The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1912-09-05
Asserts in Declaring for Roosevelt That He Has Examined
Contests and Found Taft Had No Right to the Dele
gates From Washington, California, Arizona and
Texas.-Disapproves Formation of the Pro-
e@r oreeeive Partv
gressive Party

senator CummlnS in announcing 1
yesterday that he would vote for
Roosevelt, based his action upon his
conviction that Taft's nomination
was stolen. Following is his state
ment:
"The people of Iowa have a right
to know my position upon all public
questions, and therefore / submit to-
them as clearly and briefly as posi-
BILE. my views of the political contro-
versy in which we are engaged.
The denomination of Mr.. Taft was
opposed by an overwhelming major
ity of the republicans throughout the
country simply because in his admin
istration of the Office of president he
had o done and said the things
which the great body of the people
believed he should have done and
said. A meager minority succeeded in
r%enominating him and it is vital to
inquire how it was accomplished.
A Minority Nomination.
First, his friends controlled the
national committee.
Second, we have had for years a
false, vicious basis of representation
in the national convention, through
which Alabama, Arkansas, Florida,
Georgia, Louisiana, is4oMississippi,
South Carolina, TexasI and Virginia,
states that cast, altogether in 1905,
270,631 republican votes,l had in the
convention 204 delegates, whereas
California, with 214,398 republican
votes, had 26 delegates, Illinois, with
629,932 republican votes, had SIS
delegates, Iowa, with 275,21O repub-
lican votes, had &c delegates, Mime
t sofa, with 195,S43 republican votes,
( had "a delegates, and Ohio, with
572,312 republican votes, had 48
delegates, Mississippi, with less thar
! one-third as many republican votes
Y as all cast in Polk county, had 20
delegates in the national convention
There are but instances of the absurd
disparity in representation. The mar
q who could not see that there would
be a rebellion whenever these over.
represented states forced a nomina.
ton against the strong opposition oil
the states in which there is a rea
Y republican party was blind as a bat
and the man who could not hear the
rumble of the rising storm was dea.
as an adder.
a The Stolen Delegates.
III the convention which nominal
e ed Mr.. Taft had changed the system
n IN obedience to the popular demand
n We might have had patience to wait
put as though wanting to finish ever,
2 reason for revolt, it attempted tt
fasten it still ore firmly upon us
d II this were all, we would be ampl,
4 justified in overthrowing the system
by refusing to accept the nominee
but this is not all.
Third, the system, indefensible al
{ 1t is, was not enough to overcome TIL,
adverse majority in the republican
states and, therefore, the complais
U ant committees and following then
the convention, deliberately seatet
0 Taft delegates from Washington
California, Arizona and Texas, VIII
o had no shadow of title to seats in TIL,
convention. / speak of these state,
n because l have examined the recore
as to them and have reached the con
< cluslon, after the most careful stud,
and reflection. And thus the will o
h a tremendous majority was defeated
I by the power of a bad system and TIL,
Vaccination OF a committee.
' II take no pleasure in ~recitin,
these things, for l would like to sup
port a republican candidate for pre-
sldent. There is but one way, how
y ever, to make sure that the system
of the Chicago convention will be alb
y olished and it's scenes never repeated
II and that is to make it plain that tn,
& candidate who is the product of tn,
system and the beneficiary of tn,
methods cannot reach tho office tt
which he aspires.
For h Salvation of the Party.
There, / cannot support Mr.
Taft. In SC saying / am all the NOR,
a republican, for it is clear to m,
that the existence of the party de
ponds upon a quick and emphati,
condemnation of the wrongs l hav,
4 mentioned, and l am in perfect har'
mony with the declaration of tn,
Iowa republican platform, which
quote as follows:
The republicahsAf4o~Aib9 Ny,
in the rule of the people. We believe
that the popular will, When tai6Efex
pressed in convention or primary
should be faithfully observed.
Grave and serious abuses of the
lconvention and caucus system O
nominating our national candidates
IE,u .E..N 5t- = I'll X u T-T