The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1920-07-02
A CAMPAIGN OF ISSUES

The unanimity with which the
Harding nomination is being acclaimed
augurs well for the success of the
campaign. Prior to the convention
individual preferences were divided
among many candidates, but 1t is
apparent that since the contest Is
over. all who believe in Republican
principles are getting behind the
nominee. Although The campaign
will he fought chiefly on issues, yet
the personality of the Republican
nominee is such as will bring enor-
nous strength to the cause. The
nature of the man will make him as
popular with the great masses of the
people as he has always been among
his neighbors in his home town and
state.
The first act of the Republican
convention was to adopt declaration
of principles by which it's subsequent
ly chosen candidate would be bound.
Its next duty was to select as head Of
the ticket man of unquestioned
integrity, fearless courage and daunt-
less energy to make those principles a
part Of our government. That man
they found in Senator Harding. No
man, whatever his political faith,
will question that Senator Harding Is
amply qualified to realize the program
of reformation and reconstructio
that his party has laid out for him
Criticism, therefore, of his candidacy
must be an attack'on that program.
And, conversely, support of his can
didacy must involve primarily the
vigorous presentation of it's policies
before the people.
In campaign of that sort the
Republicans will have a tremendous
advantage over their Democratic op-
ponents. For the last seven years the
government has reyolved around the
personality in the White House.
Democratic prediction promises,
Constitutional limitations upon Ex-
ecutive authority, and established
precedents have alike given way be-
fore the imperious dictum of the
Executive autocrat. His reelection
in 1916 was accomplished by contin
ually impressing upon the people that
the salvation Of the nation depended
upon keeping Woodrow Wilson in the
White House. Issues played little
part in that campaign; in fact, the
Democratic text book was adorned
with picture of the President with
the words, THANK God for Will
son."
The Democrats will be forced to
conduct the 1920 campaign along SINH
lar lines. Every plank of their 1915
platform is mass of splinters. Ii a
platform were to be constructed it
would, of necessity, have to follow the
same lines as that of four years ago.
And If it were set befope the people
in plea for their votes 1t would imply
a reputation of the man who has not
hesitated to alter its declarations to
suit the exigency Of the moment
Democracy and wisconsin are totally
at variance, and one or the other
must be chosen. wisconsin will be
the watchword and the campaign will
be waged on what has been done bv
Wilson rather than what has been
accomplished through adherence to the
principles of Democracy.
The voters will not be slow to
discern the radical difference in the
two contests. Neither will they Lest
tate to make their choice between
them. For seven years they have
been forced to bear the burden Of a
government by men, and they know
what it means and the costs 1t involves
They will welcome the opportunity
to substitute for 1t government of
laws, administered with impartiality
and thoroughness. They see in Sena-
tor Harding, as exemplified by his
long service as legislator and execu-
tive In both state and national affairs.
the man who will vitalize the issues
of the Republican platform and bring
to the nation the sort of governments
Ii must have 10 survive,