Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1912-02-16
STERLING SPEAKS IN CANTON.
A Fair Audience Heard This Distin'
guished Gentleman Discuss
Progressive Policies.

Hon. Thomas Sterling was billed to
speak In the court house last week, on
Thursday afternoon, at 2 o'clock, but
the trains were late as usual and
many had given up hearing him. 1t
was a Qdarter before three when he
reached the court room and a fair
audience, considering delay and
weather, was ther5 to greet MIN.
He Is a speaker that wins your con
6dence by the sincerity OF bis person.
atty, and his manner OF stating the
great questions now under cOnsidera-
tion, backed by history, leaves no
doubt as to bis progressive beliefs,
and 1t was quite evidence from his dis
cussion and from facts known, that
he has been an earnest progressive
since 1905, when he urged his friends
in the Legislature TO comply with the
demands Of the people for a primary
law. His broad and comprehensive
views OF national progress Is strong
evidence that he Is no new convert to
the progressive policies Of Roose velt
or La Toilette, but his position as
Dean Of the State University, denied
him the privilege of taking part in
state policies.
In his remarks he showed that the
Declaration Of Independence resulted
from the first progressive campaign in
this country, and that John Hancock,
Benjamin Franklin and Thomas JEFF
ferson were progressive leaders. Then
he sketched the progressive policies
of the people under Gen. Washington,
eliminating in a great progressive
victory at Yorktown.
The next great progressive victory
was the election of Abraham Lincoln
over the standpat elements that stood
for disunion and rebellion rather than
submit to the progressive spirit Of the
north, and showed that the next great
progressive movement came through
the farmers as a protest against the
fast increasing monopolist tendencies
of wealth and special privilege. This
spirit of progressive protest began
with the Patrons of Husbandry in
1868, then came the Grange as a sue
cessor, followed by the Farmers ALI
ance, resulting in the progressive up
heaval by the Peoples Party, proving
the people have ever been progressive
In spirit and purpose, and the farmers
of the country have been the real bull
wark of progressive effort, and thro-
ugh them came all the progressive
laws now In force, including rural free
delivery Of mail.
The next great progressive battle
began with the election of Colonel
Roosevelt as President. With all his
powerful personality and magnetic
leadership, he was able to put the
progressive movement on solid ground.
but the standpat Influences stood in
opposition, but were criven to cover
and the great forward movement
seemed permanently fixed until his
successor let down the bars and again
special privilege was enthroned thro-
ugh the halting. wrabbling policy of
the administration and again the peo-
pie are In arms ready to plant the
progressiv banner owe the White
House under the leadership of La
Toilette, Roosevelt or Cummins.
The Nation has been progressive
since the Old Liberty Bell proclaimed
independence. The people have ever
been progressive in spirit and purpose
through all the years. and a people
who keep step with the progressive
spirit that travels with automobiles
and flying machines, cannot be halted