Oo GIG! C Aitraay and Cuansclar af Saw go Haren, Seuth Dakor f te fp — Huron, S. D. Feb. 24/04 My Dear Sir: I take the liberty to enclose you herewith a copy of my speech announcing my candidacy for nomination for the office of gov- ernor before the Republican State Convention. The fact that I made this announcement without first placing myself in the power of the men who assume to dictate the selection of can- didates for the republican party of this state has caused the party bosses to oppose my candidacy. They do not want a can- didate selected whom they cannot control. The men whu represent the political interests of the great corporations doing business inthis state, suchas the Standard Oil Co., the railway, telegraph, insurance and express com- panies, and school book trust, have combined against me, These men are always present in the lobbies during the sessions of our legislature to secure legislation favoring special in- terests, and to prevent legislation honestly designed to make these corporations accountable to the people before the law. By the use of the large patronage at their disposal, such as rebates, franks and passes, these men have acquired great political power and now seek absolutely to control the repub- lican party of the state. That they have formed an alliance against me with some of our prominent politicians is evident fromthe fact that the power of official patronage has been alliod with these special interests against me, and with few exceptions the men who hold appointive government positions are working with the opposition. This is particularly true of editors who hold postoffices or who hope to become postmasters. The plain reason for this is that I have said I will not accept the office of governor, if to do so I must surrender its preroga- tive to any set of men, and that if elected I will do no act in favor of special interests which I consider unfair to the people of the state. The bosses are bringing out candidates in various counties, ostensibly in the interest of such candidates, but for the real purpose--under masks of this kind--of eventually combining the field against me; and itis, of course, expected that their del-2 egations, when the time comes, will drop the home candidates and support the man selected by the bosses. In this way the corporate interests and political bosses seek to dictate the nomination, thereby placing the nominee under special obliga- tions to them for reasons which are apparent. I make this statement with deliberation because my own per- sonal observation since becoming a candidate has demonstrated tome its absolute truthfulness. Men of this class should not be allowed to usurp control of the republican party in the state. As long as they can have their own way they are for harmony, but as soon as a candidate declares himself independent of their domination they seek to rule or ruin. The way to shake off from the state the incubus of corporate domination and to wrest the control of the party from the bosses, lies in the enactment of a primary election law coupled with the abolition of all passes, franks, and special favors from public service corporations except to employes. Our state should have a primary election law like that of other states. The nomination of all officials of the state and county should be by direct vote of the members of the party in an election held within the party under as strict conditions as those governing our regular elections. In this way, and in this way only, can nominations for office be placed beyond the control of corporations and of bosses, who by manipulation and sharp practice in conventions are able to defeat the will of the majority. Such a law would also shoar the lobby of its power, because men nominated as well as elected by direct vote of the people are not at the mercy, politically, of a few dictators governed by mercenary motives. I am convinced that the best interests of the people of this state demand the enactment of such measures as the foregoing, and to their support I stand pledged. : When the men who are professional and standing lobbyist and who accept special retainers for their services during legisla- tive sessions in promoting the interests of corporations and monopolies, and preventing the enactment of laws for the regu- lation and control of such corporations can join hands with a3 few party bosses and invoke the aid of a large number of federal office holders and hangers on, and, by the use of patronage and railway passes, can control nominations for the republican party of the state, it is time for the rank and file to call a halt and to take the matter into their own hands, and enact laws which will prevent the administration of public affairs from getting into the hands of unworthy men, Tho enactment of a state primary election law, and abolition of passes, will check these tendencies which are dangerous to good government, and which may some day bring disaster to our party. I believe that the majority of the rank and file of the republican party in this state is in sympathy with my views upon these questions, and that by taking an active stand and getting a full vote out to attend the caucuses and primaries and insisting that no delegates be elected to the county and state conventions except such as will declare their indepen- dence of party bosses, and go on record upon these issues. I can be nominated, and the result will be wholesome and beneficial to the republican party, and make every member of it feel that he has exercised an influence for the good of the party. My campaign is progressing nicely and is growing in strength daily. Support is coming to me from localities where I least expected it. My friends are arranging everywhere for effective work. Will you not take an interest in my behalf in your pre- cinct and help in a cause of this kind by seeing to it that the delegates selected from your precinct to county and state con- ventions are pledged for me upon above issues? I shall ap- preciate very deeply and remember any service you can render. Hoping to hear from you soon, I.remain, Yours very traly,ala hom aro pleasant, I have not one ‘ord to utter agalast any of them in Mportonal sense. All that T bring ‘nto question, In case it exists, 1s the ‘Seumption on thelr part that th {ave been given the authority to a fect or dictate to the people of the kate the selection of the next cand! late of the republican perty of the {ato for governor. T stand for the right of each member In the rank and fle of the” republican party in this State to. Yoto his delfberate choice ‘in electing delegates ft tae primaries, who in thelr fim, shall ‘choose delegates to the next state convention, and fn doing ‘s0 to indicate ‘chelr choles for. governor. ‘Let the Issue be decided with full knowledge of all the facts by the” primaries and People Must Decl If 1 am not the choice of the major. ty thero—and, of,course, 1 may not} 3e—weil and good; T wilt give most Searty support to the man who is #0 thosen, ‘There is where Wwe must £0 fa the last analysis for a settlement St the question.” The people are the fury and with their decision 1 shall be fatisfed, “Unless the people of the ‘are with me in this movement, Ceannot expect to succeed. Tt they tre with me, and thelr support ts real na “abiding, T cannot fall. At the| bar of public opinion. the strongest| foreet in society must bow. Public| pinfon isnot always constant. Tt Sometimes changes from one extreme to the other. It may be with me to- {lay and against me tomorrow. Nev- fertheless, it ia the final arbiter 1n {his case and tam willing to accept Its verdict. if there be any issue in my candi- acy it arises out of the situation T Ihave outlined. "It ts Important. be- cause it involves the underlying prin- ciple. of representative. government, Tt involves the right of the indlvid- ‘ual in the potitieal world to have his| ase submitted. to ‘hat Jury’ estab: Iahed by the history and traditions of fa representative form of government: ‘and to be protected from the decision Of the judges who have an adverse fand selfish personal interest in the Gaze wnten they assume the right to jeclde, What the Party Stands Fo: ‘The republican party stand for the rights. of individual zen in the, struggle of Ife, Its proud bosst is that it has always stood for the protection of the weal fst citizen living. under’ the benign, way of the American flag; that the pennies -c6-tin chines’ whn.-astne’ | tesy which should be accorded to men ‘the open and defend it before the peo-| ples "in all fairness let this question foto the poople upon its merits, Let the republicans of the state decide it according to the equities of the ease. T'yelieve in the people and appeal te them, for one, am not wiling to believe that any set of men will be 60 arrogant end tyranuioal, or so unre publican as to attempt what many People suspect. Let us not arrive at uch ‘conclusion hastily. It ts, wel, However, to be on guard ready for defense in ease of attack Holds No Iwi Im becoming @ candidate I am not prompted by any feeling of mallee or fiwill towards any man, nor desir fous of doing injustice to’ any in the| slightest degree. Towards. the lead: fr of the republican party, in. this state T have none but tho kindliest| feeling and am willing to extend t0| ‘them every ‘consideration and cour-| ‘who ave won an honorable and ds: Hnguished ‘place In the politcal life of the state. I profer to believe that shail be" treated fairly by” them. ‘They have served the party well. 1.) too, ina humble way, have tried to] render service, ‘There should be no personal confiet, and T eck mone ‘No one bas a right to be offended with ime because Lam a candidate, nor have I the right to take offense at fny other man who is a candidate. Bot all the candidates have the right to demand sn open Meld and x fair fontest before the caucuses and pri- aries and. in the conventions Praises Railroad Boys. In conclusion I wish to acknowl edge my gratitude to the personal {felends in Huron and In Beadle county ‘who have. so. kindly and. earnestly tendered me. thelr support. In the ‘years of my service wit the railway Zompany T have come to know by per. Sonal experience , what nobility of character” and mauhood is found famong the sturdy men found in that ‘beaneh of industry. Goa never made better and raver men than the boys who take the dally risks of Ffe and Hmb incident to that, kind of vice In the stations and offices, in the shops and yards, ‘and in the operation of trains, fare men who, for devotion to uty, lovalty to every principle ff Ronor, and maniiness of char fcter, can nowhere he, excelled, ‘they are veritable knizhts who ove their home and country and who will Might for what is right and just fn all things. “This class of men is) ound everywhere upon the Dakota ‘Avision of the ‘North-Western, roa fend upon the other rallroads In the | state. In leaving. tho service of the) freee ago te ttn ed Tending bis ald to sinister influences: from the outalde to defeat the eandi- flate of his own people would be justly xecrated by all fair minded men, Task for the united support of Beadle county and submit my ease to the republicans in all Hts precincts, Not Too Early. It is not too early. In Minnesota the campaign between candidates for governor at a convention which will be held next year has been going om for weeks, ‘The men who are opposed tome would like to iul us into a dan erous sleep by crying out that It 1s foo early. ‘They have been and are ‘now at work evory day. I expect to tive much time to the campalgn from fis time on until the convention 1s held ‘and the ‘nomination made, and shall ‘visit all parts of the state. 1 ‘ask the support of all men who are Bow or may hereafter become friendly tomy ‘candidacy. 1 urge upon all such that they begin to Work in my behait early and see to it that my ease is fully. presented at the pri ‘aries and caucuses and that dele- ‘gates bo appoluted to the next state convention who understand the Issue fand who will support mo to the end. ‘The sseuo, if there be one at all, 8 between the wrongful usurpation’ of power on the part of a few men, and the individuality of ono man whore only offense is that he asserts a right belonging to every man. It, therefore, involves, the individ. tality. of all men In politcal life in tis state. If that be the issue my fight is for political freedom, I am striking for fhe right of every man in the repub- ean party to bave a fair feld in ‘whieh to compete for a nomination Deiore ‘2 convention of republicans, fand against the right of any set of ‘men, not selected for that purpose, to 0 shape events as to control such nominations for the selfish and spe- lal purposes of their own number. ‘Usurpation of power toucnes % sen- sitive ‘cord in the hearts of the ‘American peopie. Usurpation of power by corparate wealth always frouses ‘hostility, and usurpation of political power by any person, or com any of persons, cannot meet with popular approval. ‘Men who undertake such invasions - ‘upon a common political right do not understand the Ser which makes up the character of the brave and ide pendent people of tie state. These People sprang from. an ancestry ‘whieh, more than once im long years ast, ‘ook tho world in a struggle for “political” freedom: an. ancestry whieh dared storm and tempest, and Roman legions, wader old Norse kings; whieh followed the proud and invincible banner ot the Great ‘Adolphus; which pulled down the frome and eut off the head of Charles fhe First; whic followed William ee a aaa eee eee