The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1911-10-05
the farmer On the free list. whic.
4.lls We're vetoed by him.
Taft's Attack on Insurgents.


He accused tnese progressive SEN
ators of insincerity and of playing
cheap politics and sought boldly to
use his high station to break down
and discredit them before the coun-
try. He made his attack in Massa-
chusetts in an atmosphere OF ultra
conservatism and special privilege,
where the new policy OF free trede
OF the farmer and protection for the
manufactures is popular. He should
not have Deen surprised az the
prompt acceptance of his challenge
by the men of the west. To have re-
manned silent, to have, tacitly con-
fassed that the attack CT the .resi-
dent was justitiable: to have run
away from his challenges: would have
been so cowardly that the good cause
for which progressive republicans
have been fighting would have sus-
tanned irreparable injury by the eff
feminancy of the men who have as
sumed to be its eXponents in the
Congress of the United States. The
hope of the republican party lies in
the struggle OF the progressives work
ing within that party. There is and
always will be a struggle between
those who would press forward and
those who would stand still. This
means two great political parties,
not three. The progressive cause
cannot accomplish it's purpose while
stand patism is in control OF the
republican party. 1t was to over
throw special privilege and stand
patism that the progressive republic
cans defeated Cannon and Cannon
ism in the House. 1t was to the
publicans defeated Aldrichism in
the Senate. 1t was the militant ag-
gressiveness of the progressive re-
publicans in the Senate that secured
the reduction of the tariff and at
tackled excessive duties all along the
line. 1t was the progressive re-
publicans who led the fight and fore
ed the adoption of the inestimably
valuable amendments to the Inter
state Commerce law made by the
siXty-sccond congress. The long
and short haul clause; the change in
the burden of proof; the granting
Of power to the commission to sus-
pend proposed increases; the limita-
tion of the power of a Federal
Judge in the granting OF injunctions
against the enforcement of state
statutes; the opposition to ship
subsidies; the protection of local
anks in the postal savings law; the
ceaseless war against Lorimerism
and Balingerism-all these are to
Nf
licans. They led the fight for the
constitutional amendments provid-
ing for the direct election of United
States Senators. They led the fight
to amend the Canadian pact SO that
the protected articlesN Nsold by the
trusts and produced by the Ameri
can manufacturer should come III
from Canada free as we'll as the pro-
ducts Of the Canadian farmer; they
introduced the bills and led the
fight for a non-partism, fully
equipped tariff revision commission;
they secured the passage of the bin
materially reducing the tariff up
on woolen blankets, yarns, and
cloths and compensating the farmer
fer the injury threatened by the one
sided Canadian agreement; they Sc
cured the passage Of bill placing
lumber and agricultural implements
on the free list only to have it
vetoed. The progressives favor the
extension OF the functions of the
federal Government so that its
power may be more effectively en-
p.oyed in the control of interstate
corporations and in the absolute de-
struction OF monopoly and special
privileges; in the conservation of
our National resources: in the pro-
lection of the right II working men
to indemnity against loss by person.
al injury; in the reduction Of tariffs
to the point that measures the diff
home and abroad; in u graduated
income tax; in a revision of our
banking and currency laws which
will free our monetary system from
the selfish control of Wall street;
in direct nominating systems; and
as checks from legislative abuses,
under proper safe guards and limita-
tions-in the iniative and referen-
dunn. We want delegation from
South Dakota in the next Republic
can National Convention that will
fight for platform framed along
these lines;; also for candidate who
will not only stand for them, but who
will fight for them. These prin-
ciples represent the progressive
thought of our day and behind them
is the magnificent fighting spirit OF
the great west Our objection to the
denomination of President TAFT,
while we do not question his high
character and his patriotism, is
that he does not seem to be able
to break away from the influences
and the environment which stand
patism has placed about him. He
apparently takes the view that the
Accomplishment of results must
come through cooperation with the
Representatives of the manufacturer
the capitalist and the owner of cor
porate interests rather than co,
operation with the progressive re-
publican leaders of his party.
Duty of Progrcssvies.
SO the duty rests upon progressive
/ republicans to rally under the banner
Z ri do,