The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1913-07-24

what there is in the situation of the
republican party at this time that
indicates such dire straits. Why does
its success and entity depend on the
meeting? Is it really in such q bad
way? At the last election it elected
it's candidate for governor, it's candi-
dates for each of the state offices.
each of the three congressman, a leg.
islature almost unanimously repub-
lican, which in turn elected a repub-
lican United States Senator. What
more could reasonably be expected in
the way of party success? In fact,
from the standpoint of at least a ma
jority of these gentlemen, is it not
true hat its very success is the basis
of the charges that it is in a bad
way? Is it not true, that if through
their efforts it had failed to elect it's
for governor, United States
Senator. and possibly a congressman
or two, 1t would now be considered
by them to be in pretty good shape?
1.-The call states hat many i'm
portant constitutional and legisla-
tive enactments have recently been
adopted demanding the attention of
all members of the republican party
| assume that the members of the
republican party have intelligence
enough to act on constitutional ques-
lions submitted Or laws referred to
them without aid or advice. Or course
every one knows hal a so-called
mass meeting will not be in any
n representative of the people of
the state. Is it thought that the hun
dred thousand republican voters of
the state will meet? Certainly not.
Narrow it down: How many of the
farmers of Minnehaha county, near
at hand, will be represented in this
Sioux Falls meeting? Bring it down
to a narrower circle still: How many
of the laboring men, business men
and citizens of Sioux Falls, even, will
be represented in the meeting? Wise
ly or unwisely, it will simply be a
meeting of a relatively few, so-called
leaders.
Every Step Provided. =
I'VE have just passed through a
series of campaigns and elections.
the echoes of which have scarcely yet
died away. i had hoped that we
might now have a short surcease
from fractional and political strife
until such time as, under the pro-
visions Of the new primary law, the
next campaign would be regularly
and orderly initiated. Every step in
the next primary campaign is absolu.
tely provided for by law. No amount
of resoluting will change the situa-
ton. The law points the way. step
by step, and it must be followed.
HVf ~ ont &c ,,,p, 49,
meeting to promote a certain line of
policies or a certain set OF candi-
dates, let them do it frankly and in
the open but let them not do it un-
der the claim that the party absolu-
tely needs a new organization, that
the committeeman elected by the
party members and not 'authorized,'
and the pretense that they are acting
for the good of the whole party.
For myself, l am very busy at
the present time with my office du-
ties, putting in full time every day.
L have faith and confidence in the in
telllgence and fairness of the people
in the state. 1 believe they know
what they want. l believe they are
somewhat tired of contentious and
strife for supremacy, and 1 believe
the best political service | can render
the republican party now is to remain
at my post and give my attention to
the affairs of the state, enforce the
law and perform my duty to the best
of my ability.
Party success will not be attained
by the thimble-rigging harmony
conferences of so-called leaders, play
ing for positions, or with a view to
making division of the offices or
honors. but by advocating and pro-
noting such policies, and conducting
public affairs in such manner as
will meet the approval of the great
body of the people who desire moth
ing; politically, but good, fair and
efficient government, who are person
ally interested in neither political
honors nor emoluments, and whose
ideal of good government is to rend-
er the greatest good to the greatest
number. And remember, a confer
ence' is none the less a conference
because called under the euphonious
title of mass meeting when, under
all the circumstances, it is certain
that no considerable part of the peo-'
pie can be represented"