet is the rightful nominee Of the
party. Having the power to do SO
in this state they condemned the
action of the national convention
and nominated for presidential elect
ors on the republican ticket men who
are favorable to Roosevelt and expect
to vote for him If elected.
This has caused great wall to go
up from the Taft republicans that
they ''have been disfranchised" and
that the party has been stolen"
The Telegram has pointed out that it
is their privilege to nominate by Pc
tition an electoral ticket, head it
Taft Presidential Electors" and
have it put on the official ballot in
November. But this does not satisfy
them and a numb of irreconcilables
have called meeting at Mitchell on
the 10th of this month to inaugurate
warfare on the progressive repubi-
cans on the state ticket as we'll as on
the presidential electors. Such ac-
tion will cause reprisals against
Martin, Burke and other stalwart
nominees with possibilities of the
election of at least part Of the
dem ocratic state, and political chaos.
The Telegram has been among
those who have approved of the ac-
tion of the republicans of this state
in repudiating the action of the con
vention which nominated Taft. And
it has justified the appropriation Of
the presidential electors on the re-
publican ticket on the ground that it
wss a replevin of stolen goods. But
now that the progressive republicans
of this state have made clear their
condemnation and shown their power
it seems advisable to seek method Of
procenure which will be less objec
tionable to many and give less ground
for complaint. 1t was hoped that the
plan proposed by the state committee
of a small preferential ballot to be
given all republicans at the
November election, would meet
the requirement.. This is open to
some objections which have been
generally discussed. Its success is de.
pendent upon general acceptance and
cooperation, which does not appear to
be obtainable. In view of this, The
Telegram would suggest:
That the presidential electors nam
ed on the republican ticket in this
state resign that in accordance with
stipulation to be made preceding
| their resignation, the republican
state central committee leave that
| part of the republican ticket vacant;
that the five electors now on the re-
| publican ticket be nominated by Pc
tition under the heading Roosevelt
Presidential Electors" If they will
accept such nomination, or if not
others be substituted; and that those
who favor Taft nominate another
ticket by petition. headed '"Taft
Presidential Electors"
| Such procedure would put the
two factions IN the party on an equal
footing, and neither would have just
cause for complaint. And it would re-
move all Justification for any repubIi-
can refusing to support state and
county tickets nominated in the
primary. Inasmuch as the Taft vote
was so largely in the minority in the
primary. that faction could not ex-
pect the progressive majority of the
party to put Taft electors on the re-
publican ticket-and either support
Roosevelt electors against their own
nominations on the republican ticket.
Such action would remove great
irration and friction, would be fair
and not open to just criticism, would
leave matters in better shape for re-
ad justment after election, and would
leave no warrant for any fight on the
ticket named in the primaries. 1t is
commended TO the careful con sidera-
tioD of the republican state central
committee, the republican candidates,
and the committee of ten who
have called the Mitchell meeting.
The situation in California is very
similar to that in this sCate. News
dispatches today Indicate that a
course will be taken there similar to
what is herein advocated for this
state. Dead wood Daily Telegram.