Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1914-02-21

torial candidate against Senator Coe 1.
Crawford has issued the first formal
statement since accepting the nomina-
ton and beginning his campaign. In
it he makes pointed reference to mud
singing and pledges that he will not in
dulge in villification nor seek to arouse
personal prejudice. He deplores the
attitude of Senator Crawford and asserts
he did not seek the nomination, but &C.
cepted it only at the urgent solicitation
of friends. The statement follows:
When l announced my acceptance OF
the nomination for United States sena-
tor made by the so called minority re.
publican proposal committee on January
said that at later date would prob
ably issue a fork al statement.
1t is well known that did not seek
the nomination and that was nota can
didate. 1t was only at the last moment,
when importuned by practically the en-
tire membership of the minority pro-
posal committee by wire (being in Wash
ington at the time), accepted the no.
minaton.
In my opinion candidates for high Of
fee should be drafted rather than to force
themselves upon the electorate by re-
sorting to personal campaign of ex-
travagance. often misrepresentation,
falsehood and abuse.
If the people would discourage self
promoted candidates. the tendency
would be to supplant politicians with
statesmen, and true representative gov
ernment would be strengthened and
more firmly established.
Primary campaigns should be conduct
ed along lines of decency; personalities
should be avoided as much as possible.
fractional differences and feeling should
be suppressed, so as not TO disrupt the
party, in order that after the primary
election is over all can unite in support
ing the ticket nominated.
| So far as l am personally concerned, l
shall not indulge in campaign of bill
lingsgate and abuse. shall abide by
the result of the primary, submitting my
candidacy upon my record, having con-
fdence in the intelligence and good judg-
ment of the voters of South Dakota and
believing them capable of making a
choice of candidate for the United
States senate.
1t was with that thought that on Janu-
ary "a l proposed to Senator Crawford
that we return to Washington and attend
to our official duties, leaving it to the
voters to choose between us, and calling
attention to our long public service and
our well known records. later urged
him to accept my suggestion and regret
that he did not do so.
have read what purports to be a
speech made by Senator Crawford at
Sioux Falls on the 10th inst. and regret
that he has seen fit to indulge in lam
guage that can only engender bitterness
and bad feeling and influence ard arouse
prejudice that will be harmful to the re-
publican party. If he wishes to conduct
such campaign he must do SO without
expecting me TO retaliate. will not en-
gage in campaign of personal abuse,
Misrepresentation and revenge.
AS already stated, my candidacy for
the senate was not self promoted; it is
submitted to the voters upon my record
as member of the house of representa-.
tives. If am nominated and elected to
the senate, shall devote my entire time
and my best efforts discharging the du-
ties of the Office in a way to best serve
my state and the nation. AS heretofore,
| shall continue to support and vote for
legislation in the interests of the people
and advocate measures aimed to correct
monopoly and abuse and for legislation
making inequalities in favor of capital
as against the people impossible.
CHAS. III. BURKE.