Saturday news. (Watertown, S.D.) 19??-19??, 1918-10-03
E DIT O R A L
D0WDELL IND GHRIsYOPHERSON.

a Sioux Falls paper points out the especial fitness of
Charles "A. Chrstopherson for a seat III the lower branch oil
congress, and it expresses the hope that he will win the cleo
Mr.. Christopherson may be a fine genteman-we are will
ing to grant that he is. But on the issues Of the day his rec
ord does not justify the assumption that he is SO peculiarly
fitted for service as to meet the demands of the people Of South
Dakota, or of his congressional district.
The organized farmers are on record as favoring a reVi-
sion Of our system of distribution, based upon justice and
equity. 1t involves the elimination OF market gambling and the
wiping out of methods by which prices have been manipulated
to the disadvantage Of the producer when he has something to
sell and to the Inconvenience of the consumer when he is most
In need of something to buy.
The democratic party Of the state is on record as endors-
ing the principles laid down by the organized farmers. 1t
has so declared iii its party platform.
Likewise the republicans, obviously bidding for the votes
of the rural population, placed themselves in line with the de
naands Of the farmers, albeit substantially every man i'll the
state opposed to the platform declarations of the party is align
ing himself with the republican management.
Mr.. Christopherson is the republican nominee. So far as
we have been able to discover from an examination Of his rec
ord, IN SO far as it is available to us, he has never shown a dis
position to accept the principles for which his party has de
clared. The most rabid newspaper in opposition to this plat
form declaration has, been, and still is, one of his waImest snpp
porters. 1T he has been converted to a championship Of such
revision of our system of distribution as the producers and
laboring men demand, we have seen no evidence of such con.
and lie has offered no comment thereon one way or the other, SO
version. He was.nominated before the platform was drafted
tar as the public is aware.
The nominee Of the democrats is Robert L. Dowaell, who j
also the nominee Of the organized farmers through an endorse
ment OF his candidacy. MI. Dowaell has a record extending
back for q score of years OF more along the Identical lines that
form the basis Of the farmers movement.
If the people Of the First congressional district stand for
such a modification OF our system of distribution as the produc
ersc call for, and which is conformable to tile declarations Of al
three parties IN the state, wisdom would suggest that they elect
the man Whom they know to be standing openly and aboveboard
tor such a policy.
If the republican platform builders were not resorting tc
camoufage, and it the sentiment of the district is III accordance
with tile demands of the party platforms, MI. Dowdell is the
logacal candidate and should be elected by an overwhelming
majority. He has stood out against the market gamblers and
price nanlpulators Tor a quarter Of a century. He will need nos
sstaihag iH5a when the time arrives for voting. on the question
in the halls Of congress.
II AT. Christopherson is elected, you can safely bet your
iastSdonar that youw will set it where the chicken got the AK.
s
THE REPUBLICANS II SJFFRaGE.
An ls reported@lon Washington that the republicans ar
planning an effort to throw the blame upon the democratic
party fora fle defeat Of the equal suffrage amendment in the
senate. neutrality-suspicious.