The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1912-08-01
PROGRfSSIVES
New Third Party Gets a Good
Start in Minnesota
CONVENTION IS HELD
Presidential Electors Chosen, Plat
form Adopted and National
Delegates Named
Editorial Correspondence

editorial Correspondence
1t was my good fortune to be one
of the five hundred citizens who as
Sembled at the Auditorium in St.
Paul Tuesday, July 30, and laid the
foundations for the National Progress
sive party in Minnesota.
1t was a representative gathering
formed of earnest voters from all
parts of the state, who believe that
the two leading political parties, as
now managed and manipulated, have
outlined their usefulness and that
the time is fully ripe for the organic
alton of third party whose chief
aim shall be to secure the rights of
all citizens, regardless of race, color,
occupation or previous political affili-
alton.
There was a noticeable absence Of
the old-time political managers-those
who for years have run things to suit
themselves. Bill Grimshaw strolled
in, whispered word or two in some
ones ear in derision, strolled around
and then strolled out again. Bill
didn't have any cut-and-dried resolu.
lions in his inside pocket, and if he
had, it wouldn't have done any good.
Bill is looking out for his bread and
butter and as he holds federal Office
he follows the rule that has guided
his political life for these many years,
of sticking to the administration.
The delegates to this mass conyen-
tion were there for business. There
was quite sprinkling of bald heads
and gray hairs, but the membership
was mainly young and vigorous fell
lows. All were earnest, enthusiastic
and sincere in their efforts to rebuke
existing methods and hand to the
party manipulators what has been
coming to them for long time now.
The key note of the convention was
sounded by the temporary chairman,
Milton D. Purdy of Minneapolis, in
his speech of acceptance, when he
took for his text that classic state
ment from the Declaration of Inde-
pendence, that "All governments de-
rive their just powers from the con-
sent of the governed" This was
elaborated on by ]. F. Jacobson of
Madison, the permanent chairman,
and by several other speakers. The
action of the Chicago convention was
scathingly denounced by every speak
er. The mere mention of the name
of Theodore Roosevelt evoked long
and enthusiastic applause. There
was not one false note sounded; all
was harmony, and each man present
went home convinced that good
days work had been done and that
victory is within the reach of the
new party.
The convention decided to let the
state ticket alone, contenting itself
simply with adopting a platform,
electing delegates and alternates to
the Chicago convention and naming
presidential electors. 1t was notice.
able fact that of the electors chosen
by the republican state convention
all resigned but one. OF the remain
ing ones, seven were on the electoral
ticket of the Progressives. Several
of the delegates to the national con-
vention had served as alternates to
the republican national con-
vention at Chicago. In conversation
with some of those alternates, they
stated that all that was said relative
to the action of the republican ma
tional committee at Chicago was true
and that there was whole lot more
that might be told to show that such
action was unwarranted and a clear
steal. The Minnesota delegation, be-
fore leaving Chicago. said one of my