The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1914-02-12

the use OF words; it is not a question
OF rhetoric or e%loquence: None OF
these can withstand the power of
Truth though it be lisped in awk-
ward and stammering phrase I'M
adorned by the rhythm and beauty
of polished sentence. If they had
Truth on their side they would not
wear, but with eagerness to show
good faith before their fellow men in
open day, they would be here on this
platform tonight. If i were false and
wrong and had been guilty of a base
betrayal of my constituents, would l
have dared to hurl this challenge at
these two strong men? You know l
would not. They have run away.
They could not summon the courage
to present lSalsehood in an open con-
test against Truth. That explains it
all.
Two Theories in Party.
I'VE are in a state of some confus-
ion ana uncertainty; the existence of
the republican party in the nation is
hanging in the balance. Is it to he
the party OF property or the party
OF humanity? 1t began its glorious
career as the party of humanity. OF
Mr.. Penrose, Mr.. Barnes, Mr.. Lori
mcr, Mr.. Cannon and men of thei1
type and code OF political morals,
have undertaken to make it a party
of property, and by bringing its or
ganization into close Relationship
with the great corporate and concen-
trated wealth of the country they
have caused a division to arise be-
tween themselves and another class
of men led by Mr.. Roosevelt, Mr.
LaFollette, MIR. Cummins, Mr.. Borah
and MI. Hadley, who insist that i,
shall be a party OF humanity; tina,
human rights shall be regarded as
moro sacred than property rights; i'll
the courts: in congress; in the adj
m~inistraticn of law by the presideni
of the United States.
I'VE may spend much time discus
sing details, but we shall not gel
very far unless we recognize this diff.
ference in trend of thought Which
has so seriously divided and endang.
cred the very existence OF the repub-
lican party. Which one of these
SlOtPS Ia VII. Pui NC iutiitilicu WIN
Which one can | be said to repre-.
sent?
Goes Back Ten Years.
This contest began ten years ago
to throw off the yoke of the railroad:
and secure justice for the people il
legislation and freedom from boss
ism in politics. Mr.. Burke allied him
self most emphatically and unequivo
cally with those who represented the
old order OF things and opposed the
movement. In the campaign of 1900
in which commended for the abolish
ment of passes, the assessment of the
property OF the public service corpor
ations in fair proportion to the asses!
ment of the property of individuals
and their enforcement from politics
he regarded the movement with con
tempt and, with his associates, tried
to laugh it out of court.
"ln 1906, when the Indignation OF
the people against sharp practices b.
politicians, and against the prevel
ent usurption of the right to choose
United States Senators, governor:
and members Of the legislature b,
Harry Hunter and Alex johnson
swept, with its resistless waves ovel
the state-Mr. Burke had been sc
closely connected with the old abuses
and was so hostile to any change fol
the better that with a storm OF Kisses
he was howled down by a great state
convention which had refused to re
nominate him for congress.
The 1906 Revolution.
After the convention OF 1904 had
nominated the slate fixed up for il
by the railroad lobby in the auditor
ium where l am now speaking, the
representative of one of these road!
took one of my friends into his con.
fidence enough to tell him that the
!. Northwestern nominated it's candi
date for governor and the Milwaukee
had TO be satisfied with naming the
lieutenant governor. The revolution
.came in 1906. When all those epoct
}, making laws were passed in 1907
they were welcomed with sneers or ir
sullen silence by Mr.. Burke and hi:
political friends. Not a single wore
of approval vas ever heard to fal
from his lips.
In 1908 the storm and fury of thu
81 PutSh lASCA nStNS Cu INK II
dates for the Senate. MIR. Burke NOV
ed cautiously along the byways, ant
while the public was intensely occu
pied with that absorbing contest, hi
managed to avoid direct attack ant
secured the nomination over Mr.
Hall; but he was against the progress
sive movement. Nothing which ha:
been accomplished during my admin
istration as governor appealed t.
him. The legislature had abolished
free passes; made secret lobbying
crime prohibited corporations from
making contributions to politica
campaigns; enacted a fellow eryan
law; required candidates to publish
sworn statements showing their cam
paign expenses: compelled railroad:
to build connecting tracks at juno
ton points; provided for the aseer
tainment of the true cash value O
railroad property; required the ter
minals, real estate, siding and swift