The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1911-06-30
The Sterling Candidacy

Elsewhere on this page is the for-
nal announceme mt of the candidacy
of Thomas Sterling for the q. S. SEN
ate to succeed Senator Gamble. He
has resigned his position as dean of
the law school of the state uniye.-
sity at Vermillion, which he has filled
with distinction the past ten years.
With the primaries yet q year off it
is evident that he intends to make a
thorough campaign.
Mr.. Sterling's platform is concise
and definate. There is no attempt to
evade issues or speak in platitudes.
1t is a dignilied expression, free of
demagogism, and is what would nat
urally be expected from man of Mr..
Sterling's ability, training and integ-
rity. Yet it is thoroughly progress
siye, in accord With the principles adj
vocateG by Roosevelt, LaFollette and
Woodrow Wilson.
He is opposed to legislation for
special interests and domination of
congress by men favorable to those
interests
He favors proper revision of the
thrift in accordance with the plat
form of the last national convention,
holding that the Payne tariff law did
not do this. He approves of the nom
plrtizan tariff commission and revi-
sion of one or more schedules at a
time in accordance with the results
o tn commissions researches.
He advocates physical valuation of
railroads and other common carriers,
Gas basis for both the fixing of reas-
onable and for the purpose of just as
sess.nent and taxation"
He fayors Thorough federal con-
troll and regulation of all trusts and
corporations engaged in Interstate
business" And he holds that in pros
ecutions for violations of such laws,
'the principle of the criminal liabil-
ity of corporate officials should be
fully recognized and enforced
He is in favor of direct election Of
United States senators; and of a grad
uated state as we'll as national income
tax.
He endors es the primary initiative
and referendum, and the recall except
as applied to the judiciary.
He advocates reform in judicial pro-
cauure, 'uoIn state and national, to
expediate matters, and to lessen costs
on appeals in federal courts. And he
holds that ''the right of states to reg
ulate their own affairs should be re-
spected. Federal courts should not
assume jurisdiction to enjoin state
officials in cases involving intra-state
rates and the regulation of common
carriers within the state unless it is
clearly manifest that rights under
the Federal Constitution have been
violated by state statute or by pro-
ceedings hereunder
This platform, backed by Mr.. Ster-
ling's strong personality and clean
record, should make him a very ac-
ceptable candidate for senator to the
progressive republicans of South Da-
kota. Many cannot support Senator
Gamble for denomination. He has a
strong following in the south east
part of the state, due more to per-
sonal friendship than to approval Of
his political course. Buta large ma
jority of the progressive leaders Of
the state, as we'll as of the rank and
file, do not approve of his record in
the senate during the past four years.
While they do not question his integ-
rity,. they do his judgement. His
course in the tariff legislation, Lori
mer investigation and other matters
has been distinctly opposed to the
prevailing sentiment of this state.
His reno nination is out of the ques-
tion, and his friends should so advise
him if he cannot see it. Many pre-
gressives who, like the editor of the
Telegram, have strong feeling of
personal friendship, born of many
years association with him, cannot
support him politically in the contest
now pending, because of his limita-
tions and record the past four years.
With Mr.. Sterling standing on so UNI
equivocal a platform, it is inevitable
that most of the progressive vote
should go to him.